Hebrews 9:16-23

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hebrews 9:22

And almost all things are by the law purged with blood ,.... All "except a few things", as the Arabic version renders it; for some things were cleansed by water, and others purged by fire, Numbers 31:23 . Some join the word almost with the word purged, as if the sense was, that all things were purged by blood, but not perfectly, only almost; but the former sense is best. And without shedding of blood is no remission ; that is, of sin; there was no typical remission without it; and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hebrews 9:23

It was therefore necessary ,.... On account of the divine appointment, and that types and antitypes might correspond; and especially it was necessary with respect to the Messiah, the substance and body of all types. So Jonathan ben Uzziel paraphrases the text in Exodus 40:9 , "and thou shalt take the anointing oil, and thou shalt anoint the tabernacle, and all that is in it; and thou shall sanctify it, מטול , because of the crown of the kingdom of the house of Judah, and the King... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 9:16

For where a testament is - A learned and judicious friend furnishes me with the following translation of this and the 17th verse: - "For where there is a covenant, it is necessary that the death of the appointed victim should be exhibited, because a covenant is confirmed over dead victims, since it is not at all valid while the appointed victim is alive." He observes, "There is no word signifying testator, or men, in the original. Διαθεμενος is not a substantive, but a participle, or a... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 9:18

Whereupon - Ὁθεν . Wherefore, as a victim was required for the ratification of every covenant, the first covenant made between God and the Hebrews, by the mediation of Moses, was not dedicated, εγκεκαινισται , renewed or solemnized, without blood - without the death of a victim, and the aspersion of its blood. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 9:19

When Moses had spoken every precept - The place to which the apostle alludes is Exodus 24:4-8 , where the reader is requested to consult the notes. And sprinkled both the book - The sprinkling of the book is not mentioned in the place to which the apostle refers, (see above), nor did it in fact take place. The words αυτο τε το βιβλιον , and the book itself, should be referred to λαβων , having taken, and not to ερῥαντισε , he sprinkled; the verse should therefore be read thus:... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 9:20

This is the blood of the testament - (covenant.) Our Lord refers to the conduct of Moses here, and partly quotes his words in the institution of the eucharist: This is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins, Matthew 26:28 . And by thus using the words and applying them, he shows that his sacrificial blood was intended by the blood shed and sprinkled on this occasion, and that by it alone the remission of sins is obtained. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 9:21

He sprinkled - with blood - all the vessels of the ministry - To intimate that every thing used by sinful man is polluted, and that nothing can be acceptable in the sight of a holy God that has not in effect the sprinkling of the atoning blood. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 9:22

And almost all things are - purged with blood - The apostle says almost, because in some cases certain vessels were purified by water, some by fire, Numbers 31:23 , and some with the ashes of the red heifer, Numbers 19:2-10 , but it was always understood that every thing was at first consecrated by the blood of the victim. And without shedding of blood is no remission - The apostle shows fully here what is one of his great objects in the whole of this epistle, viz. that there is no... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 9:23

The patterns of things in the heavens - That is: The tabernacle and all its utensils, services, etc., must be purified by these, viz.: The blood of calves and goats, and the sprinkling of the blood and water with the bunch of hyssop bound about with scarlet wool. These are called patterns, ὑποδειγματα , exemplars, earthly things, which were the representatives of heavenly things. And there is no doubt that every thing in the tabernacle, its parts, divisions, utensils, ministry, etc., as... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 9:16

Verse 16 16.For where a testament is, etc. Even this one passage is a sufficient proof, that this Epistle was not written in Hebrew; for ברית means in Hebrew a covenant, but not a testament; but in Greek , διαθήκη, includes both ideas; and the Apostle, alluding to its secondary meaning, holds that the promises should not have been otherwise ratified and valid, had they not been sealed by the death of Christ. And this he proves by referring to what is usually the case as to wills or testaments,... read more

Group of Brands