Hebrews 10:5

KJV

Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:

KJV (with Strong's)

Wherefore {G1352} when he cometh {G1525} into {G1519} the world {G2889}, he saith {G3004}, Sacrifice {G2378} and {G2532} offering {G4376} thou wouldest {G2309} not {G3756}, but {G1161} a body {G4983} hast thou prepared {G2675} me {G3427}:

Complete Jewish Bible

This is why, on coming into the world, he says,

“It has not been your will
to have an animal sacrifice and a meal offering;
rather, you have prepared for me a body.

Berean Standard Bible

Therefore, when Christ came into the world, He said: “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but a body You prepared for Me.

American Standard Version

Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, But a body didst thou prepare for me;

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Hebrews 10:5 introduces a profound declaration from Christ upon His entrance into the world, quoting Psalm 40:6-8 (LXX) to assert God's ultimate disinterest in animal sacrifices and offerings as a means of true atonement. Instead, the verse reveals God's divine provision and pre-ordained plan: a perfectly prepared human body for His Son, Jesus, through which He would accomplish the singular, efficacious sacrifice necessary for humanity's redemption and the establishment of the New Covenant.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Hebrews 10:5 is a pivotal verse within the author's sustained argument for the absolute superiority of Christ's sacrifice over the Old Covenant's animal sacrifices. Chapters 9 and the beginning of 10 meticulously detail the limitations of the Levitical system, emphasizing that the blood of bulls and goats could never truly take away sins, but merely served as a temporary covering and a perpetual reminder of sin (as stated in [Hebrews 10:1-4](/hebrews/10-1-4 "Hebrews 10:1-4 - The Inadequacy of Old Covenant Sacrifices")). This verse, by quoting from Psalm 40, transitions the discourse from the inadequacy of the old to the perfect efficacy of the new, presenting Christ's incarnation and obedience as the divinely appointed solution. It sets the stage for the full exposition of Christ's "once for all" sacrifice that follows in [Hebrews 10:10-18](/hebrews/10-10-18 "Hebrews 10:10-18 - The Perfection of Christ's Sacrifice")).
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Book of Hebrews was written to Jewish Christians who were likely facing persecution and social pressure, tempting them to revert to the familiar and culturally accepted practices of Judaism, including its elaborate sacrificial system. For centuries, the temple rituals and animal sacrifices had been the bedrock of Israelite worship and their understanding of atonement. The author's audience would have been deeply ingrained in this worldview. Therefore, to declare that "Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not" was a radical, even scandalous, theological statement that directly challenged their deeply held traditions. The author's use of the Septuagint (LXX) version of Psalm 40, which reads "a body hast thou prepared me" instead of the Masoretic Text's "my ears you have opened," was crucial for directly connecting the Old Testament prophecy to the physical incarnation of Christ and His unique ability to fulfill God's redemptive will.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in Hebrews. Primarily, it underscores the **Superiority of Christ** and His sacrifice over the Old Covenant system, presenting Him as the ultimate High Priest and the perfect offering. It highlights the **Inadequacy of the Old Covenant** sacrifices, revealing God's true desire was not for ritual but for perfect obedience embodied in Christ. The phrase "when he cometh into the world" directly points to the **Incarnation of Christ**, emphasizing that His taking on human flesh was not an accident but a pre-ordained, divine act essential for atonement. Finally, it implicitly introduces the theme of **Christ's Obedience** to the Father's will, which is further developed in [Hebrews 10:7](/hebrews/10-7 "Hebrews 10:7 - Christ's Willing Obedience") and is foundational to His redemptive work.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Wherefore (Greek, _dió'_):** This particle serves as a strong connective, indicating a logical consequence or conclusion. Here, it signals that what follows is the divine answer or necessary outcome in light of the inadequacy of the Old Covenant sacrifices discussed in the preceding verses. It emphasizes the divine initiative and purpose behind Christ's coming.
* **wouldest not (Greek, _thélō'_):** This verb signifies a strong will, desire, or determination. When paired with the negative particle "not," it conveys God's definitive rejection of animal sacrifices as the ultimate means of atonement. It's not merely a passive disinterest but an active preference for a different, more perfect way to achieve reconciliation, highlighting that the Old Covenant sacrifices were never God's final or perfect solution.
* **prepared (Greek, _katartízō'_):** This verb means "to complete thoroughly," "to equip," "to fit," or "to adjust." In the context of "a body hast thou prepared me," it signifies God's deliberate, precise, and perfect fashioning or equipping of a human body for Jesus. This was not a haphazard event but a divine act of intentionality, ensuring that Christ's physical presence was perfectly suited and equipped for the specific purpose of fulfilling God's redemptive mission through His life, death, and resurrection.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith":** This clause establishes the speaker as Christ Himself, entering into human existence. The "wherefore" links this divine declaration directly to the preceding argument about the insufficiency of the Old Testament sacrifices. It signals that Christ's incarnation is the divinely appointed solution to the problem of sin that the old system could not solve.
* **"Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not":** This is a direct statement of God's ultimate disposition regarding the Levitical system. It reveals that the elaborate rituals of animal sacrifices and grain offerings, while commanded under the Old Covenant, were never God's ultimate desire for true atonement or the means by which humanity would be perfectly reconciled to Him. They were shadows, not the substance.
* **"but a body hast thou prepared me":** This is the pivotal declaration, presenting God's alternative and perfect provision. Instead of the blood of animals, God Himself meticulously "prepared" a human body for His Son. This prepared body was essential for Christ to live a sinless life under the law, to perfectly obey the Father's will, and ultimately to offer Himself as the unique, unblemished, and once-for-all sacrifice for the sins of the world. It underscores the divine initiative and the intentionality of the Incarnation as the means of salvation.

