Hebrews 10:20

New Testament Epistle (General) ASV (1901)

What does Hebrews 10:20 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “by the way which he dedicated for us, a new and living way, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

by the way which he dedicated for us, a new and living way, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
Hebrews 10:20 — American Standard Version

Context — Hebrews 10

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
20by the way which he dedicated for us, a new and living way, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“By a new and living way, etc..] Which is Christ, the God-man and Mediator; who is called the “new” way, not as to contrivance, revelation, or use; for it was contrived before the world was, and was revealed to our first parents, immediately after the fall, and was made use of by all the Old Testament saints; but in distinction to the old way of life, by the covenant of works; and because newly revealed with greater clearness and evidence; (see <581008>Hebrews 10:8) and because it is always new, it never will be old, nor otherwise, there never will be another way: some render it, “a new slain way”; because Jesus was but newly slain, and his blood lately shed, by which the way is, and entrance…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“which, &c.--The antecedent in the Greek is "the entering"; not as English Version, "way." Translate, "which (entering) He has consecrated (not as though it were already existing, but has been the first to open, INAUGURATED as a new thing; see on Heb 9:18, where the Greek is the same) for us (as) a new (Greek, 'recent'; recently opened, Rom 16:25-26) and living way" (not like the lifeless way through the law offering of the blood of dead victims, but real, vital, and of perpetual efficacy, because the living and life-giving Saviour is that way. It is a living hope that we have, producing not dead, but living, works). Christ, the first-fruits of our nature, has ascended, and the rest is…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“By a new and living way - By a new method or manner. It was a mode of access that was till then unknown. No doubt many were saved before the Redeemer came, but the method by which they approached God was imperfect and difficult. The word which is rendered here “new” - πρόσφατον prosphaton - occurs nowhere else in the New Testament. It properly means “slain, or killed thereto;” that is, “newly killed, just dead; and then fresh, recent.” Passow. It does not so much convey the idea that it is new in the sense that it had never existed before, as new in the sense that it is recent, or fresh. It was a way which was recently disclosed, and which had all the freshness of novelty. It is called a…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“By a living way - The way of faith, whereby we live indeed. Which he hath consecrated - Prepared, dedicated, and established for us. Through the veil, that is, his flesh - As by rending the veil in the temple, the holy of holies became visible and accessible; so by wounding the body of Christ, the God of heaven was manifested, and the way to heaven opened. Hebrews 10:22”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“10:20 By his death: Jesus’ death has opened a new and life-giving way for us through the curtain, an allusion to the curtain separating the first and second rooms of the Tabernacle (see 9:1-5). Believers now enter the Most Holy Place of God’s presence through Jesus’ sacrificial death.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“a new: Joh 10:7, Joh 10:9, Joh 14:6 consecrated: or, new made through: Heb 6:19, Heb 9:3; Exo 26:31-37, Exo 36:35-38; Lev 16:2, Lev 16:15, Lev 21:23; Mat 27:51; Mar 15:38; Luk 23:45 his: Joh 6:51-56; Eph 2:15; Ti1 3:16; Pe1 3:18; Jo1 4:2; Jo2 1:7 Hebrews 10:21”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification