Hebrews 10:16

This [is] the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;

This {G3778} is the covenant {G1242} that {G3739} I will make {G1303} with {G4314} them {G846} after {G3326} those {G1565} days {G2250}, saith {G3004} the Lord {G2962}, I will put {G1325} my {G3450} laws {G3551} into {G1909} their {G846} hearts {G2588}, and {G2532} in {G1909} their {G846} minds {G1271} will I write {G1924} them {G846};

“ ‘This is the covenant which I will make
with them after those days,’ says Adonai:
‘I will put my Torah on their hearts,
and write it on their minds . . . ,’ ”

“This is the covenant I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord. I will put My laws in their hearts and inscribe them on their minds.”

This is the covenant that I will make with them After those days, saith the Lord: I will put my laws on their heart, And upon their mind also will I write them; then saith he,

Hebrews 10:16 (KJV) presents a pivotal aspect of the new covenant, quoting directly from the prophet Jeremiah. It highlights a profound shift in God's relationship with His people, moving from an external code to an internal transformation.

Context

The book of Hebrews is addressed to Jewish Christians, emphasizing the superiority of Jesus Christ and the new covenant He established over the Old Covenant system of laws, sacrifices, and priesthood. Chapters 8-10 extensively detail how Christ's perfect, once-for-all sacrifice rendered the old sacrificial system obsolete. Verse 16, a direct quotation from Jeremiah 31:33, serves as a cornerstone for understanding the nature of this new agreement. It underscores that the Holy Spirit Himself bears witness to this divine arrangement, as mentioned in the preceding verse (Hebrews 10:15).

Key Themes and Messages

  • The New Covenant's Nature: Unlike the Old Covenant, which involved laws written on stone tablets and external rituals, this new covenant is characterized by an internal, spiritual reality. God Himself initiates and fulfills this promise.
  • Internalization of God's Law: The phrase "I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them" signifies a radical change. Obedience is no longer merely an external compulsion but flows from an inner desire and disposition. This implies a transformed nature, where God's will becomes intrinsic to one's being.
  • Divine Initiative and Empowerment: The repeated "I will" emphasizes God's sovereign action in establishing and enabling this covenant. It is His work to implant His truth and principles within believers, empowering them to live according to His will.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek word for "covenant" here is diatheke (διαθήκη), which can denote a testament or a will, highlighting that this agreement is unilaterally established by God. The terms "hearts" (kardias, καρδίας) and "minds" (dianoias, διανοίας) together encompass the totality of one's inner person – including emotions, will, intellect, and conscience. This signifies a comprehensive transformation that affects all aspects of a believer's inner life, leading to a deep, personal alignment with God's ways.

Practical Application

For believers today, Hebrews 10:16 offers immense comfort and challenge. It assures us that through Christ, we are part of a covenant where God actively works within us, not just giving us rules from without. This means:

  • Empowered Obedience: We have the Holy Spirit dwelling within us, enabling us to understand and desire to obey God's laws, transforming what might feel like a burden into a joy. This aligns with the promise of a new heart and a new spirit.
  • Intimate Relationship: The internalization of the law fosters a deeper, more intimate relationship with God, where knowledge of Him is not just intellectual but experiential.
  • Assurance: This internal writing of the law is a sign of our true belonging to God and His faithfulness to His covenant promises.

This verse underscores the profound grace of the New Covenant, where God's transformative power makes obedience possible and desirable, moving us from external adherence to internal devotion.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Jeremiah 31:33

    But this [shall be] the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.

  • Jeremiah 31:34

    And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

  • Hebrews 8:8

    For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:

  • Hebrews 8:12

    For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.

  • Romans 11:27

    For this [is] my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.
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