Hebrews 10:4

KJV

For [it is] not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.

KJV (with Strong's)

For {G1063} it is not possible {G102} that the blood {G129} of bulls {G5022} and {G2532} of goats {G5131} should take away {G851} sins {G266}.

Complete Jewish Bible

For it is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins.

Berean Standard Bible

because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

American Standard Version

For it is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Hebrews 10:4 succinctly declares the inherent inability of the Old Covenant animal sacrifices to truly and permanently remove sin, thereby establishing the theological necessity for a superior, definitive atonement. This verse serves as a crucial bridge in the author's argument, underscoring the temporary and symbolic nature of the Levitical system and pointing towards the ultimate efficacy of Christ's perfect sacrifice.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is strategically placed within the author's sustained and intricate argument for the supremacy of Jesus Christ and the New Covenant over the Old. It follows chapters 7-9, which meticulously establish Christ's high priesthood according to the order of Melchizedek and contrast His singular, perfect sacrifice with the repeated, imperfect sacrifices of the Levitical system. Immediately preceding, Hebrews 10:1-3 states that the Law, with its sacrifices, was merely "a shadow of the good things to come" and served as a "continual remembrance of sins." Hebrews 10:4 then provides the theological rationale for this inadequacy, explaining *why* these sacrifices could not perfect the worshiper, thus setting the stage for the profound declaration of Christ's willing obedience and His once-for-all offering in Hebrews 10:5-10 and the subsequent exposition of its eternal efficacy in Hebrews 10:11-18.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The original audience of the Book of Hebrews was likely Jewish Christians, possibly facing persecution or internal struggles that tempted them to revert to familiar Jewish practices and the perceived security of the Old Covenant rituals. They were deeply steeped in the traditions of the Mosaic Law, the Levitical priesthood, and the Temple sacrificial system, particularly the annual observance of [Yom Kippur](/leviticus/16 "Leviticus 16 - The Day of Atonement"), the Day of Atonement. The concept of animal sacrifice as the divinely ordained means of dealing with sin and maintaining fellowship with God was central to their religious identity. The author’s argument directly addresses their understanding of sin, atonement, and access to God, challenging the sufficiency of their deeply ingrained traditions by demonstrating their limitations in light of Christ’s ultimate and perfect work.
* **Key Themes:** Hebrews 10:4 is pivotal in developing several major theological themes in the epistle. It powerfully articulates the **inadequacy of the Old Covenant sacrifices**, emphasizing that they could not provide true spiritual purification or a complete removal of sin. This deficiency highlights the **superiority of Christ's sacrifice**, which alone possesses the power to truly cleanse and perfect. The verse also reinforces the theme of **shadow versus reality**, asserting that the Law and its rituals were mere prefigurations, pointing to the ultimate reality found in Christ ([Hebrews 10:1](/hebrews/10-1 "Hebrews 10:1 - The Law as a Shadow")). Furthermore, by declaring the impossibility of animal blood taking away sins, it implicitly establishes the **necessity of a perfect, once-for-all sacrifice**, directly leading to the exposition of Christ's definitive atonement, which brings about the **perfection of believers** ([Hebrews 10:14](/hebrews/10-14 "Hebrews 10:14 - Christ Perfects Believers")) and grants confident access to God ([Hebrews 10:19-22](/hebrews/10-19-22 "Hebrews 10:19-22 - Our Confident Access to God")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **not possible (Greek, _adýnatos'_):** From the negative particle 'a' and 'dynatos' (able), this word signifies an inherent lack of power or capability. It is not merely that God *chose* not to allow animal blood to take away sins, but that the sacrifices themselves were intrinsically *incapable* of achieving such a profound and permanent spiritual effect. This emphasizes the absolute and inherent limitation of the Old Covenant system.
* **take away (Greek, _aphairéō'_):** This verb means to remove completely, to abolish, or to carry off. It implies a definitive and permanent eradication, not just a temporary covering or ceremonial cleansing. The author uses this strong term to highlight the qualitative difference between the Old Covenant sacrifices, which could not achieve this, and Christ's sacrifice, which definitively does.
* **sins (Greek, _hamartía'_):** This term refers to the fundamental problem of humanity's transgression against God's holy law, encompassing both individual acts of disobedience and the inherent sinful nature. The verse underscores that the core issue of human sinfulness, in its totality, could not be truly or eternally dealt with by the blood of animals.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"For [it is] not possible":** The introductory "For" (Greek, _gár_) indicates that this statement provides the logical reason or explanation for the preceding verses (Hebrews 10:1-3), which describe the Law as a "shadow" and its sacrifices as a "continual remembrance of sins." The phrase "not possible" (Greek, _adýnatos_) asserts an absolute, inherent impossibility. It is a theological declaration that the very nature of animal sacrifices rendered them incapable of achieving the ultimate removal of sin.
* **"that the blood of bulls and of goats":** This refers specifically to the animal sacrifices prescribed under the Mosaic Law, particularly those offered during the annual Day of Atonement ([Leviticus 16](/leviticus/16 "Leviticus 16 - The Day of Atonement")), which were considered the pinnacle of the Old Covenant's atoning rituals. "Bulls" (_taûros_) and "goats" (_trágos_) represent the primary sacrificial animals used in these most significant ceremonies for national and individual purification. The mention of their "blood" emphasizes the life-giving essence offered in sacrifice.
* **"should take away sins":** The crucial phrase "take away" (Greek, _aphairéō_) signifies a complete and permanent removal, an abolition, or a carrying off. While Old Covenant sacrifices could provide ceremonial cleansing, temporary covering, and a means for fellowship to continue, they could not fundamentally eradicate the guilt, stain, or power of sin from the worshiper's conscience or from God's sight in a definitive, eternal way. They lacked the inherent spiritual efficacy to provide the perfect, internal purification necessary for ultimate reconciliation and perfection before a holy God.

