Hebrews 10:17

KJV

And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G2532} their {G846} sins {G266} and {G2532} iniquities {G458}{G846} will I remember {G3415} no {G3364} more {G2089}.

Complete Jewish Bible

he then adds,

“ ‘And their sins and their wickednesses
I will remember no more.’ ”

Berean Standard Bible

Then He adds: “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.”

American Standard Version

And their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Hebrews 10:17, a direct quotation from the prophecy of Jeremiah, encapsulates a foundational promise of the New Covenant: God's complete and permanent forgiveness of sins. This verse assures believers that, through the perfect and singular sacrifice of Jesus Christ, their transgressions and lawless deeds are not merely covered but are definitively removed from God's remembrance, signifying a judicial act of full pardon and reconciliation. It highlights the absolute efficacy and finality of Christ's atoning work, establishing a new and living way to God unburdened by past sin.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is part of the author's extended argument in Hebrews 10, emphasizing the superiority and finality of Christ's sacrifice over the Old Covenant's animal sacrifices. The preceding verses (Hebrews 10:1-14) detail how the Law's sacrifices were imperfect, merely a "shadow of the good things to come" ([Hebrews 10:1](/hebrews/10-1 "Hebrews 10:1 - The Law as a Shadow")), requiring constant repetition because they could not truly take away sins. In contrast, Christ's single offering "perfected for ever them that are sanctified" ([Hebrews 10:14](/hebrews/10-14 "Hebrews 10:14 - Christ's Perfect Sacrifice")). Verse 17, along with verse 16 (a quotation of [Jeremiah 31:33](/jeremiah/31-33 "Jeremiah 31:33 - The New Covenant Promise")), serves as a prophetic witness to this New Covenant reality, proving that this complete forgiveness and inward transformation were always part of God's ultimate plan, foretold centuries earlier. The author uses these Old Testament prophecies to bolster his argument for the New Covenant's supremacy and to provide assurance to his audience.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The book of Hebrews was written to Jewish Christians who were facing significant pressure, possibly persecution, and were tempted to revert to the familiar rituals and security of Judaism. They were struggling to fully grasp the radical implications of Christ's finished work and the obsolescence of the Mosaic Law's sacrificial system. The author's primary goal is to demonstrate Christ's superiority over all aspects of the Old Covenant – angels, Moses, the Levitical priesthood, and its sacrifices – thereby encouraging his readers to persevere in their faith and not abandon their Christian confession. By quoting Jeremiah, a prophet deeply revered by Jews, the author grounds the New Covenant not in a new, foreign theology but in God's own ancient promises, showing continuity in God's redemptive plan while highlighting the decisive shift in its administration.

* **Key Themes:** Hebrews 10:17 powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in the book of Hebrews. Foremost is the theme of **Christ's Superiority and the New Covenant**. The verse underscores that the New Covenant, inaugurated by Christ's blood, offers a definitive solution to the problem of sin that the Old Covenant could not provide. It speaks to **Complete Forgiveness and Atonement**, emphasizing that Christ's sacrifice is not merely a temporary covering but a permanent removal of sin, allowing for true reconciliation with God. This leads to the theme of **Access to God**, as the removal of sin's barrier means believers can draw near to God with confidence ([Hebrews 10:19-22](/hebrews/10-19-22 "Hebrews 10:19-22 - Confidence to Enter the Holiest")). Finally, it reinforces the **Efficacy of Christ's Sacrifice**, demonstrating that His "one sacrifice for sins for ever" ([Hebrews 10:12](/hebrews/10-12 "Hebrews 10:12 - Christ's Eternal Sacrifice")) fully accomplishes God's redemptive purpose, making any further sacrifice unnecessary.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **sins (Greek, _hamartía'_):** From G266, meaning "a sin (properly abstract)." This term refers to acts of transgression, missing the mark, or falling short of God's perfect standard. In the context of the Old Covenant, these sins required repeated sacrifices for atonement. Here, the promise is that these specific transgressions will no longer be remembered by God.
* **iniquities (Greek, _anomía'_):** From G458, meaning "illegality, i.e. violation of law or (genitive case) wickedness." This term emphasizes lawlessness, a deliberate disregard for God's revealed will and moral order. While "sins" might refer to specific acts, "iniquities" often carries the connotation of an underlying state of rebellion or a pattern of unrighteousness. The pairing of "sins and iniquities" covers both specific acts and the broader condition of human fallenness.
* **will I remember no more (Greek, _mnáomai ou mḗ éti'_):** This phrase combines G3415 (_mnáomai_, "to bear in mind, recollect; by implication, to reward or punish") with a strong double negative G3364 (_ou mḗ_, "not at all") and G2089 (_éti_, "still, yet, any longer"). The combination of _ou mḗ_ with the future tense verb and _éti_ creates an emphatic negation: "I will certainly not remember any longer." This is not a literal loss of divine memory but a judicial declaration that God chooses not to recall, count against, or punish these forgiven sins. It signifies a complete and irreversible cessation of accountability for them.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And their sins and iniquities":** This clause identifies the object of God's merciful declaration. "Sins" (ἁμαρτίαι) refers to specific acts of disobedience or missing God's mark, while "iniquities" (ἀνομίαι) denotes lawlessness or a state of rebellion against God's will. The pairing emphasizes the comprehensive nature of human transgression, encompassing both individual acts and the underlying disposition of unrighteousness. These are the very things that separate humanity from a holy God and demand judgment.
* **"will I remember no more.":** This is the core promise of the New Covenant, quoted from Jeremiah 31:34. The divine "I" is God Himself, making this a sovereign declaration. The phrase "remember no more" (οὐ μὴ μνησθήσομαι ἔτι) uses a powerful Greek double negative (οὐ μὴ) combined with "any longer" (ἔτι) to convey absolute certainty and permanence. It signifies a judicial act of divine pardon, where God chooses never again to bring up, hold against, or punish the forgiven sins. It implies a complete and final removal of the guilt and penalty associated with those transgressions, allowing for full reconciliation.

