Hebrews 9:23
in Hebrews 9So it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
It was necessary therefore that the copies of the things in the heavens should be cleansed with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.
KJV
It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.
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This verse in Hebrews 9
Commentary
12 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
The patterns of things in the heavens - The tabernacle and its various utensils; see the notes on Heb 8:5. Be purified with these - With water and blood, and by these ceremonies. But the heavenly things themselves - The heavenly tabernacle or sanctuary into which Christ has entered, and where he performs the functions of his ministry. The use of the word “purified” here applied to heaven, does not imply that heaven was before “unholy,” but it denotes that it is now made accessible to sinners; or that they may come and worship there in an acceptable manner.
This site's exposition
the copies of the heavenly things
Even the copies of the heavenly things had to be purified with earthly blood rites, and the heavenly things themselves needed better sacrifices than these. Access for sinners to the heavenly sanctuary needed a sacrifice equal to it, Christ's own blood.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
"Therefore it was necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens." The heavenly things in the new covenant are said to be, since the initiation in it is heavenly, and the faithful are citizens of heaven, even if they are still living on earth. …
And how come these to be patterns of the things in the heavens? And what does he call the things which are now in the heavens? Is it heaven? is it the angels? No, none of these, but our things, for heavenly things are ours, …
"It was therefore necessary that the Patterns" (he says) "of the things in the heavens should be purified with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these." And how are they "patterns of things in the heavens"? And what does he mean now by "the things in the heavens"? Is it Heaven? Or is it the Angels? None of these, but what is ours. It follows then that our things are in Heaven, and heavenly things are ours, even though they be accomplished on earth; since although angels are on earth, yet they are called Heavenly. And the Cherubim appeared on earth, but yet are heavenly. And why do I say "appeared"? nay rather they dwell on earth, as indeed in Paradise: but this is nothing; for they are heavenly. And, "Our conversation is in Heaven," and yet we live here. "But these are the heavenly things," that is, the philosophy which exists amongst us; those who have been called thereto. "With better sacrifices than these." What is "better" is better than something [else] that is good. Therefore "the patterns also of things in the heavens" have become good; for not even the patterns were evil: else the things whereof they are patterns would also have been evil.
The Medieval Church2 voices
He calls "heavenly" the things that pertain to us, that which concerns the Church. It was said above in what sense the Church is heaven. Therefore, the things used among the Jews were images and foreshadowings of our sacred rites; for this reason they were …
461. – Having shown what is common to the Old and New Testaments, the Apostle now shows the difference between the two. In regard to this he does two things: first, he shows that there is a better cleansing in the New; secondly, that it …
5 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
But the heavenly things themselves - Our heaven-born spirits: what more this may mean we know not yet. By better sacrifices than these - That is, by a better sacrifice, which is here opposed to all the legal sacrifices, and is expressed plurally, because it includes the signification of them all, and is of so much more eminent virtue.
These heavenly things are the privileges of the gospel state, begun in grace, perfected in glory. These must be ratified by a suitable sanction or consecration; and this was the blood of Christ. Now it is very evident that the sacrifice of Christ is infinitely better than those of the law.
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.
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Christ's body, the true tabernacle (see on Heb 8:2; Heb 9:11), as bearing our imputed sin (2Co 5:21), was consecrated (Joh 17:17, 19) and purified by the shedding of His blood to be the meeting place of God and man. sacrifices--The plural is used in expressing the general proposition, though strictly referring to the one sacrifice of Christ once for all.
