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Hebrews 10:29

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Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?

Of how much {G4214} sorer {G5501} punishment {G5098}, suppose ye {G1380}, shall he be thought worthy {G515}, who {G3588} hath trodden under foot {G2662} the Son {G5207} of God {G2316}, and {G2532} hath counted {G2233} the blood {G129} of the covenant {G1242}, wherewith {G3739}{G1722} he was sanctified {G37}, an unholy thing {G2839}, and {G2532} hath done despite {G1796} unto the Spirit {G4151} of grace {G5485}?

Think how much worse will be the punishment deserved by someone who has trampled underfoot the Son of God; who has treated as something common the blood of the covenant which made him holy; and who has insulted the Spirit, giver of God’s grace!

How much more severely do you think one deserves to be punished who has trampled on the Son of God, profaned the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and insulted the Spirit of grace?

of how much sorer punishment, think ye, shall he be judged worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant wherewith he was sanctified an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?

Commentary

Commentary on Hebrews 10:29 KJV

Hebrews 10:29 delivers one of the New Testament's most solemn warnings, underscoring the severe consequences for those who willfully reject the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ after having come to a knowledge of the truth. It describes a profound act of contempt against God's Person and His redemptive work.

Context

This verse is part of a critical section in the Book of Hebrews (chapters 6 and 10), which issues stern warnings against apostasy and backsliding. The author has meticulously established the superiority of the new covenant and Christ's perfect, once-for-all sacrifice over the Old Testament's repeated animal sacrifices. Following the declaration that "there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins" for those who sin willfully (Hebrews 10:26), verse 29 vividly portrays the nature of such a grievous offense and its accompanying "sorer punishment" when compared to the death penalty under the Mosaic Law for rejecting it (Hebrews 10:28).

Key Themes and Messages

  • Contempt for the Son of God: To have "trodden under foot the Son of God" signifies an utter disdain and disregard for Jesus' divine person, His authority, and His mission. It's an act of treating Him as something worthless or beneath contempt.
  • Desecration of Christ's Sacrifice: Counting "the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing" means to treat Christ's atoning blood, the very foundation of the new covenant through Christ's blood, as common or defiled. This rejects its purifying power and the means by which a person was set apart for God (sanctified). The phrase "wherewith he was sanctified" points to a prior experience of grace and identification with Christ's work, making the rejection even more egregious.
  • Insulting the Spirit of Grace: To have "done despite unto the Spirit of grace" means to outrage, insult, or treat with contempt the Holy Spirit, who is the active agent of God's grace in drawing, convicting, and empowering believers. This is a direct affront to the divine power that brings salvation and spiritual life.
  • The Gravity of Apostasy: The "sorer punishment" emphasizes that rejecting Christ after experiencing His truth is far more severe than any Old Testament transgression, precisely because it despises God's ultimate and perfect provision for salvation. This warning highlights the serious consequences of a deliberate and contemptuous turning away from faith, echoing similar warnings about the impossibility of renewal for those who fall away after having tasted the heavenly gift.

Linguistic Insights

  • The phrase "trodden under foot" translates the Greek word katapateō (καταπατέω), which literally means to trample upon. It conveys an action of utter contempt and disrespect, treating something as worthless and fit only to be crushed.
  • "Unholy thing" comes from the Greek koinos (κοινός), meaning common, ordinary, or defiled. This stands in stark contrast to the sacred and purifying nature of Christ's blood, implying a deliberate rejection of its unique, holy efficacy.
  • "Done despite unto" is from the Greek enybrizō (ἐνυβρίζω), meaning to insult, outrage, or treat with insolence. It denotes a deliberate and malicious disrespect shown towards the Holy Spirit, the very source of God's unmerited favor and spiritual conviction. The term "Spirit of grace" (Pneuma charitos) beautifully encapsulates the Holy Spirit's role as the dispenser and embodiment of divine favor.

Practical Application

Hebrews 10:29 serves as a profound and sobering reminder of the seriousness of our response to God's immense grace. It is not a warning against every sin, but against a deliberate, contemptuous, and complete rejection of Christ and His saving work after having understood and experienced its reality. It calls believers to:

  • Cherish Christ's Sacrifice: To never take for granted the precious and unparalleled value of Jesus' atoning blood, which alone brings forgiveness and sanctification (Hebrews 10:10).
  • Revere the Holy Spirit: To honor and yield to the Holy Spirit's work in our lives, recognizing Him as the "Spirit of grace" who convicts, comforts, and empowers us for godly living (John 16:8).
  • Persevere in Faith: To remain steadfast in our commitment to Christ, guarding against spiritual apathy, deliberate rebellion, and any temptation to turn away from the living God. It underscores the call to hold fast to our confession without wavering (Hebrews 10:23).
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Ephesians 4:30 (13 votes)

    And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

  • Hebrews 6:6 (13 votes)

    If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put [him] to an open shame.

  • Isaiah 63:10 (9 votes)

    But they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, [and] he fought against them.

  • Luke 12:10 (8 votes)

    And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven.

  • 1 Corinthians 11:27 (8 votes)

    Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink [this] cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.

  • Matthew 12:31 (6 votes)

    Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy [against] the [Holy] Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.

  • Matthew 12:32 (6 votes)

    And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the [world] to come.