#### Literary Devices
The author of Hebrews employs several powerful literary devices in this verse. Primarily, it is a direct **Quotation** from [Jeremiah 31:34](/jeremiah/31-34 "Jeremiah 31:34 - The New Covenant Promise"), serving as an authoritative prophetic witness to the New Covenant's promises. This use of Scripture functions as an **Argument from Authority**, lending irrefutable weight to the author's claims about the superiority and permanence of Christ's work. Furthermore, the phrase "will I remember no more" employs **Divine Anthropomorphism**, attributing a human characteristic (remembering/forgetting) to God. This is not to suggest God literally loses memory, but rather to convey a judicial and relational reality: God chooses not to hold past sins against the forgiven. Finally, the Greek construction "οὐ μὴ ... ἔτι" ("no more") constitutes a strong **Emphatic Negation**, often bordering on **Hyperbole**, underscoring the absolute and irreversible nature of God's forgiveness. It is a powerful rhetorical device to assure the readers of the finality of their pardon.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Hebrews 10:17 is a cornerstone of New Covenant theology, powerfully articulating the radical nature of God's forgiveness made possible through Christ's sacrifice. It highlights that unlike the Old Covenant, which merely covered sins and reminded the people of their ongoing need for atonement, the New Covenant, established by the blood of Jesus, offers a complete and permanent removal of sin. This "not remembering" is a divine judicial act, signifying that the debt has been fully paid and the legal record of transgression expunged. It underpins the believer's confidence and access to God, transforming a relationship based on conditional obedience and repeated atonement into one of grace, full reconciliation, and intimate fellowship, all founded on the finished work of Christ.

* [Jeremiah 31:34](/jeremiah/31-34 "God's Forgiveness in the New Covenant")
* [Hebrews 8:12](/hebrews/8-12 "Hebrews 8:12 - God's Mercy in the New Covenant")
* [Isaiah 43:25](/isaiah/43-25 "God Blots Out Transgressions")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
This profound declaration from God offers immense spiritual comfort and freedom. For believers, it means liberation from the crushing weight of past guilt and shame. The assurance that God "remembers no more" our sins is not an invitation to complacency, but a powerful motivation for grateful obedience and a life lived in the light of His boundless grace. It calls us to live without fear of condemnation, knowing that our standing before God is secured by Christ's perfect sacrifice, not by our own imperfect performance. This truth should empower us to forgive ourselves, extend grace to others, and walk in the confidence of our complete pardon, enabling us to approach God's throne with boldness and freedom, ready to serve Him with a clear conscience.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the promise that God "remembers no more" your sins impact your daily walk with Him?**
* **In what ways might you still be living under the "old covenant" mentality of guilt or trying to earn God's favor, despite this promise?**
* **How does understanding the finality of Christ's sacrifice, as highlighted in this verse, strengthen your assurance of salvation?**

### FAQ
**Does "God will remember no more" mean God literally forgets our sins?**

Answer: No, it does not mean God literally loses His memory. The phrase "remember no more" is an **anthropomorphism**, attributing a human characteristic to God to convey a profound theological truth. In this context, "remember" carries a judicial and relational meaning. It signifies that God chooses not to bring up, count against, or punish our forgiven sins. It's a divine declaration of full pardon, a legal act of expunging the record of our transgressions. Because the penalty for sin has been fully paid by Christ, God no longer holds those sins against us, and they will never be brought to account again. This promise assures us of complete and irreversible forgiveness under the [New Covenant](/hebrews/8 "Hebrews 8 - The New Covenant").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Hebrews 10:17 finds its ultimate fulfillment and meaning in the person and work of Jesus Christ. It is through His singular, perfect, and eternal sacrifice on the cross that the promise of God "remembering no more" our sins becomes a reality. The Old Covenant sacrifices, though divinely ordained, could only cover sins temporarily, serving as a constant reminder of the ongoing need for atonement ([Hebrews 10:3](/hebrews/10-3 "Hebrews 10:3 - Reminder of Sins")). But Christ, "having offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God" ([Hebrews 10:12](/hebrews/10-12 "Hebrews 10:12 - Christ's Eternal Sacrifice")). His blood, shed once for all, perfectly cleanses the conscience and removes the guilt of sin, making it possible for a holy God to declare that He will no longer remember our transgressions. Christ is the mediator of this superior covenant ([Hebrews 8:6](/hebrews/8-6 "Hebrews 8:6 - Christ, Mediator of a Better Covenant")), and His finished work is the sole basis for this radical, permanent forgiveness, ushering believers into a new, unhindered relationship with God, free from condemnation ([Romans 8:1](/romans/8-1 "Romans 8:1 - No Condemnation in Christ Jesus")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Hebrews 8:12

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

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.