SEV Biblia, Chapter 10:1
¶ Porque la ley teniendo una sombra de los bienes venideros, no la representacin misma de las cosas, nunca puede hacer perfectos a los que se allegan por los mismos sacrificios que ofrecen continuamente cada ao.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Hebrew 10:1
Verse 1. The law, having a shadow of good things to come] A shadow, skia, signifies, 1. Literally, the shade cast from a body of any kind, interposed between the place on which the shadow is projected, and the sun or light; the rays of the light not shining on that place, because intercepted by the opacity of the body, through which they cannot pass. 2. It signifies, technically, a sketch, rude plan, or imperfect draught of a building, landscape, man, beast, &c. 3. It signifies, metaphorically, any faint adumbration, symbolical expression, imperfect or obscure image of a thing; and is opposed to swma, body, or the thing intended to be thereby defined. 4. It is used catachrestically among the Greek writers, as umbra is among the Latins, to signify any thing vain, empty, light, not solid; thus Philostratus, Vit. Soph., lib. i. cap. 20: oti skia kai oneirata ai hdonai pasai? All pleasures are but SHADOWS and dreams. And Cicero, in Pison., cap. 24: Omnes umbras falsae gloriae consectari. "All pursue the SHADOWS OF FALSE GLORY." And again, Deuteronomy Offic., lib. iii. cap.
17: Nos veri juris germanaeque justitiae solidam et expressam effigiem nullam tenemus; umbra et itnaginibus utimur. "We have no solid and express effigy of true law and genuine justice, but we employ shadows and images to represent them." And not the very image] eikwn, image, signifies, 1. A simple representation, from eikw, I am like. 2. The form or particular fashion of a thing. 3. The model according to which any thing is formed. 4. The perfect image of a thing as opposed to a faint representation. 5. Metaphorically, a similitude, agreement, or conformity.
The law, with all its ceremonies and sacrifices, was only a shadow of spiritual and eternal good. The Gospel is the image or thing itself, as including every spiritual and eternal good.
We may note three things here: 1. The shadow or general outline, limiting the size and proportions of the thing to be represented. 2. The image or likeness completed from this shadow or general outline, whether represented on paper, canvass, or in statuary, 3. The person or thing thus represented in its actual, natural state of existence; or what is called here the very image of the things, authn thn eikona twn pragmatwn. Such is the Gospel, when compared with the law; such is Christ, when compared with Aaron; such is his sacrifice, when compared with the Levitical offerings; such is the Gospel remission of sins and purification, when compared with those afforded by the law; such is the Holy Ghost, ministered by the Gospel, when compared with its types and shadows in the Levitical service; such the heavenly rest, when compared with the earthly Canaan. Well, therefore, might the apostle say, The law was only the shadow of good things to come.
Can never-make the comers thereunto perfect.] Cannot remove guilt from the conscience, or impurity from the heart. I leave preachers to improve these points.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-10 - The apostle having shown that the tabernacle, and ordinances of the covenant of Sinai, were only emblems and types of the gospel, conclude that the sacrifices the high priests offered continually, could no make the worshippers perfect, with respect to pardon, and the purifyin of their consciences. But when "God manifested in the flesh," becam the sacrifice, and his death upon the accursed tree the ransom, the the Sufferer being of infinite worth, his free-will sufferings were of infinite value. The atoning sacrifice must be one capable of consenting, and must of his own will place himself in the sinner' stead: Christ did so. The fountain of all that Christ has done for his people, is the sovereign will and grace of God. The righteousnes brought in, and the sacrifice once offered by Christ, are of eterna power, and his salvation shall never be done away. They are of power to make all the comers thereunto perfect; they derive from the atonin blood, strength and motives for obedience, and inward comfort.
Greek Textus Receptus
σκιαν 4639 γαρ 1063 εχων 2192 5723 ο 3588 νομος 3551 των 3588 μελλοντων 3195 5723 αγαθων 18 ουκ 3756 αυτην 846 την 3588 εικονα 1504 των 3588 πραγματων 4229 κατ 2596 ενιαυτον 1763 ταις 3588 αυταις 846 θυσιαις 2378 ας 3739 προσφερουσιν 4374 5719 εις 1519 το 3588 διηνεκες 1336 ουδεποτε 3763 δυναται 1410 5736 τους 3588 προσερχομενους 4334 5740 τελειωσαι 5048 5658
Vincent's NT Word Studies
1. The arrangement of the verse is much disputed. Rend. "The law, with the same sacrifices which they continually renew year by year, can never make the comers thereunto perfect." 217
A shadow (skian). The emphasis is on this thought. The legal system was a shadow. Skia is a rude outline, an adumbration, contrasted with eijkwn, the archetypal or ideal pattern. Skia does not accurately exhibit the figure itself. Comp. ch. viii. 5.
Of good things to come (twn mellontwn agaqwn). From the point of view of the law.
The very image of the things (authn thn eikona twn pragmatwn) For eijkwn image, see on Apoc. xiii. 14; Philip. ii. 7. Pragmatwn things expresses a little more distinctly than mellontwn the idea of facts and realities.
Can (dunatai). Dunatai might be expected with oJ nomov the law as the subject. If dunatai, the plural, is retained, the clause the law - image of the things must be taken absolutely, the construction of the sentence breaking off suddenly, and the subject being changed from the law to the priests: "The priests can never," etc. It is better to read dunatai in the singular, with Tischendorf, Westcott and Hort, and Weiss.
Continually (eiv to dihnekev). See on ch. vii. 3, and comp. vers. 12, 14. Const. with offer.
