Hebrews 10:29
in Hebrews 10How 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?
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
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?
KJV
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?
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This verse in Hebrews 10
Commentary
19 notes on this verseAccording to the law, "the adulterer and the adulteress were put to death." They could not say, "We seek repentance and we pray for mercy." There was no place for tears, and no opportunity was granted for any correction, but in every way it was necessary for those who had contravened the law to be punished. This was observed in certain individual offenses for which the death penalty was ascribed. But among Christians, if adultery has been committed, the precept is not that "the adulterer and adulteress" be punished by the destruction of the body.
This site's exposition
died without mercy on the testimony
on Hebrews 10:28-29
Rejecting the law of Moses brought death without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses under Deuteronomy 17:6. The greater case has trampled on the Son of God, profaned the blood of the covenant and insulted the Spirit of grace. Each verb names contempt for one divine person.
This site's exposition
trampled on the Son of God
The Greek word behind punished means vengeance. Jamieson, Fausset and Brown add to trample the Son is to trample God Himself, who gave Him the glory of High Priest at Hebrews 5:5. John Wesley sets the Son here as a lawgiver far greater than Moses.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers5 voices
"who has trampled the Son of God."How does one trample on the Son of God? When he does not listen to Him, when he who shares in Him commits sins: for that is to trample, namely to despise. "in the blood of the covenant." He …
But if you sin again, the old reproaches return again against you and all the more so, since it is a much greater crime "to spurn the Son of God and to profane the blood of the covenant" than to neglect the law of Moses.
A commentator
Ephrem the SyrianCOMMENTARY ON THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS · Written before 373.
proposed
And who have "outraged the Spirit of grace," which is in us? These are the people who consider the gospel to be equal to the law of Moses.
If then under the Old Covenant, when the law of Moses is set at nought, there is so great punishment, "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 an unholy [a common] thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?" And how does a man "tread under foot the Son of God"? When partaking of Him in the mysteries (he would say) he has wrought sin, has he not trodden Him under foot? Has he not despised Him? For just as we make no account of those who are trodden under foot so also, they who sin have made no account of Christ; and so they have sinned. Thou art become the Body of Christ, and givest thou thyself to the devil, so that he treads thee under foot. "And accounted the blood a common thing," he says. What is "common"? It is "unclean," or the having nothing beyond other things. "And done despite unto the Spirit of grace." For he that accepts not a benefit, does despite to the benefactor. He made thee a son: and thou wishest to become a slave. He came to dwell with thee, and thou bringest in wicked imaginations to Him. Christ wished to stay with thee: and thou treadest Him down by surfeiting, by drunkenness. Let us listen, whoever partake of the mysteries unworthily: let us listen, whoever approach that Table unworthily. "Give not" (He says) "that which is holy unto the dogs, lest in time they trample them under their feet" (Matt. vii. 6), that is, lest they despise, lest they repudiate them. Yet he did not say this, but what was more fearful than this. For he constrains their souls by what is fearful. For this also is adapted to convert, no less than consolation. And at the same time he shows both the difference, and the chastisement, and sets forth the judgment upon them, as though it were an evident matter. […]
He who honours the bishop shall be honoured by God, even as he that dishonours him shall be punished by God. For if he that rises up against kings is justly held worthy of punishment, inasmuch as he dissolves public order, of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who presumes to do anything without the bishop, thus both destroying the [Church's] unity, and throwing its order into confusion?
11 more voices on this verse
The Church Fathers1 voice
Once more, note, he brings out the difference under the guise of exhortation, namely, the Son in one case and the slave in the other, those sacrifices of brute beasts in one case and in the other this rational and all-holy sacrifice. To the law …
The Medieval Church4 voices
A commentator
BonaventureCollationes de Decem Praeceptis, Collation 3 · Written in the 13th century.
proposed
Hear, you who are marked with the Christian name: the character is then imprinted upon you through the power of the name of God; and when you afterward sin, you empty out the power of the Sacrament. Of such persons the Apostle says: "They profess …
A commentator
BonaventureCollationes de Septem Donis, Collation 1 · Written in the 13th century.
