Devine Scripture

Hebrews 9:27

What does Hebrews 9:27 mean?

A plain-English look at Hebrews 9:27 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Hebrews 9:27 means

It is appointed for men to die once, and after this comes judgment. This sober truth underscores the finality and irreversibility of death and the reality of divine evaluation. There are no cycles of death and return; human life moves toward a single accountability before God. In context, this prepares a comparison: just as human death is once and final, so Christ’s offering is once and final. The verse also highlights why a perfect, once-for-all sacrifice is necessary—because judgment is real, and sinners need a definitive atonement that can stand in that day. The gospel meets us at our greatest need: a sure righteousness before the God who judges.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And inasmuch as it is appointed unto men once to die, and after this cometh judgment;

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And inasmuch as it is appointed unto men once to die, and after this cometh judgment;

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And because by God's law death comes to men once, and after that they are judged;

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and as it is laid up to men once to die, and after this--judgment,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And as it is appointed unto men once to die, and after this the judgment:

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And forasmuch as it is the portion of men once to die, and after this judgment;

Context

Verse 27 lays down a general human principle to frame the comparison in verse 28. The argument is: just as death is a once-for-all appointment followed by judgment, so Christ’s offering was once-for-all, and His next appearing will be for salvation, not to deal with sin again. This contrast reinforces the sufficiency of His first coming and directs hope toward His second coming, which the chapter will end by highlighting for those who are waiting for Him.

v.26else must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once at the end of the ages hath he been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

v.27This passage

v.28so Christ also, having been once offered to bear the sins of many, shall appear a second time, apart from sin, to them that wait for him, unto salvation.

Cross references

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

  • Jude 1:15

    to execute judgment upon all, and to convict all the ungodly of all their works of ungodliness which they have ungodly wrought, and of all the hard things which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.

  • Ecclesiastes 3:20

    All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.

  • Acts 17:31

    inasmuch as he hath appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness by the man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.

  • 2 Timothy 4:1

    I chargetheein the sight of God, and of Christ Jesus, who shall judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom:

  • Ecclesiastes 11:9

    Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth, and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thy heart, and in the sight of thine eyes; but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.

  • Job 19:25

    But as for me I know that my Redeemer liveth, And at last he will stand up upon the earth:

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