but deal only with food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until the time of reformation.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse emphasizes that these Jewish regulations were "carnal ordinances," meaning they dealt only with outward, physical aspects like food, drink, and washing. They weren't meant to transform the inner person or address guilt on the conscience. These rules were a temporary measure, a temporary fix until the ultimate "reformation" that would bring true cleansing and spiritual renewal through Christ.
but deal only with food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until the time of reformation.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage explains that the old covenant's rituals, focusing on food, drink, and various ceremonial washings, were only outward regulations. These practices, along with other "carnal ordinances," were meant to apply to the physical body and were imposed on God's people until a significant shift—the coming of Christ and the inauguration of the new covenant.
Ever feel like you're doing a lot of busywork without seeing real results? The Old Testament rituals were a bit like that for the Israelites.
The passage in Hebrews highlights that the detailed regulations concerning 'food and drink and various washings' were not ends in themselves. They were temporary measures, described as 'regulations for the body.' This means they dealt with outward, physical aspects of life and worship.
Think of them like signposts. They directed people toward something greater, something that would bring about a true 'reformation' – a complete setting right of things. These rituals were 'imposed until the time of reformation,' signifying they were provisional and destined to be replaced by a more perfect reality.
Why did these ancient rules feel so… earthly? The text gives us a clue about their limitations.
The phrase 'carnal ordinances' is key here. 'Carnal' (or 'fleshly') refers to things of the physical, material world, as opposed to the spiritual. These regulations, while divinely given, primarily dealt with the external – what people ate, drank, or how they physically purified themselves.
Crucially, they could only affect the 'body,' the outward person. They couldn't reach the inner self, the conscience. This is why they were considered insufficient on their own. True cleansing and righteousness needed to come from a spiritual transformation, not just adherence to physical laws.
What does it mean for things to be truly 'reformed'? This verse points to a pivotal moment in history.
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The 'time of reformation' mentioned in the verse is a direct reference to the new era inaugurated by Jesus Christ. This wasn't just a minor adjustment; it was a complete overhaul, a setting of things right in the deepest sense.
Under the Old Covenant, the rituals were a placeholder, a sign pointing forward. With Christ's coming, sacrifice, and ascension, the true and perfect reality arrived. His work brought about a 'better covenant' (Hebrews 8:6), one that truly cleanses the conscience and establishes a lasting relationship with God. The temporary ordinances found their fulfillment and obsolescence in Him.
Understand the original words
diorthōsis · Greek Noun
A strategic era or divine intervention that sets things right. It refers to the new order established by Christ that supersedes the temporary and external regulations of the Mosaic Law.
The Old Testament's complex system of 'meats, drinks, and washings' was a temporary framework designed to point towards a future 'reformation' – the perfect work of Christ and the new covenant He established.
c. 1446 BC
Giving of the Law at Sinai
God gives the Mosaic Law to the Israelites, including detailed regulations for sacrifices, purity rituals, and dietary restrictions, forming the basis of their worship and daily life.
c. 950 BC
Dedication of Solomon's Temple
The magnificent Temple in Jerusalem becomes the central place of worship, housing the Ark of the Covenant and continuing the sacrificial system established by the Law.
586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
The Babylonians destroy Jerusalem and the First Temple, leading to the exile of many Jews. This event highlights the limitations of the physical sanctuary and the sacrificial system.
c. 516 BC
Dedication of the Second Temple
The return of some exiles allows for the rebuilding and rededication of the Temple. While a significant event, it marks a return to a less glorious era compared to Solomon's.
c. 20 BC - AD 30— this verse
Jesus' Ministry and Sacrifice
Jesus Christ lives, teaches, and offers himself as the ultimate sacrifice, fulfilling the Law and inaugurating the new covenant promised by God.
c. AD 30 - 60
Establishment of the Early Church
Following Jesus' ascension, the Holy Spirit empowers the apostles and believers, spreading the message of the new covenant and the finished work of Christ.
This passage directly parallels Hebrews 9:10 by stating that the Mosaic food laws and festivals were a 'shadow of things to come' and that their substance is found in Christ, highlighting the temporary nature of the Old Testament regulations.
Jeremiah 31:31-34This prophetic passage foretells a 'new covenant' that will be written on hearts, contrasting with the old covenant's external regulations. This directly speaks to the 'time of reformation' mentioned in Hebrews, pointing towards a deeper, internal transformation.
Galatians 3:23-25Paul explains that the Mosaic Law acted as a 'custodian until Christ came,' implying its role was temporary and preparatory. This resonates with the idea in Hebrews 9:10 that these regulations were imposed 'until the time of reformation.'
Mark 7:15-19Jesus declares that nothing outside a person can defile them, but rather what comes from within. This aligns with Hebrews 9:10's emphasis on 'carnal ordinances' that dealt with external purity, contrasting it with the internal cleansing Christ brings.
ellicottHebrews 9:10: "Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation."
(10) Which stood only in . . . —Better, only joined with meats and drinks and divers washings,—carnal ordinances, imposed until a time of reformation. Here again the best authorities correct the received Greek text, omitting “and” before the word “carnal,” and so altering the next word as to make it descriptive of the “gifts and sacrifices” mentioned i…
vincentHebrews 9:10: "Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation."
The impotence of the gifts and sacrifices lay in the fact that they were only symbolic ordinances.Which stood in (ἐπὶ)The passage should be read thus: "according to which are offered gifts and sacrifices which cannot perfect the worshipper as touching the conscience, being mere ordinances of the flesh on the ground of (ἐπὶ resting upon) meats," etc…
The verse emphasizes that these Jewish regulations were "carnal ordinances," meaning they dealt only with outward, physical aspects like food, drink, and washing. They weren't meant to transform the inner person or address guilt on the conscience. These rules were a temporary measure, a temporary fix until the ultimate "reformation" that would bring true cleansing and spiritual renewal through Christ.
This passage explains that the old covenant's rituals, focusing on food, drink, and various ceremonial washings, were only outward regulations. These practices, along with other "carnal ordinances," were meant to apply to the physical body and were imposed on God's people until a significant shift—the coming of Christ and the inauguration of the new covenant.
This passage explains that the old covenant's rituals, focusing on food, drink, and various ceremonial washings, were only outward regulations. These practices, along with other "carnal ordinances," were meant to apply to the physical body and were imposed on God's people until a significant shift—the coming of Christ and the inauguration of the new covenant.
"but deal only with food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until the time of reformation." — The verse emphasizes that these Jewish regulations were "carnal ordinances," meaning they dealt only with outward, physical aspects like food, drink, and washing. They weren't meant to transform the…
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Last reviewed October 2026