Hebrews 12:27
This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The phrase "as of things that are made" isn't just descriptive; it's the reason why things are shaken and removed. Created things, by their very nature, are temporary and destined to pass away, making room for the eternal realities that can never be disturbed.
The author is explaining the significance of the prophetic phrase "yet once more," which signals a final, decisive act of God. This divine intervention will result in the removal of the temporary, created things that are shaken, making way for the eternal, unshakeable realities of God's kingdom. This is all in preparation for the readers to receive and appreciate this unshakeable kingdom, which is now accessible through Christ.
Ever feel like things are constantly changing, shifting, and never quite settling down? The Bible speaks of a time when a great 'shaking' will happen, but it's not just another upheaval. It's the final one.
The phrase 'Yet once more' in Hebrews 12:27 isn't just a casual remark; it's a declaration of finality, drawing from the prophecy in Haggai. It signals an event that is singular and conclusive.
We live in a world of 'things that are made'—tangible, visible, and often, fragile. But what if the very nature of these 'made' things is to eventually pass away, making room for something far more enduring?
The verse draws a clear distinction between things that are 'made' and thus can be shaken, and things that 'cannot be shaken.'
Understand the original words
saleuō · Greek Verb
The state of being fundamentally unstable, temporary, or subject to removal; it refers to the created order that lacks the permanence of God's eternal Kingdom.
The phrase 'yet once more' points to a radical, final change initiated by Christ's coming, culminating in the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple, which swept away the old order and established God's permanent kingdom.
c. 520 BC
Zerubbabel's Temple Construction
The prophet Haggai urges the returned Jewish exiles to prioritize rebuilding the Second Temple in Jerusalem, which had been in ruins. God promises to shake the nations and bring their treasures to fill the house, signifying a future, greater glory.
c. 30 BC - c. AD 70
The Roman Period in Judea
Judea becomes a Roman province, bringing a new ruling power and increasing political instability, which would have been keenly felt by Jewish people. This era also sets the stage for the coming of Jesus and the subsequent upheaval of the Jewish system.
c. AD 30-33— this verse
Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus
Jesus Christ is crucified and resurrected, marking the pivotal event in Christian theology. This is seen as the inauguration of God's new covenant and the beginning of the 'shaking' of the old religious order.
c. AD 64-68
Paul's Imprisonment and Writing of Hebrews
The author of Hebrews, traditionally believed to be Paul, writes from a position of imprisonment, likely in Rome. He is addressing a community of Jewish believers struggling to hold onto their faith amidst persecution and the temptation to revert to the old system.
This verse directly quotes the prophecy from Haggai that the author of Hebrews is expounding, highlighting the significance of 'yet once more' as a promise of a coming, definitive change.
2 Peter 3:10Peter echoes the theme of the Day of the Lord as a time when 'the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the elements will be dissolved by fire, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed,' reinforcing the idea of a complete removal of the created order.
Revelation 21:1This passage describes the fulfillment of what remains after the shaking—'a new heaven and a new earth'—illustrating the ultimate, unshakable reality that the author of Hebrews points to.
Hebrews 12:28The very next verse in Hebrews builds directly on this, stating that 'Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken,' showing the positive outcome and the nature of what remains after the removal.
1 Corinthians 3:13Paul uses a similar metaphor of a 'day' that will 'disclose it' (the quality of each one's work) because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done, connecting the idea of testing and removal to the ultimate judgment.
vincentHebrews 12:27: "And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain."
This word "yet once more" (τὸ δέ Ἔτι ἅπαξ)Attention is called to this phrase as specially significant, because it indicates that the shaking prophesied by Haggai is to be final. It is to precede the new heaven and the new earth. Isaiah 65:17; Isaiah 66:22; 2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:1.Signifieth (δηλοῖ)Fr…
barnesHebrews 12:27: "And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain."
And this word, Yet once more - That is, this reference to a great agitation or commotion in some future time. This is designed as an explanation of the prophecy in Haggai, and the idea is, that there would be such agitations that everything which was not fixed on a permanent and immovable basis would be thrown do…
The phrase "as of things that are made" isn't just descriptive; it's the reason why things are shaken and removed. Created things, by their very nature, are temporary and destined to pass away, making room for the eternal realities that can never be disturbed.
The author is explaining the significance of the prophetic phrase "yet once more," which signals a final, decisive act of God. This divine intervention will result in the removal of the temporary, created things that are shaken, making way for the eternal, unshakeable realities of God's kingdom. This is all in preparation for the readers to receive and appreciate this unshakeable kingdom, which is now accessible through Christ.
The author is explaining the significance of the prophetic phrase "yet once more," which signals a final, decisive act of God. This divine intervention will result in the removal of the temporary, created things that are shaken, making way for the eternal, unshakeable realities of God's kingdom. This is all in preparation for the readers to receive and appreciate this unshakeable kingdom, which is now accessible through Christ.
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The ultimate outcome of this great shaking isn't fear, but incredible hope! We are told we can 'receive a kingdom' that absolutely cannot be moved.
The whole point of the shaking and removal of temporary things is to reveal and secure the eternal reality of God's kingdom for His people.
AD 70
Destruction of the Jerusalem Temple
The Roman army under Titus destroys Jerusalem and its Second Temple. This event signifies the final, cataclysmic 'shaking' and removal of the old sacrificial system and the physical center of Jewish worship, fulfilling prophecies.
"This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain." — The phrase "as of things that are made" isn't just descriptive; it's the reason why things are shaken and removed. Created things, by their very nature, are temporary and destined to pass away, mak…
