Devine Scripture

Hebrews 13:11

What does Hebrews 13:11 mean?

A plain-English look at Hebrews 13:11 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Hebrews 13:11 means

Under the old covenant, when the high priest brought the blood of certain sin offerings into the holy place, the animal bodies were not eaten; they were burned outside the camp. This detail matters: it shows that the climax of atonement involved exclusion from the camp’s normal life. The sacrifice that reconciled Israel to God did not become a meal for the priests. The writer recalls this to show a pattern of sacred separation, preparing readers to see how Jesus fulfilled and transformed it. The old ritual pointed beyond itself; its parts—blood within, body without—anticipated a greater, decisive act of sanctification.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

For the bodies of those beasts whose blood is brought into the holy place by the high priest as an offering for sin, are burned without the camp.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

For the bodies of those beasts whose blood is brought into the holy place by the high priest as an offering for sin, are burned without the camp.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

For the bodies of the beasts whose blood is taken into the holy place by the high priest as an offering for sin are burned outside the circle of the tents.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

for of those beasts whose blood is brought for sin into the holy places through the chief priest--of these the bodies are burned without the camp.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

For the bodies of those beasts whose blood is brought into the holies by the high priest for sin are burned without the camp.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

for of those beasts whose blood is carried [as sacrifices for sin] into the [holy of] holies by the high priest, of these the bodies are burned outside the camp.

Context

To explain why Christians have a unique “altar” (v.10), the author revisits Levitical practice (v.11). He is building a typological bridge to Christ’s passion. The next verse (v.12) will name Jesus as the fulfillment—he suffered “without the gate” to sanctify the people by his own blood. Then (v.13) comes the pastoral implication: believers must go to him there, sharing his reproach.

v.10We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat that serve the tabernacle.

v.11This passage

v.12Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people through his own blood, suffered without the gate.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Leviticus 4:16

    And the anointed priest shall bring of the blood of the bullock to the tent of meeting:

  • Leviticus 4:11

    And the skin of the bullock, and all its flesh, with its head, and with its legs, and its inwards, and its dung,

  • Leviticus 6:30

    And no sin-offering, whereof any of the blood is brought into the tent of meeting to make atonement in the holy place, shall be eaten: it shall be burnt with fire.

  • Numbers 19:3

    And ye shall give her unto Eleazar the priest, and he shall bring her forth without the camp, and one shall slay her before his face:

  • Exodus 29:14

    But the flesh of the bullock, and its skin, and its dung, shalt thou burn with fire without the camp: it is a sin-offering.

  • Leviticus 4:5

    And the anointed priest shall take of the blood of the bullock, and bring it to the tent of meeting:

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