Bible Strands
Hebrews 9:27
Just as man is appointed to die once, and after that to face judgment,
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The author of Hebrews writes to Jewish Christians under pressure to return to the temple system, at the climax of his argument that Christ's single sacrifice supersedes the repeated Levitical offerings.
The words — ἅπαξ (hapax), "once," is a technical marker in Hebrews for the irreversible, non-repeatable act of Christ (9:26, 9:28, 10:2, 10:10, 10:14); here it is applied to human death, giving that event the same structural weight.
The thread — The death-then-judgment sequence appears in Ecclesiastes 12:7 and 12:14, and the judgment seat of Christ in 2 Corinthians 5:10.
Why it lands — The verse removes the possibility of a second attempt; it asks the reader to treat their single life as the only window for response.
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
And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
Cross-references
- 2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive his due for the things done in the body, whether good or bad.
- Ecclesiastes 12:7 before the dust returns to the ground from which it came and the spirit returns to God who gave it.
- Ecclesiastes 12:14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, along with every hidden thing, whether good or evil.
- Acts 17:31 For He has set a day when He will judge the world with justice by the Man He has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising Him from the dead.”
- 2 Samuel 14:14 For we will surely die and be like water poured out on the ground, which cannot be recovered. Yet God does not take away a life, but He devises ways that the banished one may not be cast out from Him.
- John 5:26 For as the Father has life in Himself, so also He has granted the Son to have life in Himself.
- Ecclesiastes 9:5 For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing. They have no further reward, because the memory of them is forgotten.
- Jude 1:15 to execute judgment on everyone, and to convict all the ungodly of every ungodly act of wickedness and every harsh word spoken against Him by ungodly sinners.”
- Ecclesiastes 11:9 Rejoice, O young man, while you are young, and let your heart be glad in the days of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and in the sight of your eyes, but know that for all these things God will bring you to judgment.
- Matthew 25:31 When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, He will sit on His glorious throne.