What Does Hebrews 10:26 Mean?
For if we willingly keep missing the mark after receiving a full knowing of the truth, there is no longer a slain offering left behind for shortcomings.
Key words are shown with the Hebrew or Greek and what each word meant.
Selah Decoded Version The Selah Decoded Version renders what the Hebrew and Greek words meant to the people who first heard them.
King James wording
King James Version
For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,THE KEY
The verse warns that once truth is received, continuing to miss by choice leaves no further sacrifice to fall back on.
THE MEANING
The warning addresses you now: after truth is received, continuing to miss it by choice leaves no further sacrifice for sins. The Greek verb describes deliberate sinning as a continuing course. The verse gives that refusal its full weight.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The lie is, “I can keep choosing against what I know is true and rely on another sacrifice later.” The verse says no further sacrifice remains.
THE ROOT
ἁμαρτανόντων
hamartanontōn
GROWS FROM
ἁμαρτ-
hamart-
to miss, err, or fall short
“keep missing the mark” in this verse is hamartanontōn. English “sin” can sound like a fixed category, while this Greek participle describes an active, continuing missing. Paired with “wilfully” (ἑκουσίως, hekousiōs: willingly), it places the weight on sustained choice after truth is received.
ALSO GROWS
hamartia: sin; missing
ἁμαρτία
It names the same missing that the verse says has no further sacrifice remaining.
hamartōlos: sinner; one characterized by missing
ἁμαρτωλός
It shows how a repeated action can become a description of a person.
ἐπίγνωσιν
epignōsin
GROWS FROM
γινωσκ-
ginōsk-
to know, recognize, or perceive
“full knowing” in this verse is epignōsin. The word carries recognition of truth, not merely detached information. The warning turns on what is received and recognized, then met with continuing choice.
ALSO GROWS
ginōskō: know, recognize, perceive
γινώσκω
It shows the knowing at the root of the word translated “knowledge.”
epiginōskō: recognize, come to know
ἐπιγινώσκω
It shares the word family and emphasizes recognition of the truth named here.
θυσίαν
thysian
GROWS FROM
θύω
thyō
to sacrifice or slaughter
“slain offering” in this verse is thysian. The sentence ends with a hard limit: no further sacrifice remains for this continuing, deliberate missing. The word does not leave a next offering in reserve.
ALSO GROWS
thyō: sacrifice, offer, or slaughter
θύω
This verb is the source of the word translated “sacrifice.”
thysiastērion: altar
θυσιαστήριον
It names the place associated with sacrifice, showing the wider family around the offering.
THE PATTERN
Chosen wrongdoing cannot be made harmless through presumption, concealment, or repeated offerings.
But the living soul who does anything with a raised hand, whether born in the land or a stranger, that one reviles the LORD, and that living soul shall be cut off from among his people.Whoever covers his rebellions shall not prosper, but whoever speaks them into the open and lets them go shall be shown compassion.Now where there is release of these, there is no more offering for falling short.THE THREAD
Now where there is release of these, there is no more offering for falling short.Both verses use ἁμαρτία (hamartia: sin, missing); Hebrews 10:18 also pairs it with ἄφεσις (aphesis: release). Together, release and warning share the same object: the text names the seriousness of continuing deliberate missing after truth is received.
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