Hebrews 9:23

So it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The anonymous author of Hebrews, writing to Jewish Christians wavering toward the temple system, at the pivot of his argument from the earthly sanctuary to Christ's heavenly ministry.

The words — ὑποδεῖγμα (hupodeigma, G5262) means a copy or representation made to correspond to an original; the verse's logic turns on the gap between that copy and the thing it represents.

The thread — Hebrews 10:4 states the impossibility of animal blood removing sins; Hebrews 9:14 asserts that Christ's blood purifies the conscience; 1 Peter 1:19 names the same blood as the basis of redemption.

Why it lands — The verse forecloses the option of treating the old sacrifices as a valid, if lesser, category of atonement; if even the copies required purification, the originals require something categorically better, and the reader is left with no middle ground.

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

ἈνάγκηAnagkē[It was] necessary οὖνounthen [for]τὰtathe μὲνmenindeed ὑποδείγματαhupodeigmatarepresentations τῶνtōnof the [things]ἐνenin τοῖςtoisthe οὐρανοῖςouranoisheavens τούτοιςtoutoiswith these καθαρίζεσθαιkatharizesthaito be purified αὐτὰautathemselves δὲdehowever τὰtathe ἐπουράνιαepouraniaheavenly things κρείττοσινkreittosinwith better θυσίαιςthusiaissacrifices παρὰparathan ταύτας.tautasthese.

King James Version

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.

Cross-references

1 Peter 1:19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or spot.
Hebrews 10:4 because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
Hebrews 9:14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God, purify our consciences from works of death, so that we may serve the living God!
Hebrews 9:9 It is an illustration for the present time, because the gifts and sacrifices being offered were unable to cleanse the conscience of the worshiper.
Hebrews 9:24 For Christ did not enter a man-made copy of the true sanctuary, but He entered heaven itself, now to appear on our behalf in the presence of God.
Hebrews 8:5 The place where they serve is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: “See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.”
Revelation 5:9 And they sang a new song: “Worthy are You to take the scroll and open its seals, because You were slain, and by Your blood You purchased for God those from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.
Luke 24:26 Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and then to enter His glory?”
Luke 24:46 And He told them, “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day,
Colossians 2:17 These are a shadow of the things to come, but the body that casts it belongs to Christ.