Hebrews 9 22

Hebrews 9:22 kjv

And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

Hebrews 9:22 nkjv

And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission.

Hebrews 9:22 niv

In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

Hebrews 9:22 esv

Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.

Hebrews 9:22 nlt

In fact, according to the law of Moses, nearly everything was purified with blood. For without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness.

Hebrews 9 verses

Hebrews 9 22 Meaning

Hebrews 9:22 asserts a foundational principle of the Old Covenant's sacrificial system and spiritual cleansing: purification from defilement and the granting of remission (forgiveness/release from sin's penalty) are predominantly achieved through the shedding of blood. The verse highlights that this rule was central to God's method of dealing with sin under the Mosaic Law, underscoring the absolute necessity of a life offered in atonement for sins to be pardoned. It serves as a vital bridge to understanding why Christ's blood was necessary for the superior New Covenant.

Hebrews 9 22 Context

Hebrews 9:22 is situated within the author's extended argument contrasting the temporary and imperfect Old Covenant with the eternal and perfect New Covenant established through Jesus Christ. The preceding verses (Heb 9:15-21) explain that a will or covenant (διαθήκη, diathēkē) requires the death of the testator to become valid. The Mosaic Covenant, therefore, was inaugurated and ratified with blood. Verses 18-21 detail how Moses used the blood of animals to dedicate the tabernacle, the articles of ministry, and the book of the Law. Verse 22 functions as a general principle derived from these past realities, summarizing the widespread use of blood in ritual purification and its indispensable role in the remission of sins under the Mosaic system. This sets the stage for the powerful assertion that if the shadow (Old Covenant) required blood for remission, how much more does the reality (Christ) require the ultimate, perfect blood sacrifice (Heb 9:23-28) to truly purify and bring eternal salvation.

Hebrews 9 22 Word analysis

• And (καὶ, kai): Connects this verse as a continuation of the preceding thoughts, highlighting the comprehensive nature of blood sacrifice.
• almost all things (σχεδὸν πάντα, schedon panta): The use of "almost" (σχεδὸν, schedon) is crucial. It acknowledges minor exceptions to blood purification found in the Old Testament, such as certain purifications by water or fire (Num 31:23) or ritual cleansing through other means when specific offerings were unavailable (e.g., flour offering for the very poor in Lev 5:11-13). However, for sins, and for the consecration of holy things for the atonement that covered the community, blood was universally required. This "almost" does not weaken the principle but confirms the author's precise understanding of the Law's details.
• are by the law (κατὰ τὸν νόμον, kata ton nomon): Indicates that this principle is consistent with and derived directly from the Mosaic Law. It's a statement of divine requirement embedded within the Old Covenant.
• purged (καθαρίζεται, katharizetai): From the Greek verb καθαρίζω (katharizō), meaning "to cleanse," "purify," "make clean." In the Septuagint, it is frequently used for ritual or ceremonial cleansing, removing cultic defilement or making objects/persons fit for divine presence. This "purging" relates to ceremonial defilement and moral defilement, the latter necessitating forgiveness.
• with blood (ἐν αἵματι, en haimati): "Blood" (αἷμα, haima) here is the sacrificial medium. In ancient thought, blood represented life (Lev 17:11). The spilling of blood signified the yielding of life, symbolically or actually. It was the "life-fluid" poured out as an offering to God, representing death as a penalty for sin.
• and (καὶ, kai): Links the two clauses, showing the indispensable connection between the shedding of blood and the outcome of remission.
• without shedding of blood (χωρὶς αἱματεκχυσίας, chōris haimatekchysias): "Without" (χωρὶς, chōris) emphasizes exclusion. "Shedding of blood" (αἱματεκχυσία, haimatekchysia) literally means "blood-pouring-out," or "effusion of blood." It highlights the violent, death-inflicting aspect of the sacrifice. This isn't just the presence of blood, but its violent outpouring or sacrifice. It underscores that death (represented by shed blood) is the payment required for sin.
• is no remission (οὐ γίνεται ἄφεσις, ou ginetai aphesis): "Is no" (οὐ γίνεται, ou ginetai) expresses an absolute negative, a categorical impossibility under the Law's economy for atoning for sin. "Remission" (ἄφεσις, aphesis) signifies "release," "forgiveness," "pardon," or "sending away" (e.g., of sins, prisoners). It refers to the removal of guilt and the lifting of the penalty for sin. The author emphasizes that without a life sacrificed (symbolized by shed blood), there is no pardon from the divine decree concerning sin.

Hebrews 9 22 Bonus section

The concept presented in Hebrews 9:22 is deeply rooted in the Levitical understanding of blood's sanctity and its role as an atonement medium (Lev 17:11). The Old Covenant sacrificial system was never meant to permanently remove the conscience of sin but to point forward to a definitive future sacrifice (Heb 10:4). Animal blood could only ceremonially cleanse and temporarily cover sin; it could not perfect the worshipper's conscience or truly forgive moral guilt in a complete sense (Heb 10:1-4). This verse, therefore, sets up the ultimate contrast between the recurring, limited sacrifices of animals and the singular, sufficient, and infinitely effective sacrifice of Christ, whose blood achieves a perfect, once-for-all atonement for sin, making true and eternal remission possible (Heb 9:12, 10:10-14). The entire narrative of redemption in Scripture, from Genesis (the animal skins covering Adam and Eve, Gen 3:21) to Revelation (the Lamb's blood washing robes, Rev 7:14), reinforces this singular truth that only through the outpouring of innocent life can guilty life find reconciliation with God.

Hebrews 9 22 Commentary

Hebrews 9:22 articulates a profound truth about God's design for dealing with sin under the Old Covenant, acting as a crucial premise for understanding the New Covenant's superiority. It declares that blood was the indispensable element for both ritual purification and, more significantly, the remission of sins. The slight qualification "almost all things" demonstrates the author's precise knowledge of the Law, where some ceremonial uncleannesses could be cleansed without blood, but moral guilt demanding atonement consistently required a blood sacrifice. The phrase "shedding of blood" signifies the violent outpouring of life, reflecting the wages of sin which is death (Rom 6:23). Life is in the blood, and that life must be forfeited as a substitutionary payment for sin. This verse thus functions as an unwavering declaration that divine justice requires death for sin, and without that life-giving fluid spilled as an act of propitiation, sin cannot be forgiven. It points directly to Christ, whose singular, perfect blood sacrifice fundamentally fulfills and transcends the old system, providing true and eternal remission for all who believe (Heb 10:1-14). For practical application, this principle highlights the seriousness of sin, the holiness of God who demands such a costly remedy, and the incomparable value of Christ's sacrifice as the ultimate payment for human transgression.