Hebrews 9:18
What does Hebrews 9:18 mean?
A plain-English look at Hebrews 9:18 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Hebrews 9:18 means
The Old Covenant itself was inaugurated with blood. This historical fact supports the argument that death and blood are essential in covenant enactment. The first arrangement was not launched by mere words or ceremony, but by sacrificial blood that consecrated the people and the sanctuary for God’s service. The author thereby links both covenants to the same principle: God draws near to His people and binds them to Himself through a mediator and through blood. If the prototype required such solemn means, how much more should we expect the better covenant to be established through a weightier, more precious blood—the blood of Christ.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Wherefore even the first covenant hath not been dedicated without blood.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Wherefore even the first covenant hath not been dedicated without blood.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949So that even the first agreement was not made without blood.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862whence not even the first apart from blood hath been initiated,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Whereupon neither was the first indeed dedicated without blood.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Whence neither the first was inaugurated without blood.
Context
Verse 18 begins an appeal to redemptive history to confirm the necessity of blood for covenant inauguration. Verses 19–21 will recall Moses’ actions in sprinkling blood on the book, the people, the tabernacle, and its vessels. Verse 22 will then generalize the lesson: virtually everything under the law is cleansed with blood, and without bloodshed there is no remission. This section consolidates the link between death, cleansing, and covenant, paving the way for verses 23–28 to show how Christ’s better sacrifice fulfills these patterns in the heavenly reality.
v.17For a testament is of force where there hath been death: for it doth never avail while he that made it liveth.
v.18This passage
v.19For when every commandment had been spoken by Moses unto all the people according to the law, he took the blood of the calves and the goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people,
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Hebrews 8:7
For if that first covenant had been faultless, then would no place have been sought for a second.
- Hebrews 9:14
how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish unto God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
- Exodus 12:22
And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and strike the lintel and the two side-posts with the blood that is in the basin; and none of you shall go out of the door of his house until the morning.
- Exodus 24:3
And Moses came and told the people all the words of Jehovah, and all the ordinances: and all the people answered with one voice, and said, All the words which Jehovah hath spoken will we do.
- Hebrews 9:22
And according to the law, I may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and apart from shedding of blood there is no remission.
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