#### Literary Devices
The author employs several literary devices to convey this profound theological truth. **Rhetorical Declaration** is evident in the direct and forceful assertion "it is not possible," which immediately grabs the reader's attention and establishes an undeniable premise. This is followed by **Contrast**, implicitly setting the stage for the superiority of Christ's sacrifice by highlighting the inherent limitations of the Old Covenant system. The phrase "blood of bulls and of goats" uses **Metonymy**, where "blood" stands in for the entire animal sacrificial system and its rituals, representing the essence of their atoning power (or lack thereof). This concise declaration serves as a **Theological Axiom**, a self-evident truth within the author's framework, upon which the subsequent arguments for Christ's perfect atonement are built.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Hebrews 10:4 is a foundational statement for understanding the redemptive-historical progression from the Old Covenant to the New. It clarifies that the Levitical system, while divinely instituted and purposeful for its time, was never intended as the ultimate solution for sin. Its repeated nature (Hebrews 10:1) underscored its inadequacy, serving as a constant reminder of sin rather than its definitive removal. This verse highlights the profound holiness and justice of God, which demand a perfect sacrifice for sin—something animal blood, being finite and imperfect, could never fully provide. It also emphasizes the nature of sin as a profound spiritual defilement requiring a divine remedy that transcends mere external ritual. The inherent inability of animal blood to "take away sins" therefore necessitates the perfect, once-for-all sacrifice of God's own Son.

* [Leviticus 16:16](/leviticus/16-16 "Leviticus 16:16 - Atonement for the Sanctuary")
* [Romans 3:20](/romans/3-20 "Romans 3:20 - The Law Cannot Justify")
* [Colossians 2:17](/colossians/2-17 "Colossians 2:17 - Shadow and Reality")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Hebrews 10:4 invites profound reflection on the nature of our salvation and the depth of God's grace. It calls us to appreciate the immeasurable value of Christ's sacrifice, recognizing that what countless animal lives, meticulously offered over centuries, could not achieve, one perfect life accomplished in a single, definitive act. This truth liberates believers from any reliance on self-effort, religious rituals, or human merit for forgiveness and righteousness. It fosters a deep sense of gratitude and security, knowing that our sins are not merely covered but truly "taken away" by a definitive, once-for-all act. This should lead to confident access to God, a conscience cleansed from guilt, and a life lived in joyful response to such an astonishing and complete gift. It reminds us that our standing before God is entirely dependent on Christ's perfect work, not on our own imperfect attempts at atonement.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does understanding the inadequacy of animal sacrifices deepen your appreciation for the unique and perfect nature of Christ's sacrifice?**
* **In what ways might we, even today, inadvertently rely on "bulls and goats" (i.e., our own efforts, good deeds, or religious rituals) instead of fully trusting in Christ's finished work for our salvation and cleansing?**
* **What does the permanent removal of sin, as opposed to its temporary covering, mean for your daily walk with God, your assurance of salvation, and your freedom from guilt?**

