Hebrews 10 — Clausal Layout (English)

independentparticipialrelativepurposecausecomparativecontentconditionalphrase modifierdashed = verbless / suspended

Flush-left = a main (independent) clause. Each dependent line begins directly beneath the word it attaches to in the line above — the anchor word is dotted-underlined, and lights up when you hover its dependent clause; each tag also names the attachment. A dashed border marks verbless, elliptical, or suspended lines. Where a long sentence's staircase runs wider than the page, the diagram scrolls sideways. (In print, or without JavaScript, lines fall back to stepped indent columns.)

The shadow that cannot perfect 10:1–4

For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come,participial — causal — leans forward on δύναται below

not the very image of the things,phrase modifier — the antithesis — σκιά, not εἰκών

year by year, by the same sacrificesindependent — the main clause opens — suspended until δύναται

which they offer continually,relative — εἰς τὸ διηνεκές — ironic of endless repetition (contrast v. 12)

can never perfect those who draw near;independent — the section's thesis — the law's structural incapacity

since otherwise would they not have ceased to be offered,cause — ἐπεί — contrary-to-fact rhetorical question

because the worshipers, once cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sins?cause — διὰ τό + inf. — the cleansed conscience the rite never gives

But in them there is a reminder of sins year by year;independent — the real effect — an annual memorandum of sin

for it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.cause — the bedrock verdict — ἀδύνατον fronted

Psalm 40 — the body prepared to do the will 10:5–10

vv. 5–7 — the psalm on the Son's lips

Therefore, coming into the world, he says:independent — Διό — the incarnation moment; the psalm becomes Christ's own speech

Sacrifice and offering you did not desire,content — Ps 40:6 (LXX 39:7) — the cultus not desired

but a body you prepared for me;content — Ps 40:6 LXX — σῶμα (Hebrew 'ears you have dug'), the reading the argument needs

in whole burnt offerings and sin offerings you took no pleasure.content — Ps 40:6 — all four Levitical categories now named and relativized

Then I said:content — Ps 40:7 — the answering resolve

Behold, I have come —content — the arrival accomplished — ἥκω with perfect force

in the scroll of the book it is written of me —phrase modifier — parenthesis — the scroll's standing testimony

to do, O God, your will.purpose — τοῦ + inf. of purpose on ἥκω — the coming is for obedience

vv. 8–10 — the author's midrash: the first removed, the second established

Saying above,participial — suspended participle — leans forward on εἴρηκεν (v. 9)

Sacrifices and offerings and whole burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire nor take pleasure in —content — the psalm's negative half requoted, terms pluralized

which are offered according to the law —relative — the decisive aside — the rejected offerings are the law's own prescription

then he has said:independent — perfect εἴρηκεν — the word stands in force

Behold, I have come to do your will.content — the obedience clause isolated as the 'second'

He takes away the firstindependent — the interpretive verdict — the legal cultus annulled

in order to establish the second;purpose — replacement, not supplement — one arrangement stands in place of the other

By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.independent — connecting relative ἐν ᾧ — the prepared body (v. 5) is the offering; ἐφάπαξ answers κατ' ἐνιαυτόν

The seated priest and the Spirit's witness 10:11–18

vv. 11–14 — standing priests, seated Son

And every priest standsindependent — μέν — the perpetual posture, no seat in the sanctuary

daily ministeringparticipial — καθ' ἡμέραν — intensifying κατ' ἐνιαυτόν of v. 1

and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices,participial — the same, often — sameness as the mark of failure

which can never strip away sins;relative — qualitative αἵτινες — echoing the οὐδέποτε of v. 1

but this one, having offered a single sacrifice for sins,participial — the answering δέ — leans forward on ἐκάθισεν below

sat down for ever at the right hand of God,independent — Ps 110:1 — εἰς τὸ διηνεκές read with the sitting; the seat proves the work finished

from then on waitingparticipial — the enthroned posture — expectant rest, not further offering

until his enemies are made a footstool for his feet.phrase modifier — temporal ἕως — Ps 110:1 completed; divine passive

