Hebrews 10 20

Hebrews 10:20 kjv

By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;

Hebrews 10:20 nkjv

by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh,

Hebrews 10:20 niv

by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body,

Hebrews 10:20 esv

by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh,

Hebrews 10:20 nlt

By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place.

Hebrews 10 verses

Hebrews 10 20 Meaning

Hebrews 10:20 declares that believers now have direct, unhindered access to God's presence through a uniquely inaugurated "new and living way." This way was established by Jesus Christ Himself, and the means by which it was opened is profoundly identified as "the veil, that is, His flesh"—referring to His crucified human body. This passage signifies the abrogation of the Old Covenant's limited, ritualistic access and the establishment of a superior, perpetual access through Christ's singular and perfect sacrifice.

Hebrews 10 20 Context

Hebrews 10:20 is deeply embedded within the author's extensive argument concerning the superiority of Jesus Christ's high priesthood and His perfect, once-for-all sacrifice over the Levitical priesthood and the Old Covenant's repeated animal sacrifices. The preceding verses (Hebrews 9 and 10:1-18) highlight the ineffectiveness and temporal nature of the Old Covenant system, emphasizing that it could not truly perfect or cleanse the worshiper. The ritual of the Temple, particularly the veil separating the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place, symbolized the limited access to God under the Old Covenant due to humanity's sin.

Verse 19 introduces the idea of "confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus." Verse 20 then elaborates how this entry is made possible: through a new way, inaugurated by Christ, whose own flesh served as the "veil" that was torn. This statement powerfully contrasts with the limited access of the Old Testament high priest and directly responds to the cultural and religious reliance on the physical Temple. The verse dismantles any notion that salvation or access to God could still be found in Jewish ritualism, presenting Christ's work as the ultimate, final, and superior reality. It sets the stage for the exhortations to persevere in faith that follow (Heb 10:21-25).

Hebrews 10 20 Word analysis

• by: (dia) Signifies the means or agency through which the new way was established. It is an active instrument.
• a new: (prosphalon) This is a crucial term. It does not primarily mean neos (new in time, recent) or kainos (new in quality, fresh, superior). Prosphalon literally means "freshly slain" or "recently slaughtered," implying a vivid connection to sacrifice. In the context of "way," it denotes a "newly opened" or "recently inaugurated" way through a fresh sacrifice. This underscores the continuous efficacy and ongoing accessibility of the way because Christ's sacrifice remains perpetually effective. It is unlike any previous path; it is both unprecedented and enduringly current.
• and living: (kai zosan) Refers to something life-giving, vibrant, and active, as opposed to the "dead works" or temporary rituals of the Old Covenant. This way imparts spiritual life, fellowship, and is sustained by the living Christ. It's a continuous, dynamic access, not a static or temporary one.
• way: (hodou) A path or road. It denotes the means of approach, specifically to God. This term echoes Jesus' self-identification as "the Way" (Jn 14:6), indicating that access is through His Person. It implies a specific, deliberate route.
• which He consecrated: (ho enkainisen) The verb means "to dedicate anew," "to inaugurate," or "to open formally." It's a foundational act of establishing something previously nonexistent or unusable. Jesus didn't just show a way; He Himself made it and opened it authoritatively by His redemptive work, ensuring its ongoing validity. This term emphasizes His divine authority and active role.
• for us: (hemin) Designates the beneficiaries of this inaugurated way—humanity. It highlights the gracious and redemptive purpose of Christ's act.
• through: (dia) Again signifies the means, but here it indicates the specific instrument or "passage" by which the way was opened.
• the veil: (tou katapetasmatos) This is a direct reference to the thick, symbolic curtain in the Tabernacle/Temple that separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place (Holy of Holies). This veil was a literal and spiritual barrier, signifying humanity's separation from God's presence due to sin and the sacredness of His dwelling. Only the high priest could pass beyond it, once a year, with atoning blood.
• that is: (tout' estin) This phrase provides a clear, unmistakable identification, equating the previous statement with the following one. It's a theological explanation for what the "veil" truly represents in this new context.
• His flesh: (tes sarkos autou) This refers to Jesus' physical, human body—His incarnation. This is the profound heart of the verse. It asserts that Jesus' very body, through its suffering and crucifixion, was the "veil" that was torn apart, making access to God possible. His physical death dismantled the barrier between God and humanity.

