Hebrews 9:22-23
Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. Thus it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these rites, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The word "almost" is crucial here, because it’s not that blood alone purified everything, but that the principle of blood under the Law was tied to forgiveness, even when other elements like water or fire were involved. This highlights that even seemingly minor exceptions point back to the foundational truth that true remission always required a life given.
The author is detailing the Old Testament sacrificial system, showing how blood was central to purification rituals and the establishment of covenants under the Law. Following the description of Moses sprinkling the book and the people with blood to inaugurate the first covenant, this verse summarizes the principle that permeated the entire Law: blood was the means for cleansing and atonement. The next verses will build on this by contrasting these earthly rituals with the superior, heavenly realities inaugurated by Christ's sacrifice.
Ever feel like there's a loophole in God's law? This verse unpacks why the Old Testament system relied heavily on blood, but with a crucial 'almost.'
The writer of Hebrews states that "almost all things" under the Law were purified with blood. This wasn't a hard and fast, exceptionless rule for every single purification ritual.
Exceptions noted:
The key takeaway is that blood was the predominant and most significant means of purification within the Mosaic system. The "almost" acknowledges these other methods, but doesn't diminish the central role of blood.
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Why blood? This verse gets to the heart of why sacrifices were so central to the Old Testament and what they pointed towards.
The second half of the verse delivers a powerful, non-negotiable truth: "without shedding of blood is no forgiveness of sins." This wasn't just about ceremonial cleansing; it spoke directly to the gravity of sin.
The Principle:
Understand the original words
torah · Hebrew Noun
The collection of divine instructions and moral requirements given through Moses, often used to contrast the era of works with the era of grace in Christ.
katharizō · Greek Verb
The state of being cleansed or ceremonially consecrated, removing impurity or defilement so that something may be fit for holy use.
aphesis · Greek Noun
The act of releasing a person from the debt, guilt, or penalty incurred by transgression against God’s law, secured only through the atonement provided by Christ.
hamartia · Greek Noun
Lawless acts or deviations from the moral standard established by God, which create a barrier between humanity and a holy Creator.
antitypon · Greek Noun
An earthly or symbolic representation that mirrors a greater, eternal reality found in the spiritual or heavenly realm.
thysia · Greek Noun
A religious act or ritual established by God, particularly those relating to atonement and service in the sanctuary.
This verse highlights a core principle of the Old Testament sacrificial system: blood was essential for purification and forgiveness. The Jewish Law, with its detailed rituals involving animal sacrifice, pointed towards a deeper reality that the author of Hebrews is about to reveal – Christ's ultimate sacrifice.
c. 1446 BC
Exodus and Covenant at Sinai
After leading the Israelites out of Egypt, God established a covenant with them at Mount Sinai, solidifying their relationship and giving them the Law.
c. 1445-1405 BC
Construction of the Tabernacle
The portable sanctuary, the Tabernacle, was built according to divine specifications and consecrated with blood, serving as the central place of worship and atonement.
c. 1445-1405 BC— this verse
Establishment of Levitical Sacrificial System
The Law detailed a complex system of sacrifices and purification rituals involving the shedding of animal blood for atonement and ceremonial cleansing.
c. 1000 BC
Temple Construction in Jerusalem
King Solomon built the First Temple, a permanent structure replacing the Tabernacle, continuing the sacrificial system and emphasizing God's presence among His people.
586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
The Babylonians conquered Jerusalem, destroyed the Temple, and exiled many Israelites, disrupting the sacrificial system and national life.
c. 538 BC
Return from Exile and Temple Rebuilding
Exiles began returning to Jerusalem and rebuilding the Temple, re-establishing a form of the sacrificial system, though diminished in glory.
This passage describes Moses sprinkling the people and the book with blood during the ratification of the covenant, illustrating the ancient principle that blood was essential for covenant and purification.
Leviticus 17:11This foundational verse explicitly states that 'the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you to make atonement for your lives on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement, by reason of the life.' This directly supports the idea that blood is central to atonement and forgiveness.
Isaiah 53:5This prophecy beautifully foreshadows the suffering servant who would be 'pierced for our transgressions' and 'crushed for our iniquities,' with the 'punishment that brought us peace was on him.' This points to a future, ultimate shedding of blood for forgiveness.
Colossians 1:14This New Testament passage speaks of believers having redemption 'through him, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace.' It connects forgiveness directly to Christ, echoing the principle that blood must be shed for sins to be forgiven.
1 Peter 1:18-19Peter reminds believers that they were redeemed 'with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot,' highlighting that their cleansing from futile ways came through this ultimate sacrifice.
vincentHebrews 9:22: "And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission."
The historical facts are summed up, emphasizing one point - cleansing by blood.Almost all things (σχεδον - πάντα)The A.V. is wrong. Σξεδὸν almost or nearly is prefixed to the entire clause, and applies to both its members. Rend. "and I may almost say, it is in blood," etc. Almost provides for such exceptions as Exodus 19:10; Exodus 32:30-32; Exodus 5:11-13; Leviticus 15:5; Le…
calvinHebrews 9:18-23: "Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood."
For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people,
Nam postquam exposuisset Moses secundum legem totum mandatum universo populo, accipiens sanguinem vitulorum et hircorum, cum aqua et lana coccinea et hysopo, librum et totum populum aspersit,…
The word "almost" is crucial here, because it’s not that blood alone purified everything, but that the principle of blood under the Law was tied to forgiveness, even when other elements like water or fire were involved. This highlights that even seemingly minor exceptions point back to the foundational truth that true remission always required a life given.
The author is detailing the Old Testament sacrificial system, showing how blood was central to purification rituals and the establishment of covenants under the Law. Following the description of Moses sprinkling the book and the people with blood to inaugurate the first covenant, this verse summarizes the principle that permeated the entire Law: blood was the means for cleansing and atonement. The next verses will build on this by contrasting these earthly rituals with the superior, heavenly realities inaugurated by Christ's sacrifice.
The author is detailing the Old Testament sacrificial system, showing how blood was central to purification rituals and the establishment of covenants under the Law. Following the description of Moses sprinkling the book and the people with blood to inaugurate the first covenant, this verse summarizes the principle that permeated the entire Law: blood was the means for cleansing and atonement. The next verses will build on this by contrasting these earthly rituals with the superior, heavenly realities inaugurated by Christ's sacrifice.
"Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. Thus it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these rites, but the heavenl…" — The word "almost" is crucial here, because it’s not that blood alone purified everything, but that the principle of blood under the Law was tied to forgiveness, even when other elements like wate…
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