Hebrews 9 27

Hebrews 9:27 kjv

And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

Hebrews 9:27 nkjv

And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,

Hebrews 9:27 niv

Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment,

Hebrews 9:27 esv

And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,

Hebrews 9:27 nlt

And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment,

Hebrews 9 verses

Hebrews 9 27 Meaning

Hebrews 9:27 conveys a universal and divinely appointed truth for all humanity: that physical death is an inevitable, singular event, which is always followed by a divine reckoning or judgment. It underscores the certainty of both mortality and ultimate accountability before God, presenting them as a fixed order established by divine will.

Hebrews 9 27 Context

Hebrews chapter 9 serves as a theological exposition contrasting the Old Covenant's high priestly service and sacrificial system with the New Covenant established through Jesus Christ. The earthly tabernacle, with its repeated animal sacrifices, is depicted as a shadow, merely a copy pointing to the heavenly reality. The author highlights the limitations of the Mosaic law in truly cleansing sin and perfecting the worshippers. In this chapter, Jesus is presented as the superior High Priest who, unlike the Levitical priests, entered the true holy place (heaven) not with the blood of animals but with His own blood, accomplishing eternal redemption "once for all" (Heb 9:12). Verse 27 establishes a universal principle for humanity—a single physical death followed by a certain judgment—and this principle then serves as a powerful analogy in verse 28 for Christ's singular sacrifice to deal with sin and His subsequent return. This comparison elevates Christ's work, showing its finality and efficacy compared to the repeated, incomplete sacrifices under the old system. The historical context includes Jewish Christians grappling with retaining aspects of the Old Covenant rituals versus fully embracing Christ's unique and final work. This verse, therefore, implicitly refutes any idea of multiple physical lives (reincarnation) or escaping the appointed divine reckoning after death, underscoring the absolute finality of both death and the subsequent judgment, just as Christ's sacrifice was absolutely final and complete.

Hebrews 9 27 Word analysis

• And as: (Greek: καὶ καθʼ ὅσον – kai kath’ hoson). This phrase links the human experience directly to the preceding comparison involving the high priest's actions (Heb 9:25-26). Just as it was necessary for Christ not to suffer repeatedly, there is a fundamental human reality.
• it is appointed: (Greek: ἀπόκειται – apokeitai). This word means "to be laid away," "to be reserved," or "to be destined/appointed." It conveys a sense of divine ordination and unchangeable destiny. It's a pre-determined arrangement, not a random occurrence. God Himself has established this order.
• unto men: (Greek: ἀνθρώποις – anthrōpois). The plural form of anthrōpos ("man," "human being"). This signifies the universal application to all of humanity, without exception, regardless of race, gender, social status, or belief system. It highlights the shared human experience.
• once: (Greek: ἅπαξ – hapax). A crucial word meaning "once," "a single time," or "once for all." It emphasizes the singular, unrepeatable nature of physical death for each individual. This directly counters concepts like reincarnation or the idea of multiple earthly lives. Its singularity parallels Christ's "once-for-all" sacrifice in subsequent verses.
• to die: (Greek: ἀποθανεῖν – apothanein). The aorist infinitive of apothnēskō, meaning "to die" or "to depart life." This refers specifically to physical death, the cessation of earthly life and the separation of body and spirit.
• but after this: (Greek: μετὰ δὲ τοῦτο – meta de touto). "But" (δὲ – de) introduces a contrast or continuation. "After this" (meta touto) denotes an immediate or inevitable sequence in time. There is no intervening state or delay that prevents the subsequent event. It is a certain consequence following death.
• the judgment: (Greek: κρίσις – krisis). This word signifies "judgment," "decision," "condemnation," or "verdict." It is a divine assessment, an encounter with God's perfect justice and holiness, where individuals will be held accountable for their lives, whether in salvation or condemnation. It is not just an end, but an examination.

• appointed unto men once to die: This phrase establishes a fundamental and unalterable decree concerning the human condition. It is a divine appointment that every human being born will undergo physical death one time, emphasizing its universality and finality in this life. It underscores the fragility and temporal nature of human life on earth.
• but after this the judgment: This directly links death with an ensuing accountability. The separation of the body and spirit at death is not the ultimate end. It sets the stage for a divine reckoning where every life lived will be evaluated, highlighting profound theological implications of moral responsibility and ultimate destiny.

Hebrews 9 27 Bonus section

The strong parallelism established in Hebrews 9:27-28 serves as a structural and theological lynchpin for the entire argument of Christ's superiority. The author uses the universal and understandable truth of "once to die, then judgment" (for man) to illuminate the unique and ultimate efficacy of Christ's work: "once offered... then He will appear a second time." This literary device underscores the unrepeatable nature of Christ's perfect sacrifice as fundamentally different from the Old Testament's repetitive and therefore imperfect animal sacrifices. This single sacrifice, like human death, holds finality. Thus, the human experience of death and judgment points to, and confirms, the singular sufficiency of Jesus Christ's work for our eternal redemption. It teaches that both human life and God's plan of salvation operate on principles of definite, final actions, necessitating a deliberate and timely response from humanity.

Hebrews 9 27 Commentary

Hebrews 9:27 stands as a profound theological declaration, anchoring the reality of death and judgment within God's immutable order. It states a universal human truth, divinely ordained: every person faces physical death once, and this death is inevitably followed by divine judgment. The emphasis on "once" (hapax) is crucial, highlighting the unrepeatable nature of our earthly life and, by extension, our one opportunity to respond to God's offer of salvation. This singular event of death means that the trajectory of our eternal destiny is settled at that point; there are no second chances, no multiple reincarnations to amend our choices. The subsequent "judgment" (krisis) underscores accountability. It's not merely a neutral assessment but a definitive divine verdict based on one's relationship with God through Christ and the deeds performed in life. This verse serves as a powerful preamble to Hebrews 9:28, where Christ's singular sacrifice ("once offered") for sin is juxtaposed with humanity's "once to die," thereby emphasizing the singular and definitive nature of both human destiny and Christ's saving work. For believers, this means judgment is primarily about receiving rewards for faithfulness, not condemnation for sin (Rom 14:10; 2 Cor 5:10); for those who reject Christ, it is a judgment unto eternal separation (Rev 20:11-15). The verse therefore calls all humanity to consider their mortality and prepare for their inevitable encounter with their Creator.