Hebrews 9:18

Hebrews 9:18 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood.
• New International Version (NIV)This is why even the first covenant was not put into effect without blood.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Therefore not even the first covenant was inaugurated without blood.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Therefore not even the first covenant was dedicated without blood.

Context of Hebrews 9:18

16For where there is a will and testament involved, the death of the one who made it must be established, 17for a will and testament takes effect [only] at death, since it is never in force as long as the one who made it is alive. So even the first covenant was not put in force without [the shedding of] blood. 19For when every commandment in the Law had been read by Moses to all the people, he took the blood of the calves and goats [which had been sacrificed], together with water and scarlet wool and with a bunch of hyssop, and he sprinkled both the scroll itself and all the people, 20saying, “This is the blood of the covenant [that seals and ratifies the agreement] which God ordained and commanded [me to deliver to] you.”

Hebrews 9:18 word by word

ὅθεν οὐδὲ ἡ πρώτη χωρὶς αἵματος ἐγκεκαίνισται.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Whereuponὅθενhothen · whenceG3606
• neitherοὐδέoude · norG3761
• the firstπρῶτοςprōtos · firstG4413
• was dedicatedἐγκαινίζωegkainizō · to inaugurateG1457
• withoutχωρίςchōris · withoutG5565
• bloodαἷμαaima · bloodG129
• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588

Cross-references for Hebrews 9:18

• Hebrews 8:7For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion for a second one or an attempt to institute another one [the new covenant].
• Exodus 12:22You shall take a bunch of hyssop, dip it in the blood which is in the basin, and touch some of the blood to the lintel [above the doorway] and to the two doorposts; and none of you shall go outside the door of his house until morning.
• Exodus 24:3Then Moses came and told the people everything that the Lord had said and all the ordinances. And all the people answered with one voice, “Everything the Lord has said we will do.”
• Hebrews 9:14how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal [Holy] Spirit willingly offered Himself unblemished [that is, without moral or spiritual imperfection as a sacrifice] to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works and lifeless observances to serve the ever living God?

Commentaries on Hebrews 9:18

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 18Whereupon - ̔ . 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, , renewed or solemnized, without blood - without the death of a victim, and the aspersion of its blood.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 18Whereupon - ̔́ Hothen- “Whence.” Or since this is a settled principle, or an indisputable fact, it occurred in accordance with this, that the first covenant was confirmed by the shedding of blood. The admitted principle which the apostle had stated, that the death of the victim was necessary to confirm the covenant, was the “reason” why the first covenant was ratified with blood. If there were any doubt about the correctness of the interpretation given…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 15-22Verses 15-22 The solemn transactions between God and man, are sometimes called a covenant, here a testament, which is a willing deed of a person, bestowing legacies on such persons as are described, and it only takes effect upon his death. Thus Christ died, not only to obtain the blessings of salvation for us, but to give power to the disposal of them. All, by sin, were become guilty before God, had forfeited every thing that is good; but God, willing to…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 18-19put into effect: Exodus 24:3–8 describes Moses starting the old covenant using the blood of a sacrifice. Hebrews is the only ancient source that says Moses sprinkled the book of God's law (see Exodus 24:6–8). Hyssop branches have blue flowers and strong-smelling leaves. People used them with sacrifices for cleansing (Exodus 12:22; Leviticus 14:4; Numbers 19:6, 18).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1818. Whereupon--rather, "Whence." dedicated--"inaugurated." The Old Testament strictly and formally began on that day of inauguration. "Where the disposition, or arrangement, is ratified by the blood of another, namely, of animals, which cannot make a covenant, much less make a testament, it is not strictly a testament, where it is ratified by the death of him that makes the arrangement, it is strictly, Greek 'diathece,' Hebrew 'berith,' taken in a wider…Read the comment

Topics related to Hebrews 9:18

• Blood
• Law
• Symbols and Similitudes
• Testament
• Types

In the dictionaries

• Altar
• Bear
• High priest
• Ordinance
• Remission
• Sanctuary
• Stand
• Tabernacle
• Washing
• Bible, the

Commentaries on Hebrews 9

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings