Hebrews 9:26

Otherwise, Christ would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But now He has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of Himself.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The author addresses Jewish Christians tempted to revert to the old covenant system, contrasting the Levitical priesthood’s repetitive rituals with Christ’s definitive work.

The words — ἐπεὶ (epei) means "otherwise" and ἔδει (edei) means "it was necessary for," establishing the logical consequence of Christ’s single appearance.

The thread — The phrasing aligns with 1 Peter 1:20’s "foundation of the world" and "end of the ages," while Hebrews 9:12 records His single entry into the Most Holy Place with His own blood.

Why it lands — The text states that Christ’s once-for-all sacrifice permanently removes sin, requiring the reader to abandon any expectation of repeated atonement.

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

For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

Cross-references

Hebrews 9:12 He did not enter by the blood of goats and calves, but He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by His own blood, thus securing eternal redemption.
1 Peter 1:20 He was known before the foundation of the world, but was revealed in the last times for your sake.
Hebrews 1:2 But in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, and through whom He made the universe.
Matthew 25:34 Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
Hebrews 10:4 because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
1 Peter 3:18 For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit,
Hebrews 7:27 Unlike the other high priests, He does not need to offer daily sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people; He sacrificed for sin once for all when He offered up Himself.
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!
1 Peter 2:24 He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. “By His stripes you are healed.”
1 John 3:5 But you know that Christ appeared to take away sins, and in Him there is no sin.