What Does Hebrews 10:28 Mean in the King James?
He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The sentence of death without mercy is bound to a charge confirmed by two or three witnesses, not a single voice.
THE MEANING
This verse speaks to you now with an uncompromising boundary: treating Moses’ instruction as contemptible, when two or three witnesses establish the charge, ends in death without mercy. The witnesses make the accusation corroborated, and the judgment names no pity.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
A single accusation is enough to establish a charge worthy of death.
THE ROOT
ἀθετήσας
athetesas
GROWS FROM
ἀθετ-
athet-
Set aside, reject, or nullify.
The word translated “despised” carries the force of setting something aside or treating it as invalid. The verse describes more than an inward feeling: Moses’ instruction is treated as something that can be rejected, with a severe consequence when witnesses establish the charge.
ALSO GROWS
atheteō: Reject, nullify, or set aside.
ἀθετέω
This is the verb whose participle describes the person who sets Moses’ instruction aside.
athetesis: Annulment or setting aside.
ἀθέτησις
Hebrews 9:26 uses this noun for the putting away of sin, showing the same word family can describe a decisive removal.
THE PATTERN
A charge or matter is established through the combined testimony of two or three witnesses.
One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.THE THREAD
For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.The Greek word family behind “despised” here also appears in Hebrews 9:26 as “put away.” The shared root links rejecting something with decisively setting it aside, while each verse applies that action to a different object.
Read the SDV Bible.
Every verse has a Deep Dive in the app.
The iPhone Bible app with the Selah Decoded Version.
Does something in this reading look wrong? Tell us