Hebrews 10 30

Hebrews 10:30 kjv

For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.

Hebrews 10:30 nkjv

For we know Him who said, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. And again, "The LORD will judge His people."

Hebrews 10:30 niv

For we know him who said, "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," and again, "The Lord will judge his people."

Hebrews 10:30 esv

For we know him who said, "Vengeance is mine; I will repay." And again, "The Lord will judge his people."

Hebrews 10:30 nlt

For we know the one who said, "I will take revenge.
I will pay them back."
He also said, "The LORD will judge his own people."

Hebrews 10 verses

Hebrews 10 30 Meaning

This verse serves as a powerful reminder of God's absolute sovereignty and righteous justice, particularly concerning judgment and recompense. It reinforces the truth that vengeance and ultimate judgment belong solely to the Lord, not to humans. It implies a dual aspect: a comfort for those who suffer injustice, knowing God will justly intervene, and a severe warning to those within His covenant people who might despise His grace and provoke His wrath, affirming that God will indeed bring judgment upon those who are disobedient.

Hebrews 10 30 Context

Hebrews 10:30 appears within a passage (Heb 10:26-31) that issues a most solemn warning against willful, unrepentant sin and apostasy after receiving the knowledge of the truth. The author has extensively argued for the superiority and finality of Christ's sacrifice, replacing the old covenant's animal sacrifices. To willfully sin, therefore, means to reject this ultimate, perfect sacrifice for sin, leaving no further provision for atonement (Heb 10:26). Such an action is depicted as trampling the Son of God underfoot, profaning His blood, and insulting the Holy Spirit (Heb 10:29). This grave offense calls for a "fearful expectation of judgment" (Heb 10:27). In this immediate and terrifying context, verse 30 grounds the certainty and severity of this impending judgment in God's immutable character, quoting two powerful declarations from Deuteronomy 32. For the original Jewish Christian audience, who understood God's covenantal dealings and disciplinary actions with Israel, these warnings would have resonated deeply, emphasizing the dire consequences of forsaking their new, better covenant in Christ.

Hebrews 10 30 Word analysis

• For (γάρ - gar): Introduces a reason or explanation, linking back to the "fearful expectation of judgment" mentioned in Heb 10:27 and the deserved "severer punishment" in Heb 10:29. It grounds the preceding warning in God's character.
• we know (οἴδαμεν - oidamen): This is not merely intellectual recognition but deep, experiential, and certain knowledge. It signifies that this truth is deeply embedded in the understanding and conviction of believers, rooted in Scriptural teaching and possibly personal experience of God's ways. It implies an incontrovertible truth the audience ought to already grasp.
• Him who said (τὸν εἰπόντα - ton eiponta): Refers directly to God Himself, establishing the divine origin and authoritative nature of the quotes that follow. This emphasizes that these are not human opinions but God's own words.
• Vengeance is Mine, I will repay (Ἐμοὶ ἐκδίκησις, ἐγὼ ἀνταποδώσω - Emoί ekdikēsis, egō antapodōsō):
  • Vengeance (ἐκδίκησις - ekdikēsis): Often mistranslated as human revenge. In the divine context, it denotes righteous retribution, judicial justice, or a legal decision that brings recompense. It is God's rightful act of punishing evil and restoring balance, not a passionate, sinful act of human retaliation. It pertains to a public display of justice against wrongdoers.
  • is Mine (Ἐμοὶ - Emoί): Emphatically placed first in Greek, underscoring that this right belongs exclusively to God. It is His sole prerogative.
  • I will repay (ἐγὼ ἀνταποδώσω - egō antapodōsō): The pronoun egō is also emphatic, reinforcing God's direct and personal agency. antapodōsō means to give back, to recompense fully, or to requite. It implies a precise and just compensation corresponding to deeds done, whether good or evil.
• says the Lord (λέγει Κύριος - legei Kyrios): Affirms the divine authority of the first quotation from Deuteronomy 32:35, ensuring no one doubts the speaker.
• And again (καὶ πάλιν - kai palin): Introduces a second, reinforcing divine declaration, demonstrating the consistent nature of God's character concerning judgment throughout Scripture.
• The Lord will judge (Κύριος κρινεῖ - Kyrios krinei):
  • The Lord (Κύριος - Kyrios): Reinforces divine authority.
  • will judge (κρινεῖ - krinei): Means to discern, to decide, to condemn, or to punish. Here, it signifies the Lord's active role in rendering decisions and executing justice, particularly in terms of accountability.
• His people (τὸν λαὸν αὐτοῦ - ton laon autou):
  • His people (ton laon autou): This is a critical phrase in the context of Hebrews. In Deuteronomy, it referred to Israel. In Hebrews, it is directly applied to the professing Christian community – those who are within the sphere of God's covenant and revelation. It emphasizes that God's judgment is not solely for the pagan world but also, and often primarily, for those who claim to be His own, especially if they are unfaithful. This makes the warning exceptionally potent for the Hebrew readers.
• Word-Groups Analysis:
  • "For we know Him who said": Establishes the foundation of certainty and divine authority for the subsequent statements. It appeals to shared, deeply held knowledge among the readers about God's character derived from Scripture.
  • "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord: This double-barreled statement emphatically claims divine exclusivity and infallibility in administering ultimate justice. It directly warns against human attempts to usurp this divine prerogative (e.g., personal revenge) while assuring that justice will be perfectly rendered by God.
  • "And again, “The Lord will judge His people.”": The repetition, using "again," intensifies the warning. The focus on "His people" clarifies that judgment applies particularly to those in a covenant relationship, meaning those who have professed faith in Christ. It underscores their higher accountability, confirming that spiritual privileges come with spiritual responsibilities and potential divine consequences for disobedience or apostasy.

Hebrews 10 30 Bonus section

The two quotes in Hebrews 10:30, sourced from Deuteronomy 32:35-36, stem from the "Song of Moses," which served as a covenant document for Israel, detailing both God's faithfulness and His warnings of judgment for disobedience. The specific context in Deuteronomy speaks of God's indignation against Israel's apostasy, but also His compassion and eventual vengeance on their enemies. In Hebrews, the focus is squarely on the warning to those within the "people of God" who would reject the greater covenant. The deliberate juxtaposition of God's exclusive right to "vengeance" (a perfect, holy justice) and the certainty of "judgment" (accountability) highlights the inescapable nature of consequences for spiritual rebellion under the New Covenant. This verse also implicitly contrasts God's righteous ekdikēsis (judicial retribution) with fallen human revenge (often rooted in personal anger and imbalance), reminding believers to entrust all matters of injustice to God rather than attempting to right wrongs themselves. This deepens the command found in Rom 12:19.

Hebrews 10 30 Commentary

Hebrews 10:30 anchors the severity of God's judgment against apostasy in two unequivocal statements from Deuteronomy. "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay" asserts God's exclusive right and capability to dispense perfect retribution; it's a divine act of justice, not human emotion. This provides both a solemn warning against incurring divine wrath by rejecting the covenant and a comfort for believers experiencing injustice, assuring them that God will ultimately balance the scales. The second declaration, "The Lord will judge His people," intensifies the warning specifically for the professing Christian community. It underscores that spiritual privilege demands heightened accountability. Those who have experienced the profound grace of Christ yet deliberately turn their backs on it will face God's just, albeit fearful, judgment. This verse succinctly conveys that God is neither unobservant nor indifferent to the actions of His people, particularly when they involve a contemptuous disregard for His Son and the New Covenant's salvation.