Hebrews 10 35

Hebrews 10:35 kjv

Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.

Hebrews 10:35 nkjv

Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward.

Hebrews 10:35 niv

So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.

Hebrews 10:35 esv

Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward.

Hebrews 10:35 nlt

So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you!

Hebrews 10 verses

Hebrews 10 35 Meaning

Hebrews 10:35 encourages believers, particularly those enduring hardship and temptation to abandon their faith, to steadfastly retain their boldness and assurance in Christ. It emphasizes that this persistent confidence, rooted in their relationship with God through Jesus' sacrifice, guarantees a significant and divinely ordained reward, underscoring the immense value of spiritual endurance.

Hebrews 10 35 Context

Hebrews 10:35 comes as a pivotal exhortation within the latter part of the Epistle to the Hebrews, transitioning from theological exposition to practical application. The preceding verses (Heb 10:1-18) extensively detail the perfection and finality of Christ's sacrifice, establishing His work as superior to all Old Testament rituals, thus granting believers direct and confident access to God (Heb 10:19-22). The immediate context (Heb 10:23-25) then urges holding fast to the confession of hope without wavering, encouraging mutual love and faithfulness, and not forsaking corporate assembly.

However, the author quickly introduces a severe warning against willful sin and apostasy (Heb 10:26-31), highlighting the terrifying consequence for those who deliberately reject the truth after receiving it. This warning sets the stage for reminding the readers of their past commendable endurance (Heb 10:32-34), where they bravely withstood severe persecution, public shame, and loss of property. Many in the original audience, primarily Jewish Christians, were likely facing ongoing social ostracism, economic hardship, and even martyrdom for their faith in Jesus, or were contemplating returning to Judaism to escape such trials. This verse, therefore, directly addresses their present temptation to abandon their conviction and fall away from Christ due to the difficulties they faced, urging them to maintain the very confidence that empowered their past resilience.

Hebrews 10 35 Word analysis

• Cast not away (ἀποβάλητε - apobalēte): From the Greek verb apoballō, meaning "to throw away," "cast off," or "reject." It's an aorist active subjunctive, here functioning as a strong prohibition ("Do not ever cast away"). The choice of this verb implies a deliberate act of discarding something valuable. In the biblical context, it refers to a conscious decision to relinquish one's spiritual standing or conviction. It signifies a potential, drastic turning away from faith due to external pressures or internal doubts.
• therefore: Links directly to the preceding discussion of Christ's perfect sacrifice and the readers' past exemplary endurance in affliction (Heb 10:19-34). It indicates that the instruction is a logical consequence of these theological truths and past experiences, underscoring the responsibility to continue steadfastly.
• your: Possessive pronoun emphasizing that this confidence is personally held by the believers; it belongs to them as a gift from God through Christ.
• confidence (τὴν παρρησίαν - tēn parrēsian): A key term in Hebrews. Parrhesia refers to boldness, frankness, freedom of speech, or courageous assurance. It's not a mere feeling of self-assurance but a divine enablement to approach God directly without fear (Heb 4:16, 10:19) and to boldly profess faith even amidst opposition (Acts 4:13). This confidence is rooted in the finished work of Christ, which removes guilt and grants access. To "cast away parrhesia" is to surrender this profound spiritual privilege and ability to stand freely before God and speak freely about Christ.
• which hath: Connects the confidence to its intrinsic characteristic and outcome. The presence of this confidence directly implies its benefit.
• great (μεγάλην - megalēn): Indicates immense size, extent, or importance. The recompense is not trivial but of considerable magnitude and significance. This adverb underscores the divine generosity in reward.
• recompence of reward (μισθαποδοσίαν - misthapodosian): A compound Greek word meaning "the giving back of wages" or "a recompense of reward." It signifies a just payment or retribution, implying that God is faithful to compensate for faithful endurance and spiritual labor. In the context of the New Covenant, this reward is primarily spiritual and eternal, often referring to a share in Christ's glory, eternal life, or divine favor, rather than material earthly blessings. It stresses God's nature as a Rewarder, as also seen in Heb 11:6.

Hebrews 10 35 Bonus section

The concept of parrhesia (confidence/boldness) in Hebrews 10:35 is profoundly counter-cultural for the original audience. In many ancient societies, only those of high status or great privilege could approach rulers or divinities with such directness. The author underscores that all believers, regardless of their social standing or past, now possess this sacred boldness due to Christ's priestly work, dismantling former barriers and societal norms concerning divine access. To discard it would not just be a spiritual failing but a regression from an exalted, Christ-bought privilege to a pre-Cross status of fear and distance from God. The reward, therefore, is not merely for surviving persecution, but for actively maintaining and exercising this revolutionary spiritual boldness in a hostile world.

Hebrews 10 35 Commentary

Hebrews 10:35 is a potent command to perseverance. It charges believers to protect and uphold their "confidence," which is not a casual self-assurance, but the Spirit-empowered boldness derived from their unhindered access to God through the completed sacrifice of Jesus Christ (Heb 10:19-22). This boldness is the very core of their Christian life, enabling them to stand firm, speak truthfully, and approach the divine throne despite external pressures or internal doubts. To "cast it away" would be to abandon the greatest privilege and spiritual asset afforded by the New Covenant.

The incentive for such endurance is profound: "great recompence of reward." This isn't a transactional wage for perfect works, but a generous divine remuneration for enduring faith and loyalty. It speaks to God's faithfulness as a "rewarder" (Heb 11:6), acknowledging their suffering and commitment. This recompense is inherently spiritual and eternal—a future inheritance, ultimate vindication, and glorified communion with Christ, far outweighing any earthly loss or temporary affliction. The verse therefore balances human responsibility to hold fast with divine promise of certain reward, urging steadfastness in light of Christ's finished work and God's unwavering justice and generosity. It is a clarion call not to capitulate to the world's pressures, but to trust in the supreme value of Christ and the future glory He assures.