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

16(For where [there is] a testament, the death of the testator must needs come in. 17For a testament [is] of force when men are dead, since it is in no way of force while the testator is alive.) Whence neither the first was inaugurated without blood. 19For every commandment having been spoken according to [the] law by Moses to all the people; having taken the blood of calves and goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, he sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, 20saying, This [is] the blood of the covenant which God has enjoined to you.

Hebrews 9:18 word by word

ὅθεν οὐδὲ ἡ πρώτη χωρὶς αἵματος ἐγκεκαίνισται.Read the interlinear

• firstπρῶτοςprōtos · firstG4413
• bloodαἷμαaima · bloodG129

Cross-references for Hebrews 9:18

• Hebrews 8:7For if that first was faultless, place had not been sought for a second.
• Exodus 12:22And take a bunch of hyssop, and dip [it] in the blood that is in the bason, and smear the lintel and the two door-posts with the blood that is in the bason; and none of you shall go out of the door of his house until the morning.
• Exodus 24:3And Moses came and told the people all the words of Jehovah, and all the judgments; and all the people answered with one voice, and said, All the words that Jehovah has said will we do!
• Hebrews 9:14how much rather shall the blood of the Christ, who by the eternal Spirit offered himself spotless to God, purify your conscience from dead works to worship [the] 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