Hebrews 10:17 (KJV)

What does Hebrews 10:17 mean?

Hebrews 10:17 says that God will no longer remember the sins and wrongdoings of His people. This means that, according to the promise quoted here, God chooses not to hold past failures against them any longer.

The writer of Hebrews is addressing Jewish Christians, reminding them of God’s promise from the Old Testament (specifically Jeremiah 31). The verse is part of a larger argument that, through Jesus’ sacrifice, forgiveness is complete and there is no longer a need for repeated offerings for sin.

The Greek behind Hebrews 10:17

• ἁμαρτίαι (hamartiai, G266): This word means "sins," referring to actions that miss the mark or fall short of what is right. The use here emphasizes all kinds of moral failures.
• ἀνομίαι (anomiai, G458): This word is often translated "iniquities" and points to lawless acts or deeper rebellion. The pairing with "sins" covers both general wrongdoing and deliberate disobedience.
• μνησθήσομαι (mnēsthēsomai, G3415): This is the word for "remember." In Greek, it often means to call something to mind or to keep it in account. Here, it stresses that God is choosing not to bring these things up again.
• οὐ μή (ou mē, G3364 + G2089): This strong double negative means "absolutely not" or "never again." The phrase underlines the finality of God’s forgiveness—He will never remember these sins anymore.

Why Hebrews 10:17 matters

• Hebrews 10:17 clarifies that forgiveness in Christ is total; God is not keeping a secret record of past sins to bring up later.
• The verse highlights the difference between the old sacrificial system, which offered only temporary relief, and the new covenant, which brings lasting forgiveness.
• This promise connects to the broader message of Hebrews: that Jesus’ sacrifice is sufficient and believers can trust in the completeness of God’s mercy.