For by one offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.cause — the inclusio — τετελείωκεν accomplishes what τελειῶσαι (v. 1) never could

vv. 15–18 — the Spirit's witness: Jeremiah requoted

And the Holy Spirit also testifies to us;independent — a second witness — the Spirit as author of Scripture (cf. 3:7)

for after having said —phrase modifier — μετὰ τό + inf., anacoluthic — the expected 'then he adds' is never written; v. 17 stands in its place

This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord:content — Jer 31:33 (LXX 38:33) — already cited in ch. 8, now abbreviated

putting my laws on their hearts,participial — the covenant's manner — law interiorized, not abolished

and on their mind I will write them,content — God himself the engraver — heart and mind inscribed

and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.content — Jer 31:34 — the implicit 'then he adds'; οὐ μή non-remembrance reversing the ἀνάμνησις of v. 3

Now where there is forgiveness of these,conditional — ὅπου — locative protasis ('where' = 'if'), leaning on the verdict below

there is no longer any offering for sin.independent — the QED of 10:1–18 — the section ends where it began, inverted

The great exhortation — draw near, hold fast, consider 10:19–25

vv. 19–21 — what we have: access and a great priest

Having therefore, brothers, boldness for the entrance into the holy place by the blood of Jesus,participial — οὖν — the hinge from doctrine to duty; causal participle leaning forward on προσερχώμεθα (v. 22)

which he inaugurated for us as a new and living way through the veil,relative — on τὴν εἴσοδον — the access-route Jesus dedicated

that is, his flesh,phrase modifier — the interpretive equation — the veil identified with his crucified flesh

and a great priest over the house of God,phrase modifier — second object of Ἔχοντες — access plus a presiding priest

vv. 22–25 — the three 'let us': faith, hope, love

let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith,independent — first hortatory subjunctive — the cultic verb of v. 1 turned to believers

our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscienceparticipial — perfect — the inward cleansing accomplished (cf. v. 2)

and our bodies washed with pure water;participial — the outward counterpart — priestly consecration imagery, likely baptismal

let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering,independent — second hortatory subjunctive — ἀκλινῆ, without tilting

for he who promised is faithful;cause — the ground — perseverance rests on the Promiser's fidelity

and let us consider one another, to provoke love and good works,independent — third hortatory subjunctive — παροξυσμός, provocation turned positive

not forsaking our own assembling together,participial — the negative manner — community as the arena of perseverance

as is the habit of some,comparative — a concrete pastoral problem noted in passing

but encouraging one another,participial — the positive manner — mutual exhortation

and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.comparative — τοσούτῳ ... ὅσῳ — urgency proportioned to the approaching Day

The fearful warning against willful sin 10:26–31

vv. 26–27 — no sacrifice remains

For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth,participial — genitive absolute, conditional force — leans forward on the verdict below (cf. Num 15:30)

there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,independent — the dark echo of v. 18 — to spurn the one offering is to have none

but only a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fireindependent — elliptical — 'there remains' carried over; Isa 26:11 alluded

about to consume the adversaries.participial — the fire poised to devour — the apostate now among the ὑπεναντίοι

vv. 28–31 — the a fortiori and the living God

Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.independent — the lesser premise — Deut 17:6, merciless death under Moses

How much worse punishment, do you think, will he deserveindependent — the a-fortiori conclusion — δοκεῖτε appeals to the readers' own judgment

who has trampled the Son of God,participial — first crime — the Son trodden underfoot

and has regarded as common the blood of the covenantparticipial — second crime — the covenant blood counted profane

by which he was sanctified,relative — the apostate himself the subject — sanctified by the very blood he profanes

and has insulted the Spirit of grace?participial — third, climactic crime — ὕβρις against the Spirit of grace

For we know him who said:independent — the warning grounded in God's own words

Vengeance is mine,content — Deut 32:35 — vengeance God's prerogative (cf. Rom 12:19)

I will repay,content — Deut 32:35 — emphatic ἐγώ, God himself requites

and again, The Lord will judge his people.content — Deut 32:36 — covenant membership no exemption from judgment

It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.independent — the aphoristic climax — φοβερόν frames the warning with v. 27

