Hebrews 9:23

Hebrews 9:23 in other versions

• King James Version (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.
• New International Version (NIV)It was necessary, then, for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Thus it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these rites, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Therefore it was necessary that the copies of the things in the heavens should be purified with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.

Context of Hebrews 9:23

21In the same way, Moses sprinkled blood on the tent and on everything used in worship. 22As Moses’ Teachings tell us, blood was used to cleanse almost everything, because if no blood is shed, no sins can be forgiven. The copies of the things in heaven had to be cleansed by these sacrifices. But the heavenly things themselves had to be cleansed by better sacrifices. 24Christ didn’t go into a holy place made by human hands. He didn’t go into a model of the real thing. Instead, he went into heaven to appear in God’s presence on our behalf. 25Every year the chief priest went into the holy place to make a sacrifice with blood that isn’t his own. However, Christ didn’t go into heaven to sacrifice himself again and again.

Hebrews 9:23 word by word

Ἀνάγκη οὖν τὰ μὲν ὑποδείγματα τῶν ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς τούτοις καθαρίζεσθαι αὐτὰ δὲ τὰ ἐπουράνια κρείττοσιν θυσίαις παρὰ ταύτας.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• thereforeοὖνoun · therefore/thenG3767
• necessary thatἀνάγκηanagkē · necessityG318
• ·μένmen · on the other handG3303
• the patternsὑπόδειγμαhupodeigma · exampleG5262
• of thingsὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• the heavensοὐρανόςouranos · heavenG3772
• should be purifiedκαθαρίζωkatharizō · to cleanG2511
• with theseοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• butδέde · thenG1161
• the heavenly thingsἐπουράνιοςepouranios · heavenlyG2032
• themselvesαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• withθυσίαthusia · sacrificeG2378
• betterκρείττωνkreittōn · strongerG2909
• thanπαράpara · from/with/besideG3844

Cross-references for Hebrews 9:23

• Hebrews 9:9The first part of the tent is an example for the present time. The gifts and sacrifices that were brought there could not give the worshiper a clear conscience.
• Hebrews 8:5They serve at a place that is a pattern, a shadow, of what is in heaven. When Moses was about to make the tent, God warned him, “Be sure to make everything based on the plan I showed you on the mountain.”
• Hebrews 10:1Moses’ Teachings with their yearly cycle of sacrifices are only a shadow of the good things in the future. They aren’t an exact likeness of those things. They can never make those who worship perfect.
• Colossians 2:17These are a shadow of the things to come, but the body ⌞that casts the shadow⌟ belongs to Christ.
• Hebrews 9:11But Christ came as a chief priest of the good things that are now here. Christ went through a better, more perfect tent that was not made by human hands and that is not part of this created world.
• Hebrews 10:4(The blood of bulls and goats cannot take away sins.)
• Luke 24:26Didn’t the Messiah have to suffer these things and enter into his glory?”
• John 14:3If I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again. Then I will bring you into my presence so that you will be where I am.
• 1 Peter 1:19Rather, the payment that freed you was the precious blood of Christ, the lamb with no defects or imperfections.
• Revelation 5:9Then they sang a new song, “You deserve to take the scroll and open the seals on it, because you were slaughtered. You bought people with your blood to be God’s own. They are from every tribe, language, people, and nation.

Commentaries on Hebrews 9:23

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 23The 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, ̔, exemplars, earthly things, which were the representatives of heavenly things. And there is no doubt that every thing in the tabernacle, its parts, divisions…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 23The patterns of things in the heavens - The tabernacle and its various utensils; see the notes on Hebrews 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…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 23-28Verses 23-28 It is evident that the sacrifices of Christ are infinitely better than those of the law, which could neither procure pardon for sin, nor impart power against it. Sin would still have been upon us, and have had dominion over us; but Jesus Christ, by one sacrifice, has destroyed the works of the devil, that believers may be made righteous, holy, and happy. As no wisdom, learning, virtue, wealth, or power, can keep one of the human race from…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 23This verse uses a comparison from lesser to greater (see study note on Hebrews 9:14). Just as heaven is greater than the earthly tabernacle, Christ’s sacrifice had to be much better than earthly sacrifices. So it was necessary: See 9:16–22; Leviticus 16:14–19. copies of the heavenly things: See study note on Hebrews 8:5. heavenly things to be purified: Just as the tabernacle needed cleansing because of the Israelites' sin (Leviticus 16:16–19), the…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2323. patterns--"the suggestive representations"; the typical copies (see on He 8:5). things in the heavens--the heavenly tabernacle and the things therein. purified with these--with the blood of bulls and goats. heavenly things themselves--the archetypes. Man's sin had introduced an element of disorder into the relations of God and His holy angels in respect to man. The purification removes this element of disorder and changes God's wrath against man in…Read the comment

Topics related to Hebrews 9:23

• Blood
• Colors
• Jesus Continued
• Law
• Offerings
• Pattern
• Priest
• Symbols and Similitudes
• Tabernacle
• Types

In the dictionaries

• Altar
• Bear
• High priest
• Ordinance
• Remission
• Sanctuary
• Stand
• Tabernacle
• Washing
• Atonement, Day of

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