Words-group Analysis:

• a new and living way: This phrase collectively portrays the distinctive nature of access under the New Covenant. It is utterly distinct from the old, signifying freshness (both "freshly slain" and unique), dynamism (life-giving), and constant accessibility. It underlines its spiritual vitality and sufficiency for salvation, directly contrasting the transient, unfulfilling paths of Old Testament rituals.
• which He consecrated for us: This emphasizes the divine authorship and singular initiative of Christ in establishing this access. It was not earned or discovered by humans but sovereignly provided by Jesus Himself for humanity's benefit, demonstrating God's proactive love and grace in opening the way.
• through the veil, that is, His flesh: This is the theological lynchpin of the verse. It clarifies the mechanism of this unparalleled access. By identifying "the veil" (the symbol of separation) directly with "His flesh" (Jesus' human body broken on the cross), the passage profoundly links the tearing of the Temple veil at Christ's death (Matt 27:51) with the physical sacrifice of Jesus. His broken body became the ultimate, real veil, whose tearing granted unrestricted and perpetual entry into the true Most Holy Place, the presence of God.

Hebrews 10 20 Bonus section

• The term prosphalon (translated "new") being tied to "freshly slain" provides a strong lexical link back to the sacrificial themes prevalent throughout Hebrews. It's not just "new" in terms of novelty, but perpetually effective and "fresh" due to the eternal value and immediacy of Christ's finished work.
• The profound connection between the Temple veil and Jesus' flesh highlights a key aspect of covenant theology: typology. The Tabernacle/Temple and its rituals were not ends in themselves but earthly shadows (Heb 8:5; 10:1) pointing forward to the spiritual realities fulfilled in Christ. The tearing of the literal temple veil visibly signified the spiritual reality of Christ's broken body creating access.
• The "living way" not only implies life-giving but also suggests the way itself is alive because the "Way" (Christ) is alive, resurrected, and eternally interceding for us (Heb 7:25). This way cannot perish or become obsolete.
• This passage powerfully dismantles the Old Covenant system and its continuing efficacy for direct access to God. For the original Jewish Christian audience, this would have been a radical departure from deeply ingrained traditions and understanding of how to approach God, challenging their potential inclination to return to Judaism under persecution. It affirms Christ's supremacy as the sole mediator.

Hebrews 10 20 Commentary

Hebrews 10:20 provides a foundational truth of Christian access to God, moving beyond the temporal limitations of the Old Covenant. It posits that the true means of entering God's holy presence is exclusively through the Person of Jesus Christ. The author leverages the powerful imagery of the Temple veil—a physical barrier that graphically symbolized humanity's separation from God—and identifies it with Christ's own "flesh" or body.

When Christ died, His flesh was torn on the cross, just as the Temple veil was supernaturally torn from top to bottom at the same moment (Matt 27:51). This wasn't merely a coincidence but a divine declaration that the old system of barriers and restricted access was definitively abolished. Jesus' crucifixion thus became the ultimate, perpetual, "new and living way" into God's presence. "New" implies its inauguration through the fresh "slaughter" or sacrifice of Christ, and "living" indicates its ongoing power to impart spiritual life and sustain fellowship. Unlike the former way, which involved yearly sacrifices and a dead ritual, this new way is perpetually effective and vivifying because Christ Himself is eternally alive and active.

This verse therefore forms the bedrock for the preceding exhortation to "draw near" (Heb 10:19), underscoring the confidence believers can now have. There are no more ceremonial barriers; direct fellowship with God is now a reality for all who trust in Christ, established by His decisive self-offering.