Hebrews 9:10
What does Hebrews 9:10 mean?
A plain-English look at Hebrews 9:10 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Hebrews 9:10 means
The regulations of the old system—meats, drinks, and various washings—are described as carnal ordinances, meaning they pertain to the external, bodily realm. They were real commands, but they addressed outward cleanness and ritual approach, not the final cleansing of the conscience. Importantly, they were imposed only until a time of reformation, a season God appointed when He would set things right by introducing a better order. This verse guards us from both disdain and overestimation: the old was God-given yet temporary; useful yet incomplete. Its expiration date was built in, not by human innovation but by divine design, anticipating the arrival of Christ who brings the inward, lasting purification and open access to God.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000being only (with meats and drinks and divers washings) carnal ordinances, imposed until a time of reformation.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901being only (with meats and drinks and divers washings) carnal ordinances, imposed until a time of reformation.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Because they are only rules of the flesh, of meats and drinks and washings, which have their place till the time comes when things will be put right.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862only in victuals, and drinks, and different baptisms, and fleshly ordinances--till the time of reformation imposed upon <FI>them<Fi> .
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And divers washings and justices of the flesh laid on them until the time of correction.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890[consisting] only of meats and drinks and divers washings, ordinances of flesh, imposed until [the] time of setting things right.
Context
Verses 8–10 have explained the significance and limits of the old arrangement: it signaled restricted access, could not perfect the conscience, and consisted of external rites appointed only until a reform. With that groundwork laid, verse 11 will pivot to Christ’s priesthood and the greater, heavenly tabernacle. The “time of reformation” language primes the reader for this turn. What comes next (verses 11–14) declares that in Christ the promised reform has arrived: a superior High Priest has entered the true sanctuary with His own blood to secure eternal redemption and cleanse the conscience to serve the living God.
v.9which is a figure for the time present; according to which are offered both gifts and sacrifices that cannot, as touching the conscience, make the worshipper perfect,
v.10This passage
v.11But Christ having come a high priest of the good things to come, through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation,
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Leviticus 11:2
Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, These are the living things which ye may eat among all the beasts that are on the earth.
- Leviticus 14:8
And he that is to be cleansed shall wash his clothes, and shave off all his hair, and bathe himself in water; and he shall be clean: and after that he shall come into the camp, but shall dwell outside his tent seven days.
- Mark 7:4
and when they come from the marketplace, except they bathe themselves, they eat not; and many other things there are, which they have received to hold, washings of cups, and pots, and brasen vessels.)
- Hebrews 7:16
who hath been made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life:
- Acts 10:13
And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill and eat.
- Hebrews 10:22
let us draw near with a true heart in fulness of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience: and having our body washed with pure water,
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