Hebrews 10 16

Hebrews 10:16 kjv

This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;

Hebrews 10:16 nkjv

"This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,"

Hebrews 10:16 niv

"This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds."

Hebrews 10:16 esv

"This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds,"

Hebrews 10:16 nlt

"This is the new covenant I will make
with my people on that day, says the LORD:
I will put my laws in their hearts,
and I will write them on their minds."

Hebrews 10 verses

Hebrews 10 16 Meaning

Hebrews 10:16 describes the core characteristic of the New Covenant, specifically its transformative impact on believers. It reveals that God's laws will no longer be an external code but will be inwardly inscribed on the heart and mind, leading to an internal desire and capacity to obey Him. This signifies a profound, spirit-wrought regeneration that shifts obedience from mere legal compliance to an inherent part of one's transformed nature, fulfilling prophecies of an intimate relationship with God.

Hebrews 10 16 Context

Hebrews 10:16 is a direct quotation from Jeremiah 31:33, brought forth by the author of Hebrews as definitive proof of the superiority and efficacy of the New Covenant established through Jesus Christ. In its immediate context (Heb 10:15-18), it serves as the Spirit's testimony regarding the ultimate result of Christ's perfect and once-for-all sacrifice, which perfects believers (Heb 10:14) and renders the Mosaic Law and its repetitive sacrifices obsolete. The author emphasizes that since Christ's sacrifice results in the internal inscription of God's laws and the complete remission of sins, there is no longer a need for sacrifices for sin.

The broader context of the Epistle to the Hebrews is to demonstrate Christ's supremacy over the Old Covenant system—including prophets, angels, Moses, Aaron, the Tabernacle, and its sacrifices. The original audience, primarily Jewish Christians facing persecution, were tempted to revert to the familiar, visible rituals of Judaism. By highlighting the New Covenant's inherent permanence, the internal nature of its laws, and its foundation on a perfect high priest and sacrifice, the author aims to reassure them of their secure standing in Christ and to exhort them to persevere in faith, avoiding apostasy. The emphasis on an internal, Spirit-empowered relationship with God directly counters any reliance on external ceremonies or adherence to a legal code that could never truly transform the heart.

Hebrews 10 16 Word analysis

• This is the covenant (Διαθήκη - Diathēkē): This term in Greek refers to a "covenant," "testament," or a divinely appointed "will." Here, it signifies God's new, binding agreement with His people, inaugurated and secured by Christ's blood. Unlike a contract, a diathēkē is typically a unilateral decree by a superior party. Its repetition from Jeremiah underscores its foundational truth and fulfillment.
• that I will make (ποιήσομαι - poiēsomai): This future tense emphasizes God's sovereign initiative in establishing this new agreement. It is His work, not a human achievement.
• with them (πρὸς αὐτούς - pros autous): Refers to those who are part of the New Covenant community, those in Christ, both Jew and Gentile.
• after those days (μετὰ τὰς ἡμέρας ἐκείνας - meta tas hēmeras ekeinas): This phrase marks the transition from the Old Covenant era, characterized by external laws, to the new age, ushered in by Christ's sacrificial work and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
• declares the Lord (λέγει Κύριος - legei Kyrios): This phrase affirms divine authorship and authority, lending immense weight to the prophetic declaration. It signifies an infallible and trustworthy word from God.
• I will put (διδούς - didous): This is an active participle indicating God's direct action in placing His laws within His people. It's a gift, a divine endowment.
• my laws (νόμους μου - nomous mou): Not necessarily the entire Mosaic code in its ceremonial or civil aspects, but God's divine will, principles, and righteousness, which the Mosaic Law represented. It is the moral essence of God's character and requirements that are now internalized.
• on their hearts (ἐπὶ καρδίας αὐτῶν - epi kardias autōn): In biblical thought, the "heart" (καρδία - kardia) is the innermost being, the seat of intellect, emotion, will, moral character, and conscience. To have laws "on their hearts" means an internal desire, affection, and love for God's will; it signifies a transformed core being where obedience springs from within.
• and write them (ἐπιγράψω - epigraphō): Reinforces the act of inscribing. It is a permanent, indelible imprint, as opposed to transient outward practices. The passive reception of this action emphasizes God as the sole agent.
• on their minds (ἐπὶ τὸν νοῦν αὐτῶν - epi ton noun autōn): The "mind" (νοῦς - nous) refers to the faculty of understanding, reason, perception, and conviction. Having the law written on the mind means intellectual comprehension and deep conviction of God's truth. This ensures not just emotional attachment but intellectual alignment with God's ways.

Words-group analysis

• I will put my laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds: This powerful parallelism signifies a complete, holistic internalization of God's will. "Heart" speaks to the will and affections, "mind" to understanding and thought. Together, they imply that the New Covenant enables believers to not only know God's will but to genuinely desire and embrace it from their innermost being, making obedience a spontaneous outgrowth of a transformed nature, rather than an imposed duty. This is brought about by the Holy Spirit.

Hebrews 10 16 Bonus section

The promise of the law written on hearts and minds implies several profound realities for believers under the New Covenant:

• Internal Regeneration: It is a radical internal spiritual change, often called regeneration or being "born again," which is foundational to participating in this new covenant relationship. This is not self-improvement but a divine work of re-creation within.
• Empowered Obedience: This internal law-writing means believers are supernaturally empowered by the Holy Spirit to genuinely desire and live according to God's will. It’s no longer merely an obligation but a joyous response to God's love, leading to fruitfulness.
• Deep Intimacy with God: This internal knowing fosters a deeply personal relationship with God. When God's law is written within, it aligns one's deepest affections and thoughts with His, enabling a life of worshipful obedience.
• Sufficiency of Christ's Work: The very possibility of this internal transformation is directly linked to the efficacy of Christ’s one sacrifice. It is His work that mediates this superior covenant and secures such a profound change within believers, validating the absolute finality of His atoning work.

Hebrews 10 16 Commentary

Hebrews 10:16 presents a pivotal truth about the nature of the New Covenant: it moves God's relationship with His people from an external to an internal paradigm. Unlike the Old Covenant where laws were inscribed on stone tablets, prompting obedience through fear or external reward, the New Covenant, sealed by Christ's blood, inscribes God's moral requirements directly onto the regenerated heart and mind of believers. This inward transformation is the work of the Holy Spirit, making God's will not merely understood but also deeply desired and enabled. It is the basis for true righteousness and communion, as it results in a people who not only know God's desires but are willing and able to follow them from an intrinsic motivation. This eradicates the burden of ceremonial laws and highlights that Christ's perfect sacrifice not only atones for sin but empowers believers to live righteously through internal divine enablement.