Hebrews 10:3

Instead, those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins,

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — The author addresses Jewish believers to contrast the old covenant sacrificial system with Christ's finished work. The passage occurs during a theological argument demonstrating why repeated rituals cannot permanently remove guilt.

The words — The Greek term ἀνάμνησις (anamnēsis) translates literally to "a reminder," while ἐνιαυτόν (eniauton) specifies the "yearly" frequency. These terms anchor the verse's claim that the sacrifices merely call sin to mind rather than erasing it.

The thread — The annual sacrificial pattern appears in Leviticus 16:6 where Aaron presents the bull for atonement, and in Exodus 30:10 which commands yearly atonement on the altar horns. Hebrews 9:7 later notes the high priest's solitary annual entry into the inner sanctuary with blood.

Why it lands — The text states that repeated sacrifices function only as a yearly reminder of sin rather than a permanent solution. Readers must conclude that the old covenant system was inherently insufficient and pointed forward to a single, effective atonement.

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

ἀλλ᾽all᾽But ἐνenin αὐταῖςautaisthese ἀνάμνησιςanamnēsis[there is] a reminder ἁμαρτιῶνhamartiōnof sins κατ᾽kat᾽every ἐνιαυτόν·eniautonyear;

King James Version

But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.

Cross-references

Hebrews 9:7 But only the high priest entered the second room, and then only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance.
Exodus 30:10 Once a year Aaron shall make atonement on the horns of the altar. Throughout your generations he shall make atonement on it annually with the blood of the sin offering of atonement. The altar is most holy to the LORD.”
Leviticus 16:6 Aaron is to present the bull for his sin offering and make atonement for himself and his household.
Leviticus 16:34 This is to be a permanent statute for you, to make atonement once a year for the Israelites because of all their sins.” And all this was done as the LORD had commanded Moses.
Leviticus 23:27 “The tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement. You shall hold a sacred assembly and humble yourselves, and present a food offering to the LORD.
Leviticus 16:21 Then he is to lay both hands on the head of the live goat and confess over it all the iniquities and rebellious acts of the Israelites in regard to all their sins. He is to put them on the goat’s head and send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a man appointed for the task.
Leviticus 16:29 This is to be a permanent statute for you: On the tenth day of the seventh month, you shall humble yourselves and not do any work—whether the native or the foreigner who resides among you—
Numbers 29:7 On the tenth day of this seventh month, you are to hold a sacred assembly, and you shall humble yourselves; you must not do any work.
1 Kings 17:18 “O man of God,” said the woman to Elijah, “what have you done to me? Have you come to remind me of my iniquity and cause the death of my son?”
Matthew 26:28 This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.