Devine Scripture

Hebrews 9:21

What does Hebrews 9:21 mean?

A plain-English look at Hebrews 9:21 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Hebrews 9:21 means

The consecration extended beyond people and text to the entire worship environment: Moses sprinkled the tabernacle and all the vessels of ministry with blood. This comprehensive application teaches that everything used in approaching God must be purified. Sin’s defilement is pervasive, so the need for cleansing touches every aspect of worship. At the same time, it displays God’s provision—He makes a way for unclean people to meet Him through appointed means. Yet the repeated sprinkling also hints at incompleteness. If everything must be continually cleansed, then a final, once-for-all purification would be a far better hope—one achieved not by animal blood on earthly objects, but by Christ’s blood in the true, heavenly sanctuary.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

Moreover the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry he sprinkled in like manner with the blood.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

Moreover the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry he sprinkled in like manner with the blood.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And the blood was put on the Tent and all the holy vessels in the same way.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the service with blood in like manner he did sprinkle,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

The tabernacle also and all the vessels of the ministry, in like manner, he sprinkled with blood.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And the tabernacle too and all the vessels of service he sprinkled in like manner with blood;

Context

Verse 21 completes the historical picture of the first covenant’s dedication: not only people and book (verse 19), but also the tabernacle and its vessels were sprinkled. Verse 22 will extract the principle that under the law nearly everything is cleansed with blood, and without bloodshed there is no forgiveness. That principle will support verses 23–24, which contrast the cleansing of earthly copies with the superior sacrifice required for the heavenly realities. The logic continues to build toward the chapter’s climax in verses 25–28 about Christ’s once-for-all offering.

v.20saying, This is the blood of the covenant which God commanded to you-ward.

v.21This passage

v.22And according to the law, I may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and apart from shedding of blood there is no remission.

Cross references

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

  • Ezekiel 43:18

    And he said unto me, Son of man, thus saith the Lord Jehovah: These are the ordinances of the altar in the day when they shall make it, to offer burnt-offerings thereon, and to sprinkle blood thereon.

  • Exodus 29:12

    And thou shalt take of the blood of the bullock, and put it upon the horns of the altar with thy finger; and thou shalt pour out all the blood at the base of the altar.

  • Leviticus 8:19

    And he killed it; and Moses sprinkled the blood upon the altar round about.

  • Exodus 29:20

    Then shalt thou kill the ram, and take of its blood, and put it upon the tip of the right ear of Aaron, and upon the tip of the right ear of his sons, and upon the thumb of their right hand, and upon the great toe of their right foot, and sprinkle the blood upon the altar round about.

  • Leviticus 9:18

    He slew also the ox and the ram, the sacrifice of peace-offerings, which was for the people: and Aaron’s sons delivered unto him the blood, which he sprinkled upon the altar round about,

  • Leviticus 9:8

    So Aaron drew near unto the altar, and slew the calf of the sin-offering, which was for himself.

Related questions readers ask

Keep reading

Want to dig deeper? Explore Hebrews 9

Hand-picked devotionals, topical studies, and pastoral answers that draw on Hebrews 9.

Keep exploring

Follow this verse across Scripture

Topics, devotionals, original-language word studies, and figures connected to Hebrews 9:21.

Browse every hub

BibleTopicsBible answersDevotionalsFamous passagesWord studiesPeoplePlacesVerses for…Reading plansCommentary