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 appointed by God, were representations of celestial matters; but how far and in what way we cannot now see. Purification implies, not only cleansing from defilement, but also dedication or consecration. All the utensils employed in the tabernacle service were thus purified though incapable of any moral pollution. But the heavenly things themselves - 1. Some think this means heaven itself, which, by receiving the sacrificed body of Christ, which appears in the presence of God for us, may be said to be purified, i.e., set apart for the reception of the souls of those who have found redemption in his blood. 2. Others think the body of Christ is intended, which is the tabernacle in which his Divinity dwelt; and that this might be said to be purified by its own sacrifice, as he is said, Joh 17:19, to sanctify himself; that is, to consecrate himself unto God as a sin-offering for the redemption of man. 3. Others suppose the Church is intended, which he is to present to the Father without spot or wrinkle or any such thing. 4. […]
The words behind it
19 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ἀνάγκη | anagke | [It was] necessary | G318 → | 17 times |
| οὖν | oun | then [for] | G3767 → | 497 times |
| τὰ | ta | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| μὲν | men | indeed | G3303 → | 176 times |
| ὑποδείγματα | hupodeigmata | representations | G5262 → | 6 times |
| τῶν | ton | of the [things] | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| τοῖς | tois | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| οὐρανοῖς | ouranois | heavens | G3772 → | 272 times |
| τούτοις | toutois | with these | G3778 → | 1381 times |
| καθαρίζεσθαι | katharizesthai | to be purified | G2511 → | 31 times |
| αὐτὰ | auta | themselves | G846 → | 5565 times |
| δὲ | de | however | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| τὰ | ta | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἐπουράνια | epourania | heavenly things | G2032 → | 19 times |
| κρείττοσιν | kreittosin | with better | G2908 → | 19 times |
| θυσίαις | thusiais | sacrifices | G2378 → | 28 times |
| παρὰ | para | than | G3844 → | 192 times |
| ταύτας. | tautas | these. | G3778 → | 1381 times |
Ἀνάγκη[It was] necessary
anagkeG318 →17 times
οὖνthen [for]
ounG3767 →497 times
τὰthe
taG3588 →19766 times
μὲνindeed
menG3303 →176 times
ὑποδείγματαrepresentations
hupodeigmataG5262 →6 times
τῶνof the [things]
tonG3588 →19766 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
τοῖςthe
toisG3588 →19766 times
οὐρανοῖςheavens
ouranoisG3772 →272 times
τούτοιςwith these
toutoisG3778 →1381 times
καθαρίζεσθαιto be purified
katharizesthaiG2511 →31 times
αὐτὰthemselves
autaG846 →5565 times
δὲhowever
deG1161 →2765 times
τὰthe
taG3588 →19766 times
ἐπουράνιαheavenly things
epouraniaG2032 →19 times
κρείττοσινwith better
kreittosinG2908 →19 times
θυσίαιςsacrifices
thusiaisG2378 →28 times
παρὰthan
paraG3844 →192 times
ταύτας.these.
tautasG3778 →1381 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Hebrews 9:14how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God, purify our consciences from works of death, so that we may serve the living God!
it leads to
- Hebrews 10:22
let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
- 1 Peter 1:19
but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or spot.
- 1 John 1:7
But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.
- Hebrews 9:12
He did not enter by the blood of goats and calves, but He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by His own blood, thus securing eternal redemption.
- 1 Peter 2:24
He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. “By His stripes you are healed.”
- Hebrews 10:22
Through
Hebrews 9:24For Christ did not enter a man-made copy of the true sanctuary, but He entered heaven itself, now to appear on our behalf in the presence of God.
it leads to
- Hebrews 12:2
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand…
- Hebrews 9:11–12
But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that have come, He went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made by hands and is not a part…
- Hebrews 12:2
Through
Hebrews 10:4because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
it leads to
- Hebrews 10:11
Day after day every priest stands to minister and to offer again and again the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.
- Hebrews 10:11
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies35
On this verse
On this chapter
- Prayers, Merits, and the Dead
- Blue, Purple and Scarlet
- Clean and Unclean
- The Covenants
- The Day of Atonement
- The Hebrew Feasts
Show the next 6 titles
- Forgiving Yourself: What Scripture Says
- Heaven
- The Anchor of the Soul
- How the Cross Saves: The Views of the Atonement
- Incense and the Censers
- The Words Tom and Tamim
Show the next 6 titles
About Hebrews
This page draws on 13 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Cosmas Indicopleustes, The Christian Topography, Book 10; Edersheim, The Temple: Its Ministry and Services; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Calvin, Commentary on Hebrews; John Chrysostom, Homily on Hebrews 16; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, The Pseudo-Oecumenian Catena on Hebrews; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Hebrews and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Hebrews.