Bible Strands
Hebrews 9:20
saying, “This is the blood of the covenant, which God has commanded you to keep.”
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Moses addresses the assembled Israelites immediately after sprinkling the blood of calves and goats, mixed with water and hyssop, upon the scroll and the people.
The words — διαθήκης (diathēkēs) literally means covenant or binding agreement, and ἐνετείλατο (eneteilato) carries the direct sense of issuing a formal command.
The thread — The phrase "blood of the covenant" originates in Exodus 24:8, reappears in Matthew 26:28, and parallels the covenant oath framework in Deuteronomy 29:12.
Why it lands — The verse records a direct command to preserve the covenant, requiring the reader to recognize the text as a binding directive rather than a symbolic gesture.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you.
Cross-references
- Exodus 24:8 So Moses took the blood, splattered it on the people, and said, “This is the blood of the covenant that the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words.”
- Matthew 26:28 This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
- Deuteronomy 29:12 so that you may enter into the covenant of the LORD your God, which He is making with you today, and into His oath,
- Zechariah 9:11 As for you, because of the blood of My covenant, I will release your prisoners from the waterless pit.
- Hebrews 13:20 Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep,
- Joshua 9:6 They went to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal and said to him and the men of Israel, “We have come from a distant land; please make a treaty with us.”