Remember the former days — do not shrink back 10:32–39

vv. 32–34 — the earlier contest recalled

But remember the former days,independent — the tone turns — warning gives way to encouragement

in which, once enlightened, you endured a hard contest of sufferings,relative — φωτισθέντες — after conversion (cf. 6:4); athletic ἄθλησις

partly by being made a public spectacle in reproaches and afflictions,participial — τοῦτο μέν — the direct suffering, exposed as in a theater

partly by becoming partners with those so treated;participial — τοῦτο δέ — the chosen solidarity with fellow sufferers

for you both sympathized with the prisoners,cause — καὶ γάρ — the partnership evidenced

and accepted with joy the plundering of your possessions,cause — μετὰ χαρᾶς — loss welcomed, the paradox of faith

knowing that you yourselves have a better and abiding possession.participial — causal — the knowledge that made the joy possible; κρείττων, the Hebrews keyword

vv. 35–39 — endurance, the Coming One, and faith

Therefore do not cast away your boldness,independent — the inference from their record — παρρησία resumes v. 19

which has a great reward.relative — qualitative ἥτις — the confidence carries its recompense

For you have need of endurance,cause — the ground — ὑπομονή, the section's cardinal virtue (cf. v. 32)

so that, having done the will of God, you may receive the promise.purpose — the goal — doing the will (the very phrase of v. 7), then the promise

For yet a very little while,content — Isa 26:20 LXX — the unmarked citation opens; ὅσον ὅσον, the tiniest interval

the Coming One will come and will not delay;content — Hab 2:3 — the article turns Habakkuk's vision into a person, the returning Christ

but my righteous one shall live by faith,content — Hab 2:4 — μου with the righteous one (LXX order), the text behind Rom 1:17; Gal 3:11

and if he shrinks back,conditional — protasis — leans on the apodosis below

my soul takes no pleasure in him.content — apodosis — εὐδοκέω of vv. 6, 8, now of persons; the citation's dark half

But we are not of shrinking back to destruction,independent — emphatic ἡμεῖς — author and readers placed with the faithful

but of faith, to the preserving of the soul.independent — elliptical — πίστις launches the roll-call of ch. 11

Analysis. Hebrews 10 falls into two halves and the shape shows both. In vv. 1–18 the main lines are verdicts — οὐδέποτε δύναται τελειῶσαι (the law can never perfect), ἀναιρεῖ τὸ πρῶτον ἵνα τὸ δεύτερον στήσῃ, τετελείωκεν, and the verbless QED of v. 18 — while the quotations hang in blue catenae beneath their verbs of saying: Ps 40:6–8 under λέγει and εἶπον on the lips of the Son entering the world (vv. 5–7), requoted under the suspended ἀνώτερον λέγων and τότε εἴρηκεν as the author dissects it into a 'first' removed and a 'second' made to stand (vv. 8–9), and Jer 31:33–34 under the Spirit's εἰρηκέναι (vv. 15–17). From v. 19 the flush-left lines turn hortatory — the triple προσερχώμεθα / κατέχωμεν / κατανοῶμεν with their participle trains, then the warning's a-fortiori question and the closing ἡμεῖς δέ. The layout takes sides on real cruxes: the causal Σκιὰν ἔχων participle, the προσενέγκας participle of v. 12, the Ἔχοντες οὖν of v. 19 and the genitive absolute of v. 26 are all set protasis-style above the clauses they lean on, without anchors; εἰς τὸ διηνεκές in v. 12 is read with ἐκάθισεν ('sat down for ever'), not with the offering; ἐν κεφαλίδι βιβλίου γέγραπται is treated as a parenthesis so that τοῦ ποιῆσαι hangs directly on ἥκω; ἐν ᾧ ἡγιάσθη (v. 29) takes the apostate, not Christ, as its subject; μετὰ γὰρ τὸ εἰρηκέναι is left anacoluthic, v. 17 standing as the 'then he adds' the author never writes; ὅπου in v. 18 is treated as a forward-leaning locative protasis; and the ending of the chapter hangs Isa 26:20 + Hab 2:3–4 as an unmarked citation directly on the need of endurance (v. 36), reading ὁ δίκαιός μου as the LXX's 'my righteous one shall live by faith' — the shrink-back clause a protasis answered by God's displeasure, the fate 'we' refuse in v. 39.