The Meaning of Hebrews 10:28 Explained

Hebrews 10:28

KJV: He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:

YLT: any one who did set at nought a law of Moses, apart from mercies, by two or three witnesses, doth die,

Darby: Any one that has disregarded Moses' law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses:

ASV: A man that hath set at nought Moses law dieth without compassion on the word of two or three witnesses:

KJV Reverse Interlinear

He  that despised  Moses'  law  died  without  mercy  under  two  or  three  witnesses: 

What does Hebrews 10:28 Mean?

Context Summary

Hebrews 10:26-39 - Beware Of Backsliding
The willful sin here referred to does not consist in isolated acts, but in a determined course of action, persisted in until the very desire for a better life wanes and dies out of the soul.
These strong remonstrances were needed in those days of sore persecution. Three considerations are adduced, urging steadfastness: (1.) The certain punishment which must follow on the rejection of the greatest gifts that God can make, so much richer than anything presented under the Mosaic covenant. (2.) The sufferings already endured, the reward for which would-be forfeited, if these harried souls were now to draw back. (3.) The near advent of the Christ, who would not fail to compensate His faithful servants.
Then we are reminded that the just-those who have been accepted in the Beloved-live; that is, may derive all the reinforcements of soul strength and patience that they require, from the unseen and eternal world where Jesus waits to succor and uphold. [source]

Chapter Summary: Hebrews 10

1  The weakness of the law sacrifices
10  The sacrifice of Christ's body once offered,
14  for ever has taken away sins
19  An exhortation to hold fast the faith with patience and thanksgiving

Greek Commentary for Hebrews 10:28

Hath set at naught [ατετησας]
First aorist active participle of ατετεω — atheteō late compound, very common in lxx, from alpha privative and τιτημι — tithēmi to render null and void, to set aside, only here in Hebrews (see Mark 7:9), but note ατετησις — athetēsis (Hebrews 7:18; Hebrews 9:26). Without mercy See 2 Corinthians 1:3. This was the law (Deuteronomy 17:6) for apostates. On the word of two or three “On the basis of two or three.” For this use of επι — epi with the locative see Hebrews 9:17. [source]
He that despised [ἀφετήσας τις]
Lit. one that despised; any transgressor. The verb only here in Hebrews. The kindred noun ἀθέτησις only in Hebrews. See Hebrews 7:18; Hebrews 9:26. [source]
Died [ἀποθνήσκει]
Lit. dieth. According to the ordinance as it now stands in the law. [source]
Without mercy [χωρὶς οἰκτιρμῶν]
The phrase N.T.oFor the noun see on 2 Corinthians 1:3. [source]
Under two or three witnesses [ἐπὶ δυσὶν ἢ τρισὶν μάρτυσιν]
As in lxx, Deuteronomy 17:6. Ἐπὶ with dative signifying on condition of two or three witnesses testifying. Comp. 1 Timothy 5:17, where the same phrase occurs with the genitive, before, in the presence of. Comp. also Deuteronomy 19:15. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Hebrews 10:28

Mark 14:56 Their witness agreed not []
Peculiar to Mark. Lit., their testimonies were not equal. Hence the difficulty of fulfilling the requirement of the law, which demanded two witnesses. See Deuteronomy 17:6; and compare Matthew 18:16; 1 Timothy 5:19; Hebrews 10:28. [source]
Galatians 3:11 The just shall live by faith [ὁ δίκαιος ἐκ πίστεως ζήσεται]
Better, the righteous. Quoted from Habakkuk 2:4, and appears in Romans 1:17, and Hebrews 10:28. The lxx has μοῦ myeither after δίκαιος , “my righteous one shall live, etc.,” or after πίστεως , “by my faith or faithfulness.” [source]
1 Timothy 5:12 They have cast off their first faith [τὴν πρώτην πίστιν ἠθέτησαν]
Ἁθετεῖν is to set aside, do away with, reject or slight. See Mark 6:26; Luke 10:16; Hebrews 10:28. Often in lxx. Πίστιν is pledge: so frequently in Class. with give and receive. See, for instance, Plato, Phaedr. 256 D. In lxx, Galatians href="/desk/?q=ga+3:15&sr=1">Galatians 3:15, διαθήκην ἀθετεῖν torender a covenant void. In lxx with oath, 2 Chronicles 36:13. Psalm 14:4: “He that sweareth to his neighbor καὶ οὐκ ἀθετῶν. ” Psalm 88:34; 131:11; 1 Maccabees 6:62. The meaning here is, having broken their first pledge; and this may refer to a pledge to devote themselves, after they became widows, to the service of Christ and the church. The whole matter is obscure. [source]
Hebrews 2:2 A just recompense of reward [ἔνδικον μισθατοδοσίαν]
Ἔνδικος justonly here and Romans 3:8. olxx, quite frequent in Class., but mainly in poetry. The meaning is substantially the same as δίκαιος as it appears in the familiar phrase δίκαιός εἰμι with the infinitive: thus, δίκαιός εἰμι κολάζειν Iam right to punish, that is, I have a right, etc., right or justice being regarded as working within a definite circle. Μισθαποδοσία recompenseonly in Hebrews. Comp. Hebrews 10:35; Hebrews 11:26. olxx, oClass., where the word is, μισθοδοσία . From μισθός wagesand ἀποδιδόναι topay off or discharge. The reference is, primarily, to the punishments suffered by the Israelites in the wilderness. Comp. Hebrews 3:16; Hebrews 10:28; 1 Corinthians 10:5, 1 Corinthians 10:6. [source]

What do the individual words in Hebrews 10:28 mean?

Having set aside anyone [the] law of Moses without mercies on the basis of two or three witnesses he dies
ἀθετήσας τις νόμον Μωϋσέως χωρὶς οἰκτιρμῶν ἐπὶ δυσὶν τρισὶν μάρτυσιν ἀποθνήσκει

ἀθετήσας  Having  set  aside 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: ἀθετέω  
Sense: to do away with, to set aside, disregard.
τις  anyone 
Parse: Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: τὶς  
Sense: a certain, a certain one.
νόμον  [the]  law 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: νόμος  
Sense: anything established, anything received by usage, a custom, a law, a command.
Μωϋσέως  of  Moses 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: Μωσεύς 
Sense: the legislator of the Jewish people and in a certain sense the founder of the Jewish religion.
χωρὶς  without 
Parse: Preposition
Root: χωρίς  
Sense: separate, apart.
οἰκτιρμῶν  mercies 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Plural
Root: οἰκτιρμός  
Sense: compassion, pity, mercy.
ἐπὶ  on  the  basis  of 
Parse: Preposition
Root: ἐπί  
Sense: upon, on, at, by, before.
δυσὶν  two 
Parse: Adjective, Dative Masculine Plural
Root: δύο 
Sense: the two, the twain.
τρισὶν  three 
Parse: Adjective, Dative Masculine Plural
Root: τρεῖς 
Sense: three.
μάρτυσιν  witnesses 
Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Plural
Root: μάρτυς 
Sense: a witness.
ἀποθνήσκει  he  dies 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ἀποθνῄσκω  
Sense: to die.