Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and [offering] for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure [therein]; which are offered by the law;
Above {G511} when he said {G3004},{G3754} Sacrifice {G2378} and {G2532} offering {G4376} and {G2532} burnt offerings {G3646} and {G2532} offering for {G4012} sin {G266} thou wouldest {G2309} not {G3756}, neither {G3761} hadst pleasure {G2106} therein; which {G3748} are offered {G4374} by {G2596} the law {G3551};
In saying first, “You neither willed nor were pleased with animal sacrifices, meal offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings,” things which are offered in accordance with the Torah;
In the passage above He says, “Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings You did not desire, nor did You delight in them” (although they are offered according to the law).
Saying above, Sacrifices and offerings and whole burnt offerings andsacrificesfor sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein (the which are offered according to the law),
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Hebrews 10:5
Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: -
Mark 12:33
And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love [his] neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.
Hebrews 10:8 is a pivotal verse in the author's argument for the superiority of Christ's sacrifice over the Old Covenant sacrificial system. It explicitly quotes Psalm 40:6, emphasizing God's ultimate disposition towards the various animal offerings prescribed by the Mosaic Law.
Context
This verse continues the thought from Hebrews 10:5-7, where the author introduces a prophetic utterance concerning the Messiah. The passage highlights that God never truly "desired" or "had pleasure" in the endless cycle of animal sacrifices—"sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and [offering] for sin"—as an end in themselves. These rituals, though divinely commanded under the Old Covenant, were temporary and symbolic, pointing to a greater, ultimate reality. The elaborate Levitical system was designed to address sin and maintain fellowship, but it could not provide a permanent solution for the conscience, as the blood of bulls and goats could not truly take away sins (Hebrews 10:4).
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The specific terms "sacrifice," "offering," "burnt offerings," and "offering for sin" refer to distinct categories of Mosaic Law sacrifices. A "burnt offering" (Hebrew: 'olah) was wholly consumed, signifying total dedication. An "offering for sin" (Hebrew: chatta't) was specifically for expiation of sin. The phrase "thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein" highlights God's disposition. It's not that these sacrifices were inherently bad, but they were never intended to be the final answer or to permanently deal with the deep-seated problem of sin. God's true pleasure lay in the perfect obedience and self-offering of His Son, which these rituals merely anticipated.
Practical Application
Hebrews 10:8 reminds believers today that genuine faith and obedience to God's will are far more important than religious rituals or external observances alone. While corporate worship and spiritual disciplines are valuable, they are means to an end, not ends in themselves. Our focus should be on Christ's completed work, which has provided full access to God and a perfect cleansing from sin. It calls us to live lives of faithful obedience, offering our bodies as living sacrifices (Romans 12:1), in response to the immeasurable gift of Christ's once-for-all sacrifice. This verse encourages us to look beyond mere religious duty to a heartfelt relationship with God, built upon the foundation of His Son's perfect offering.