Bible Strands
Hebrews 10:27
but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume all adversaries.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The author addresses Jewish Christians facing pressure to revert to the old covenant, immediately following the statement that deliberate sin after knowing the truth leaves no remaining sacrifice. The verse functions as the direct consequence of that warning, contrasting the old covenant's fatal penalties with the new covenant's final judgment.
The words — φοβερὰ (phobera) means terrifying, and ἐκδοχὴ (ekdochē) means expectation, together rendering the phrase "fearful expectation." ζῆλος (zēlos) denotes fury or raging zeal, modifying the coming fire that will consume adversaries.
The thread — The motif of unavertable divine wrath runs through Isaiah 26:11 and Zephaniah 1:18, where God's zeal and the Day of the LORD's wrath consume all resistance. The urgency of escaping neglect parallels Hebrews 2:3, while the contrast with Mosaic law judgment appears in Hebrews 10:28.
Why it lands — The text states plainly that rejecting Christ leaves only judgment, requiring readers to abandon any notion of continued compromise. It demands immediate, sober adherence to the truth by removing all alternative outcomes for deliberate apostasy.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
Cross-references
- Isaiah 26:11 O LORD, Your hand is upraised, but they do not see it. They will see Your zeal for Your people and be put to shame. The fire set for Your enemies will consume them!
- Zephaniah 1:18 Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to deliver them on the Day of the LORD’s wrath. The whole earth will be consumed by the fire of His jealousy.” For indeed, He will make a sudden end of all who dwell on the earth.
- Hebrews 2:3 how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? This salvation was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard Him,
- Hebrews 9:27 Just as man is appointed to die once, and after that to face judgment,
- Hebrews 12:25 See to it that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if the people did not escape when they refused Him who warned them on earth, how much less will we escape if we reject Him who warns us from heaven?
- Nahum 1:2 The LORD is a jealous and avenging God; the LORD is avenging and full of wrath. The LORD takes vengeance on His foes and reserves wrath for His enemies.
- Matthew 13:50 and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
- Jeremiah 4:4 Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, and remove the foreskins of your hearts, O men of Judah and people of Jerusalem. Otherwise, My wrath will break out like fire and burn with no one to extinguish it, because of your evil deeds.”
- Nahum 1:8 But with an overwhelming flood He will make an end of Nineveh and pursue His enemies into darkness.
- Zephaniah 3:8 Therefore wait for Me,” declares the LORD, “until the day I rise to testify. For My decision is to gather nations, to assemble kingdoms, to pour out upon them My indignation—all My burning anger. For all the earth will be consumed by the fire of My jealousy.