He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse highlights that Christ, unlike earthly high priests, doesn't need to offer sacrifices "daily" for His own sins. This isn't just about a schedule difference; it points to Jesus' perfect sinlessness. His one-time offering of Himself accomplished what the Levitical system, with its constant, imperfect sacrifices for both priests and people, could never fully achieve.
He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The writer is continuing to contrast Jesus' eternal priesthood with the temporary Levitical priesthood. Unlike the earthly high priests who had to offer sacrifices repeatedly, first for their own sins and then for the people's, Jesus, as a sinless High Priest, only needed to offer Himself once. This single, perfect sacrifice accomplished what the repeated sacrifices of the Old Covenant never could, completely atoning for sin.
Why did the Old Testament high priests have to offer sacrifices so often, even for their own sins? And why doesn't Jesus need to do the same?
The Old Testament system required priests to offer sacrifices daily. This wasn't just for the people, but also for themselves, because they were sinners too. Think about it: the very person meant to bridge the gap between God and people was also separated from God by his own sin!
This constant need for sacrifice highlighted the imperfection of the Levitical priesthood and the sacrifices themselves. They were temporary, a placeholder. Jesus, however, is different. He is not a sinner and therefore has no need to offer sacrifices for his own failings. His priesthood is perfect and eternal, a stark contrast to the repeated, inadequate offerings of the earthly priests.
The passage emphasizes that Jesus' offering was different. It wasn't just what he offered, but who he offered. What does this mean for us?
The core of this verse is the incredible, singular event: Jesus offered himself. Unlike the Levitical priests who offered animals, Jesus, the perfect High Priest, presented the ultimate sacrifice – his own sinless life.
This wasn't a repeated action; it was a 'once for all' event. The Greek word used here, 'ephapax,' is incredibly powerful. It means a single, complete, and final action that has eternal significance. It signifies that no further sacrifice is needed because Jesus' self-offering was sufficient to atone for the sins of all who believe, for all time.
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Understand the original words
thysia · Greek Noun
Ritual offerings presented to God, typically involving the shedding of blood, to provide atonement for sin and restore the relationship between God and His people.
ephapax · Greek Adverb
An expression denoting a completed, sufficient act that never needs to be repeated because its efficacy is absolute and eternal.
The verse contrasts Jesus' once-for-all sacrifice with the repeated, daily and yearly, sacrifices of the Levitical high priests on the Day of Atonement. The destruction of the Temple in 70 AD underscores the finality of Jesus' sacrifice, rendering the old system obsolete.
c. 1500-1400 BC
Giving of the Law
God gives the Mosaic Law, including detailed instructions for the Levitical priesthood and sacrificial system, which would become the framework for worship in ancient Israel.
c. 1400 BC
Establishment of the Tabernacle
The Tabernacle, and later the Temple in Jerusalem, becomes the central place for sacrificial worship, with daily offerings and a special annual Day of Atonement prescribed for the High Priest.
Leviticus 16— this verse
Day of Atonement Ritual
The ritual for the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) is detailed, requiring the High Priest to offer sacrifices first for his own sins and then for the sins of the people, highlighting the need for purification even for the mediator.
c. 70 AD
Destruction of the Second Temple
The Temple in Jerusalem is destroyed by the Romans, bringing an end to the daily sacrifices and the Levitical sacrificial system described in Hebrews.
This passage describes the Day of Atonement ritual, where the high priest first offered a bull for his own sins and those of his household, and then a goat for the sins of the people, directly paralleling the ritual described in Hebrews 7:27.
Hebrews 9:12This verse reiterates the 'once for all' nature of Christ's sacrifice, stating that He entered the Most Holy Place 'by means of his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption.' It emphasizes the finality and sufficiency of His offering, contrasting with the repeated sacrifices of the Old Covenant.
Hebrews 10:10This verse directly quotes and builds upon the idea of Christ's singular sacrifice, stating 'we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.' It underscores that His self-offering is the definitive act of sanctification.
Romans 6:10This passage speaks of Christ's death and resurrection as a singular event, stating 'For the death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.' This highlights the 'once for all' aspect of His sacrifice and its ultimate efficacy.
1 Peter 3:18This verse connects Christ's suffering and death with His righteousness, stating 'For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God.' It further emphasizes the substitutionary and once-for-all nature of His atoning work.
ellicottHebrews 7:27: "Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself."
(27) This verse carries on the description, presenting what follows from this purity and sinlessness. As those high priests.—The high priest’s offering up sacrifices first for himself and then for the people constituted a chief part of his duty upon the Day of Atonement. (See Hebrews 5:3.) The annual recurrence…
meyerHebrews 7:27: "Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself."
Hebrews 7:27 . In the πρότερον ὑπὲρ τῶν ἰδίων ἁμαρτιῶν , ἔπειτα τῶν τοῦ λαοῦ there is an apparent allusion to the sacrifice of the high priest on the great day of atonement (Leviticus 16.), comp. Hebrews 9:7 . We are prevented, however, from referring the words to this alone (perhaps to the including of the sin-…
The verse highlights that Christ, unlike earthly high priests, doesn't need to offer sacrifices "daily" for His own sins. This isn't just about a schedule difference; it points to Jesus' perfect sinlessness. His one-time offering of Himself accomplished what the Levitical system, with its constant, imperfect sacrifices for both priests and people, could never fully achieve.
The writer is continuing to contrast Jesus' eternal priesthood with the temporary Levitical priesthood. Unlike the earthly high priests who had to offer sacrifices repeatedly, first for their own sins and then for the people's, Jesus, as a sinless High Priest, only needed to offer Himself once. This single, perfect sacrifice accomplished what the repeated sacrifices of the Old Covenant never could, completely atoning for sin.
The writer is continuing to contrast Jesus' eternal priesthood with the temporary Levitical priesthood. Unlike the earthly high priests who had to offer sacrifices repeatedly, first for their own sins and then for the people's, Jesus, as a sinless High Priest, only needed to offer Himself once. This single, perfect sacrifice accomplished what the repeated sacrifices of the Old Covenant never could, completely atoning for sin.
"He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself." — The verse highlights that Christ, unlike earthly high priests, doesn't need to offer sacrifices "daily" for His own sins. This isn't just about a schedule difference; it points to Jesus' perfect sinl…
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Last reviewed October 2026