Hebrews 10:5-7
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
The verse highlights that God prepared a body for Christ, not that Christ merely offered himself based on a preexisting body. This emphasizes the divine initiative in fashioning Jesus' physical existence specifically for the purpose of sacrifice, a body uniquely designed to fulfill God's will in a way animal sacrifices never could.
Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, “Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body have you prepared for me; in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure. Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come to do your will, O God, as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.’”
English Standard Version (ESV)
The author of Hebrews is continuing the argument that the Old Testament sacrificial system was ultimately insufficient and pointing to Christ as the final, perfect sacrifice. The preceding verses established that animal sacrifices could never truly cleanse sins, so now the writer quotes Psalm 40 to show how God Himself provided the solution through His Son. This verse sets up Christ’s own declaration of His purpose in coming to earth: to fulfill God's will through a body uniquely prepared for this ultimate offering.
We often think of worship as going through the motions—going to church, praying, giving. But what if God desires something deeper?
The writer of Hebrews quotes Psalm 40:6, highlighting a crucial shift in God's focus. "Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired." This isn't to say God never wanted sacrifices under the Old Covenant. But the psalm, and the writer's application of it, points to a time when God's ultimate desire wasn't the endless cycle of animal offerings.
A Deeper Purpose
What makes Jesus' sacrifice different from all the animal sacrifices that came before?
The verse continues with a profound declaration: "...but a body you have prepared for me." This is the heart of the New Covenant.
Ask a follow-up
The Incarnation as Preparation
Understand the original words
Christos · Greek Noun
The Anointed One, the Messiah; the Son of God who came in human flesh to fulfill the law and offer Himself as the final, sufficient sacrifice.
prosphorai · Greek Noun
Things presented or given to God, often as a sacrifice or dedication; in the OT, these could be grain, animal, or drink offerings intended to honor God.
soma · Greek Noun
The physical human existence taken on by the Son of God; the incarnation, which enabled Him to live, suffer, and die as the representative of humanity.
olah · Hebrew Noun
Animal sacrifices consumed entirely by fire as an act of total surrender, atonement, and worship to God.
chattah · Hebrew Noun
Sacrifices specifically designated to make atonement for unintentional sins or ceremonial impurity, focusing on the removal of guilt.
thelema · Greek Noun
The divine decree, purpose, or moral standard of God that humanity is called to obey and align with.
This verse uses Psalm 40:6-8, a text originating from David's time, to illustrate Christ's unique mission. The author of Hebrews, likely citing the Greek Septuagint translation, emphasizes that Christ's coming into the world was to fulfill God's will through a perfect, once-for-all sacrifice, replacing the inadequacy of animal offerings.
c. 1000 BC
Davidic Kingdom Established
The united monarchy under David establishes Jerusalem as its capital, ushering in a golden age for Israel and a period of significant religious and literary development, including the composition of many Psalms.
c. 586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Babylonian Exile
The destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple by the Babylonians leads to the exile of many Jews, a devastating event that deeply impacts Jewish identity and theology, emphasizing the inadequacy of Temple sacrifices.
c. 500 BC - 150 BC
Septuagint Translation
The Hebrew Scriptures are translated into Greek, making them accessible to a wider Hellenistic audience. This translation, the Septuagint (LXX), introduces variations in wording, notably in Psalm 40, which later New Testament writers, including the author of Hebrews, would cite.
c. AD 30-33— this verse
Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus
Jesus Christ is crucified and resurrected, fulfilling Old Testament prophecies and inaugurating the New Covenant. This event is the ultimate sacrifice and the central act of God's will for humanity's salvation.
c. AD 60-64
Authorship of Hebrews
The Epistle to the Hebrews is written to a community of Jewish Christians, likely in Rome or Italy. The author aims to demonstrate the superiority of Christ's priesthood and sacrifice over the Levitical system, encouraging perseverance in faith.
This is the direct Old Testament source for the quotation, showing the foundational idea that God desires obedience over mere ritual sacrifice, a concept fulfilled in Christ's perfect obedience.
Isaiah 1:11-17This prophetic passage highlights God's dissatisfaction with empty sacrifices, emphasizing His desire for justice and righteousness, echoing the theme that God values genuine obedience more than ritual.
John 6:38Jesus' own declaration, 'I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me,' directly parallels the sentiment in Hebrews 10:5 that His purpose was to fulfill God's will through His prepared body.
Romans 12:1-2This passage calls believers to offer their bodies as living sacrifices, demonstrating how Christ's ultimate sacrifice of His body inspires our own dedication and obedience to God's will.
Philippians 2:5-8Paul describes Christ's humble obedience, taking on human form and becoming willing to die, which perfectly illustrates the prepared body and obedient will mentioned in Hebrews 10:5.
vincentHebrews 10:5: "Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:"
Confirming the assertion of Hebrews 10:4 by a citation, Psalm 40:7-9, the theme of which is that deliverance from sin is not obtained by animal sacrifices, but by fulfilling God's will. The quotation does not agree with either the Hebrew or the lxx, and the Hebrew and lxx do not agree. The writer supposes the words to be spoken by Messiah when he enters…
meyerHebrews 10:5: "Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:"
Hebrews 10:5 . Διό ] Wherefore, i.e. in accordance with the impossibility declared at Hebrews 10:4 . λέγει ] He saith . As subject thereto is naturally supplied Christ , although He was not mentioned again since Hebrews 9:28 . This determination of the subject is already placed beyond doubt by the whole connection, but not less by the pointing back of το…
The verse highlights that God prepared a body for Christ, not that Christ merely offered himself based on a preexisting body. This emphasizes the divine initiative in fashioning Jesus' physical existence specifically for the purpose of sacrifice, a body uniquely designed to fulfill God's will in a way animal sacrifices never could.
The author of Hebrews is continuing the argument that the Old Testament sacrificial system was ultimately insufficient and pointing to Christ as the final, perfect sacrifice. The preceding verses established that animal sacrifices could never truly cleanse sins, so now the writer quotes Psalm 40 to show how God Himself provided the solution through His Son. This verse sets up Christ’s own declaration of His purpose in coming to earth: to fulfill God's will through a body uniquely prepared for this ultimate offering.
The author of Hebrews is continuing the argument that the Old Testament sacrificial system was ultimately insufficient and pointing to Christ as the final, perfect sacrifice. The preceding verses established that animal sacrifices could never truly cleanse sins, so now the writer quotes Psalm 40 to show how God Himself provided the solution through His Son. This verse sets up Christ’s own declaration of His purpose in coming to earth: to fulfill God's will through a body uniquely prepared for this ultimate offering.
"Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said,
“Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired,
but a body have you prepared for me; in burnt offerings and sin offerings
you have taken no pleasure. Then I said,…" — The verse highlights that God *prepared a body* for Christ, not that Christ merely offered himself based on a preexisting body. This emphasizes the divine initiative in fashioning Jesus' physical exi…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026