Bible Strands
Hebrews 9:21
In the same way, he sprinkled with blood the tabernacle and all the vessels used in worship.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The author of Hebrews addresses Jewish Christians regarding the consecration of the old covenant sanctuary. He explains how Moses applied blood to the tent and its furnishings to initiate the first covenant.
The words — σκηνὴν (skēnēn) translates as tabernacle or tent, and σκεύη (skeuē) denotes the utensils used within it. The text records the physical act of sprinkling blood on these items without adding theological commentary.
The thread — This ritual action directly echoes the consecration accounts in Leviticus 8:15, Leviticus 8:19, and Exodus 29:12. The author uses these historical precedents to establish the pattern for the new covenant arrangement.
Why it lands — The verse demands recognition that ritual purification requires a tangible, costly medium. It establishes the structural necessity of blood for cleansing before presenting the superior sacrifice that fulfills it.
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
Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry.
Cross-references
- Leviticus 8:15 Moses slaughtered the bull, took some of the blood, and applied it with his finger to all four horns of the altar, purifying the altar. He poured out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar and consecrated it so that atonement could be made on it.
- Leviticus 8:19 Moses slaughtered the ram and splattered the blood on all sides of the altar.
- Exodus 29:12 Take some of the blood of the bull and put it on the horns of the altar with your finger; then pour out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar.
- Exodus 29:36 Sacrifice a bull as a sin offering each day for atonement. Purify the altar by making atonement for it, and anoint it to consecrate it.
- Leviticus 9:8 So Aaron approached the altar and slaughtered the calf as a sin offering for himself.
- Leviticus 9:18 Then he slaughtered the ox and the ram as the people’s peace offering. His sons brought him the blood, and he splattered it on all sides of the altar.
- Leviticus 16:14 And he is to take some of the bull’s blood and sprinkle it with his finger on the east side of the mercy seat; then he shall sprinkle some of it with his finger seven times before the mercy seat.
- Ezekiel 43:18 Then He said to me: “Son of man, this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘These are the statutes for the altar on the day it is constructed, so that burnt offerings may be sacrificed on it and blood may be splattered on it:
- Exodus 29:20 Slaughter the ram, take some of its blood, and put it on the right earlobes of Aaron and his sons, on the thumbs of their right hands, and on the big toes of their right feet. Splatter the remaining blood on all sides of the altar.
- 2 Chronicles 29:19 Moreover, we have prepared and consecrated all the articles that King Ahaz in his unfaithfulness cast aside during his reign. They are now in front of the altar of the LORD.”