### FAQ

**Did the Old Testament sacrifices have any value if they couldn't take away sins?**

Answer: Yes, absolutely. While Hebrews 10:4 states they couldn't *permanently remove* sins, the Old Testament sacrifices were divinely ordained and served crucial purposes within God's covenant with Israel. They provided ceremonial cleansing, allowing the Israelites to maintain fellowship with a holy God despite their sin. They also served as a constant, tangible reminder of the seriousness of sin and the absolute necessity of atonement, pointing forward to the ultimate, perfect sacrifice that God Himself would provide. They covered sins in a temporal sense, allowing for continued covenant relationship, but they did not cleanse the conscience or provide eternal redemption in the way Christ's sacrifice does ([Hebrews 9:13-14](/hebrews/9-13-14 "Hebrews 9:13-14 - Cleansing by Christ's Blood")).

**What does "take away sins" truly mean in this context, and how is it different from "covering" sins?**

Answer: The Greek verb _aphairéō_ (G851), translated "take away," signifies a complete removal, abolition, or carrying off. It implies more than just a temporary covering or a ceremonial cleansing. In the context of Hebrews 10:4, it means that the animal sacrifices lacked the inherent power to fundamentally eradicate the guilt, stain, and power of sin from the worshiper's conscience or from God's sight in a definitive, eternal way. "Covering" sins, as the Old Testament sacrifices did, meant that God, in His grace, provided a temporary means for His people to approach Him despite their sin, deferring the ultimate judgment. "Taking away" sins, however, implies a full and final expiation, where the sin is no longer remembered or held against the individual, providing true spiritual purification and perfection ([Hebrews 10:14](/hebrews/10-14 "Hebrews 10:14 - Christ Perfects Believers") and [Hebrews 10:17](/hebrews/10-17 "Hebrews 10:17 - Sins Remembered No More")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Hebrews 10:4 serves as a powerful theological pivot, establishing the absolute necessity for the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ. The inherent inability of "the blood of bulls and of goats" to truly "take away sins" underscores the profound chasm between humanity's pervasive sinfulness and God's unblemished holiness—a chasm that only a divine, unblemished offering could bridge. Christ fulfills this need perfectly. As the [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), He offered Himself "once for all" ([Hebrews 9:26](/hebrews/9-26 "Hebrews 9:26 - Christ's Once-for-All Sacrifice")), not with the blood of animals but with His own precious blood ([1 Peter 1:18-19](/1_peter/1-18-19 "1 Peter 1:18-19 - Redemption by Christ's Precious Blood")). His sacrifice does not merely cover sins; it definitively removes them, perfecting those who are sanctified ([Hebrews 10:14](/hebrews/10-14 "Hebrews 10:14 - Christ Perfects Believers")) and providing eternal redemption ([Hebrews 9:12](/hebrews/9-12 "Hebrews 9:12 - Eternal Redemption Through Christ")). Thus, Hebrews 10:4, by highlighting the Old Covenant's deficiency, magnificently magnifies the all-sufficiency and eternal efficacy of Christ's atoning work, revealing Him as the ultimate solution to humanity's sin problem and the sole means of true reconciliation with God, establishing a [new and living way](/hebrews/10-20 "Hebrews 10:20 - The New and Living Way") into God's presence.

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 10:11

And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:

Isaiah 1:11

To what purpose [is] the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the LORD: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats.

Isaiah 1:15

And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.

Micah 6:6

¶ Wherewith shall I come before the LORD, [and] bow myself before the high God? shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old?

Micah 6:8

He hath shewed thee, O man, what [is] good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

Romans 11:27

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

1 John 3:5

And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.