What does Hebrews 10:6 mean?

This is a continuation of a quote from Psalm 40:6–8. The writer of Hebrews is pointing out how the repetitive animal sacrifices of the old covenant could never truly cleanse mankind from sin. Instead, they only served to remind man that he was a sinner in need of a Savior. The real resolution for sin came in the form of Jesus Christ, who offered a single, once for all payment for sin. The various rituals and symbols of the old covenant were meant to foreshadow the new covenant, and explain our need for the Messiah (Hebrews 9:8–10).

This particular Old Testament quotation supports the idea that God's plan for our redemption was never meant to lie in burnt offerings or animal sacrifices. Instead, God's intent revolved around the creation of a body—a veiled reference to the incarnation of Jesus Christ. Just as God made the ears (and body) of the Psalmist in order for him to do the will of God, so did God intend to fulfill His plan through the body of the Messiah, not through offerings.

The writer quotes from the Septuagint, a Greek translation of Hebrew Scriptures. This results in a slightly different English phrasing for this verse than for the original Old Testament reference.