Vincent Word Studies - Hebrews 10:1 - 10:1

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Vincent Word Studies - Hebrews 10:1 - 10:1


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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:

The arrangement of the verse is much disputed. Rend. “The law, with the same sacrifices which they continually renew year by year, can never make the comers thereunto perfect.”

A shadow (σκιὰν)

The emphasis is on this thought. The legal system was a shadow. Σκιὰ is a rude outline, an adumbration, contrasted with εἰκὼν, the archetypal or ideal pattern. Σκιὰ does not accurately exhibit the figure itself. Comp. Heb 8:5.

Of good things to come (τῶν μελλόντων ἀγαθῶν)

From the point of view of the law.

The very image of the things (αὐτὴν τὴν εἰκόνα τῶν πραγμάτων)

For εἰκὼν image, see on Rev 13:14; see on Phi 2:7. Πραγμάτων things expresses a little more distinctly than μελλόντων the idea of facts and realities.

Can (δύναται)

Δύναται might be expected with ὁ νόμος the law as the subject. If δύναται, the plural, is retained, the clause the law - image of the things must be taken absolutely, the construction of the sentence breaking off suddenly, and the subject being changed from the law to the priests: “The priests can never,” etc. It is better to read δύναται in the singular, with Tischendorf, Westcott and Hort, and Weiss.

Continually (εἰς τὸ διηνεκὲς)

See on Heb 7:3, and comp. Heb 10:12, Heb 10:14. Const. with offer.