Hebrews 9:22

22 And almost all things be cleansed in blood by the law; and without shedding of blood remission of sins is not made.

Hebrews 9:22 Meaning and Commentary

Hebrews 9:22

And almost all things are by the law purged with blood,
&c.] All "except a few things", as the Arabic version renders it; for some things were cleansed by water, and others purged by fire, ( Numbers 31:23 ) . Some join the word almost with the word purged, as if the sense was, that all things were purged by blood, but not perfectly, only almost; but the former sense is best.

And without shedding of blood is no remission;
that is, of sin; there was no typical remission without it; and there can be no real remission but by, the blood of Christ; no instance can be given of pardon without it; if it could have been otherwise, the blood of Christ had not been shed; for so it would seem to be shed in vain, and his satisfaction to be unnecessary; nor is it agreeable to the justice of God to forgive sin without satisfaction; nor is it consistent with his veracity, and faithfulness to his word, ( Genesis 2:17 ) . It is a common saying with the Jews, and often to be met with in their writings, (Mdb ala hrpk Nya) , "there is no atonement but by blood" ^F11; by the shedding of blood; not by the shedding of it, as it flows out of the body of the sacrifice, but as it is poured out on the altar; for the pouring of the blood at the four corners, and at the bottom of the altar, were the chief rites required in sacrifices; nor did they reckon expiation to be expiation, unless the altar was moistened by the blood of the sacrifice ^F12.

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FOOTNOTES:

F11 T. Bab. Yoma, fol. 5. 1. Zebachim, fol. 6. 1. & Menachot, fol. 93. 2.
F12 Reland. Heb. Antiqu. par. 3. c. 2. sect. 8.

Hebrews 9:22 In-Context

20 and said [saying], This is the blood of the testament, that God commanded to you.

21 Also he sprinkled with blood the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the service in like manner [and all the vessels of ministry, or service, in like manner].

22 And almost all things be cleansed in blood by the law; and without shedding of blood remission of sins is not made.

23 Therefore it is need, that the exemplars [that the samplers] of heavenly things be cleansed with these things; but those heavenly things with better sacrifices than these.

24 For Jesus entered not into holy things made by hands, that be [the] exemplars of very things, but into heaven itself, that he appear now to the face of God for us; [+Forsooth Jesus entered not into holy things made by hands, the which be samplers of very things, but into heavens itself, that he appear now to the cheer, or face, of God for us;]