#### Literary Devices
The author of Hebrews masterfully employs several literary devices in this verse. **Quotation/Allusion** is central, as the verse directly quotes from the Septuagint (Greek translation) of Psalm 40:6-8, attributing these words to Christ Himself upon His incarnation. This use of an Old Testament text, reinterpreted and applied to Christ, demonstrates the continuity and fulfillment of God's plan. A powerful **Contrast** is evident in the juxtaposition of "Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not" with "but a body hast thou prepared me." This highlights the fundamental shift from the temporary, ineffective rituals of the Old Covenant to the perfect, efficacious reality of Christ's incarnate sacrifice. Furthermore, the verse employs **Prosopopoeia** (personification), as the pre-incarnate Christ is depicted speaking these words as He enters the world, giving a voice to His divine mission and obedience.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Hebrews 10:5 is a cornerstone for understanding the nature of God's redemptive plan and the finality of Christ's work. It reveals that the Old Covenant sacrificial system, while divinely instituted, was never intended to be the ultimate solution for sin. God's ultimate desire was not for the blood of animals, which could only cover sin temporarily, but for perfect obedience and a perfect sacrifice, which could only be accomplished through the incarnation of His Son. This verse underscores the divine initiative in salvation, demonstrating that God Himself provided the means for atonement by preparing a body for Christ, thereby fulfilling His will and establishing a new and better covenant based on Christ's single, perfect offering. It points to the profound truth that true worship and reconciliation are found not in ritual, but in the obedient, self-sacrificial life and death of Jesus Christ.

* [Psalm 40:6-8](/psalms/40-6-8 "Psalm 40:6-8 - The Prophetic Source")
* [John 1:14](/john/1-14 "John 1:14 - The Word Became Flesh")
* [Hebrews 9:11-14](/hebrews/9-11-14 "Hebrews 9:11-14 - Christ's Superior Sacrifice and Cleansing")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Hebrews 10:5 offers profound assurance and a clear call to discipleship. The realization that God Himself prepared a body for Christ to accomplish a perfect, once-for-all sacrifice should fill believers with immense gratitude and confidence. Our salvation is not dependent on our own imperfect efforts or repeated rituals, but on the finished work of Christ, whose sacrifice perfectly fulfilled God's will. This truth liberates us from the burden of trying to earn God's favor and invites us into a life of joyful response to His grace. Just as Christ willingly took on a body to obey the Father, we are called to offer our own bodies—our lives, talents, and resources—as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God ([Romans 12:1](/romans/12-1 "Romans 12:1 - A Living Sacrifice")). This involves a daily commitment to discerning and doing God's will, not out of obligation, but out of love and gratitude for the ultimate sacrifice made on our behalf.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does understanding God's rejection of animal sacrifices in favor of Christ's prepared body deepen your appreciation for the finality and sufficiency of Jesus' work on the cross?**
* **In what practical ways can you offer your "prepared body" as a living sacrifice, devoted to God's will, in response to Christ's ultimate act of obedience?**
* **How does the divine intentionality of God preparing a body for Christ impact your view of His meticulous and sovereign plan for your salvation?**

### FAQ
**Why does Hebrews 10:5 quote Psalm 40:6-8 differently from the Hebrew Masoretic Text?**

Answer: The author of Hebrews, writing in Greek, quotes from the Septuagint (LXX), the ancient Greek translation of the Old Testament. The Hebrew Masoretic Text of Psalm 40:6 reads, "Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but my ears you have opened." The Septuagint, however, translates this phrase as, "Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me." The difference in translation is significant for the argument in Hebrews. While both versions convey God's preference for obedience over ritual sacrifice, the Septuagint's "a body you prepared for me" directly supports the author's theological point about Christ's incarnation and the necessity of His physical body for the perfect, once-for-all sacrifice. The author uses the LXX because it more explicitly articulates the truth of Christ's pre-ordained physical existence as the means of fulfilling God's will for atonement, fitting perfectly into the broader argument of Christ's superiority and the obsolescence of the old sacrificial system.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Hebrews 10:5 profoundly articulates the Christ-centered fulfillment of God's redemptive plan. The "he" who "cometh into the world" is none other than the eternal Son of God, Jesus Christ, whose incarnation was the pre-ordained means by which God's ultimate will for salvation would be accomplished. The Old Covenant sacrifices, though divinely commanded, were mere shadows, unable to truly cleanse sin or perfect the worshiper ([Hebrews 10:1](/hebrews/10-1 "Hebrews 10:1 - The Law as a Shadow")). Christ's entrance into the world with a "body... prepared" by God signifies that His physical humanity was essential for His redemptive mission. This prepared body enabled Him to live a life of perfect obedience, fulfilling the law where humanity had failed, and crucially, to offer Himself as the spotless, once-for-all sacrifice that truly takes away sin ([Hebrews 10:10](/hebrews/10-10 "Hebrews 10:10 - Sanctified Through Christ's Sacrifice")). Thus, the verse highlights Christ's willing submission to the Father's will ([Philippians 2:7-8](/philippians/2-7-8 "Philippians 2:7-8 - Christ's Humiliation and Obedience")) and His unique capacity, through His incarnate life and sacrificial death, to establish the New Covenant and secure eternal redemption, making obsolete all previous forms of atonement ([Hebrews 10:12-14](/hebrews/10-12-14 "Hebrews 10:12-14 - Christ's Single, Perfect Sacrifice")).

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

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.

Psalms 40:6

¶ Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required.

Psalms 40:8

I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law [is] within my heart.

Isaiah 7:14

Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

1 Peter 2:24

Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

Matthew 1:20

But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

Matthew 1:23

Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.