proposed
When someone is worthy of eternal life, through sin he makes himself worthy of eternal death. Such a one must be greatly punished. Whence the Apostle to the Hebrews: "He who makes void the Law of Moses dies without any mercy on the testimony of …
524. – Then (v. 29) he describes something which refers to the New Testament: first, he states the punishment; secondly, the crime (v. 29b). 525. – In regard to the punishment he says, how much worse punishment do you think he deserves? For since the …
He submits the matter to their own judgment, which is what we usually do regarding what is firmly acknowledged by all, turning the listeners into judges. What does "tramples" mean? That is, despises. Just as we count despised people as nothing, so too, counting Christ …
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
Hath, as it were, trodden underfoot the Son of God - A lawgiver far more honourable than Moses. And counted the blood wherewith the better covenant was established, an unholy, a common, worthless thing. By which he hath been sanctified - Therefore Christ died for him also, and he was at least justified once.
(2.) They have counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing; that is, the blood of Christ, with which the covenant was purchased and sealed, and wherewith Christ himself was consecrated, or wherewith the apostate was sanctified, that is, baptized, visibly initiated into the new covenant by baptism, and admitted to the Lord's supper.
Of how much sorer punishment,.... Than a mere corporeal death, which was the punishment inflicted on the transgressors of the law of Moses.
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy - That is, he who renounces Christianity ought to be regarded as deserving a much severer punishment than the man who apostatized from the Jewish religion, and if he ought to be so regarded he will be - for God will treat every man as he ought to be treated.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
So he treads under foot God Himself who "glorified His Son as an high priest" (Heb 5:5; 6:6). an unholy thing--literally, "common," as opposed to "sanctified." No better than the blood of a common man, thus involving the consequence that Christ, in claiming to be God, was guilty of blasphemy, and so deserved to die! wherewith he was sanctified--for Christ died even for him.
Of how much sorer punishment - Such offenses were trifling in comparison of this, and in justice the punishment should be proportioned to the offense. Trodden under foot the Son of God - Treated him with the utmost contempt and blasphemy. The blood of the covenant - an unholy thing - The blood of the covenant means here the sacrificial death of Christ, by which the new covenant between God and man was ratified, sealed, and confirmed. And counting this unholy, or common, κοινον, intimates that they expected nothing from it in a sacrificial or atoning way. How near to those persons, and how near to their destruction, do they come in the present day who reject the atoning blood, and say, “that they expect no more benefit from the blood of Christ than they do from that of a cow or a sheep!” Is not this precisely the crime of which the apostle speaks here, and to which he tells us God would show no mercy? Despite unto the Spirit of grace? - Hath insulted the Spirit of grace. The apostle means the Holy Spirit, whose gifts were bestowed in the first age on believers for the confirmation of the Gospel. See Heb 6:4-6. Wherefore, if one apostatized in the first age, after having been witness to these miraculous gifts, much more after having possessed them himself, he must, like the scribes and Pharisees, have ascribed them to evil spirits; than which a greater indignity could not be done to the Spirit of God. Macknight. This is properly the sin against the Holy Ghost, which has no forgiveness.
The words behind it
27 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| πόσῳ, | poso | How much | G4214 → | |
| δοκεῖτε, | dokeite | think you | G1380 → | 62 times |
| χείρονος | cheironos | worse | G5501 → | |
| ἀξιωθήσεται | axiothesetai | will he deserve | G515 → | |
| τιμωρίας | timorias | punishment | G5098 → | |
| ὁ | ho | the [one] | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| τὸν | ton | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| υἱὸν | huion | Son | G5207 → | 377 times |
| τοῦ | tou | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| θεοῦ | theou | of God | G2316 → | 1312 times |
| καταπατήσας | katapatesas | having trampled upon | G2662 → | |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| τὸ | to | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| αἷμα | haima | blood | G129 → | 97 times |
| τῆς | tes | of the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| διαθήκης | diathekes | covenant | G1242 → | 33 times |
| κοινὸν | koinon | ordinary | G2839 → | |
