Hebrews 10:35 tells believers not to give up the confident trust they already have in Christ, because that confidence carries a great reward. The writer is not asking for a new kind of courage but urging readers to hold on to the boldness they showed earlier when following Jesus cost them something.
The verse comes from the letter to the Hebrews, a sermon-like letter traditionally attributed to Paul but whose author is unnamed in the text itself. It was written to a community of Jewish Christians who were tempted to pull back from their faith under pressure.
Therefore don’t throw away your boldness, which has a great reward.
Hebrews 10:35 (WEB)
What Hebrews 10:35 Means
The word translated “boldness” means open, fearless speech and confidence, the kind of frankness a person shows when they are sure of their standing. The writer says this boldness should not be thrown away, as a person might discard something they no longer need. The image suggests a valuable possession that someone could carelessly lose.
The verse then says this boldness “has a great reward.” The reward is not named here, but the next verses point toward receiving God’s promise. The verse does not promise that hard circumstances will end quickly or that faith will always feel easy. It promises that holding on to trust in God is never wasted.
The Context of Hebrews 10:35
Just before this verse, the writer reminds readers of earlier days when they stood firm through public insults, persecution, and the loss of property. They had shown compassion to others in prison and accepted the seizure of their goods with joy, because they knew they had a better and lasting possession in heaven. The verse grows directly out of that memory of faithfulness.
Verse 36 follows with the statement that endurance is needed so that, after doing God’s will, readers may receive what was promised. Verses 37 and 38 quote Habakkuk to speak of waiting for the coming one and of the righteous living by faith. Read this way, Hebrews 10:35 is a call to keep the same steady confidence that marked their past, while they wait for what God has promised.
Key Phrases in Hebrews 10:35
Hebrews 10:36
For you need endurance so that, having done the will of God, you may receive the promise.
(WEB)
This verse follows directly and explains why boldness must be kept: endurance is needed so that, after doing God’s will, believers may receive the promise. It turns the encouragement of verse 35 into a clear call to patient perseverance.
Romans 5:3-4
3 Not only this, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope…
(WEB)
Paul describes how suffering can produce endurance, character, and hope. This passage helps explain why staying steady through hardship is not a sign of failure but part of how God shapes believers toward a secure hope.
A Short Prayer From Hebrews 10:35
Lord, you know the places where I feel tempted to pull back and quietly let go of the trust I once had in you. Please remind me of the boldness you gave me through Christ, and help me hold on to it when things feel slow or unclear. Strengthen my endurance and keep my eyes on the reward you have promised. Amen.
