God’s Word Translation
Hebrews 9:18
18That is why even the first promise was made with blood.
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
16In order for a will to take effect, it must be shown that the one who made it has died. 17A will is used only after a person is dead because it goes into effect only when a person dies. That is why even the first promise was made with blood. 19As Scripture tells us, Moses told all the people every commandment. Then he took the blood of calves and goats together with some water, red yarn, and hyssop and sprinkled the scroll and all the people. 20He said, “Here is the blood that seals the promise God has made to you.”
Read all of Hebrews 9Hebrews 9:18 word by word
ὅθεν οὐδὲ ἡ πρώτη χωρὶς αἵματος ἐγκεκαίνισται.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Hebrews 9:18
- Hebrews 8:7If nothing had been wrong with the first promise, no one would look for another one.
- Exodus 12:22Take the branch of a hyssop plant, dip it in the blood which is in a bowl, and put some of the blood on the top and sides of the doorframes ⌞of your houses⌟. No one may leave the house until morning.
- Exodus 24:3Moses went and told the people all the Lord’s words and legal decisions. Then all the people answered with one voice, “We will do everything the Lord has told us to do.”
- Hebrews 9:14The blood of Christ, who had no defect, does even more. Through the eternal Spirit he offered himself to God and cleansed our consciences from the useless things we had done. Now we can serve 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
In the dictionaries
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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