| ἡγησάμενος | hegesamenos | having esteemed | G2233 → | 28 times |
| ἐν | en | by | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| ᾧ | ho | which | G3739 → | 1405 times |
| ἡγιάσθη | hegiasthe | he was sanctified | G37 → | 28 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| τὸ | to | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| πνεῦμα | pneuma | Spirit | G4151 → | 378 times |
| τῆς | tes | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| χάριτος | charitos | of grace | G5485 → | 153 times |
| ἐνυβρίσας; | enubrisas | having insulted? | G1796 → |
πόσῳ,How much
posoG4214 →
δοκεῖτε,think you
dokeiteG1380 →62 times
χείρονοςworse
cheironosG5501 →
ἀξιωθήσεταιwill he deserve
axiothesetaiG515 →
τιμωρίαςpunishment
timoriasG5098 →
ὁthe [one]
hoG3588 →19766 times
τὸνthe
tonG3588 →19766 times
υἱὸνSon
huionG5207 →377 times
τοῦ<the>
touG3588 →19766 times
θεοῦof God
theouG2316 →1312 times
καταπατήσαςhaving trampled upon
katapatesasG2662 →
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
τὸthe
toG3588 →19766 times
αἷμαblood
haimaG129 →97 times
τῆςof the
tesG3588 →19766 times
διαθήκηςcovenant
diathekesG1242 →33 times
κοινὸνordinary
koinonG2839 →
ἡγησάμενοςhaving esteemed
hegesamenosG2233 →28 times
ἐνby
enG1722 →2738 times
ᾧwhich
hoG3739 →1405 times
ἡγιάσθηhe was sanctified
hegiastheG37 →28 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
τὸthe
toG3588 →19766 times
πνεῦμαSpirit
pneumaG4151 →378 times
τῆς<the>
tesG3588 →19766 times
χάριτοςof grace
charitosG5485 →153 times
ἐνυβρίσας;having insulted?
enubrisasG1796 →
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Ephesians 4:30And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
it leads to
- 1 Thessalonians 5:19
Do not extinguish the Spirit.
- Acts 7:51
You stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit, just as your fathers did.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Isaiah 63:10
But they rebelled and grieved His Holy Spirit. So He turned and became their enemy, and He Himself fought against them.
- Ephesians 1:13–14
And in Him, having heard and believed the word of truth—the gospel of your salvation—you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,
- Genesis 6:6
And the LORD regretted that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:19
Through
Luke 12:10And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.
it leads to
- 1 John 5:16
If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he should ask God, who will give life to those who commit this kind of sin. There is a sin that leads…
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 1 John 5:16
Through
Hebrews 6:6and then have fallen away—to be restored to repentance, because they themselves are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting Him to open shame.
it leads to
- 2 Peter 2:21
It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness than to have known it and then to turn away from the holy commandment passed on to them.
- 2 Peter 2:21
Through
1 Corinthians 11:27Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.
it leads to
- John 6:51
I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And this bread, which I will give for the life of the world, is…
- John 6:51
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies42
On this verse
On this chapter
- The General Epistles
- The Covenants
- The Day of Atonement
- Eternal Security, and the Five Warnings of Hebrews
- Faith
- The Hall of Faith
Show the next 6 titles
- The Fall Feasts
- Hope
- The Anchor of the Soul
- Entertaining Angels Unaware
- How the Cross Saves: The Views of the Atonement
- Jephthah's vow
Show the next 6 titles
- The Joy Set Before Him
- The Messianic Psalms
- Nadab and Abihu: the unauthorized fire
- Patience and the Impulse
- The Farmer Waits for the Rain
- The Scarlet Thread
Show the next 6 titles
- The Tabernacle
- The Appointed Times Read as a Calendar of Prophecy
- The Ark of the Covenant
- The Ascension: Acts 1:1-11 · Luke 24:50-53
- The Blood
- The Bronze Laver
Show the next 6 titles
About Hebrews

This page draws on 19 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Bonaventure, Collationes de Decem Praeceptis, Collation 3; Bonaventure, Collationes de Septem Donis, Collation 1; Ephrem the Syrian, COMMENTARY ON THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS; Ignatius of Antioch, Epistle of Ignatius to the Smyrnaeans; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on Hebrews 20; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the New Testament; John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, The Pseudo-Oecumenian Catena on Hebrews; Origen of Alexandria, HOMILIES ON LEVITICUS 11.2; Origen of Alexandria, HOMILIES ON JOSHUA 5.6; Theodoret of Cyrus, INTERPRETATION OF HEBREWS 10; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Hebrews and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Hebrews.
