Hebrews 9:7
But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people:
Original Language Analysis
εἰς
into
G1519
εἰς
into
Strong's:
G1519
Word #:
1 of 22
to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases
τὴν
G3588
τὴν
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
3 of 22
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
δευτέραν
the second
G1208
δευτέραν
the second
Strong's:
G1208
Word #:
4 of 22
(ordinal) second (in time, place, or rank; also adverb)
τοῦ
G3588
τοῦ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
6 of 22
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ὁ
G3588
ὁ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
9 of 22
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ἀρχιερεύς
went the high priest
G749
ἀρχιερεύς
went the high priest
Strong's:
G749
Word #:
10 of 22
the high-priest (literally, of the jews; typically, christ); by extension a chief priest
χωρὶς
without
G5565
χωρὶς
without
Strong's:
G5565
Word #:
12 of 22
at a space, i.e., separately or apart from (often as preposition)
αἵματος
blood
G129
αἵματος
blood
Strong's:
G129
Word #:
13 of 22
blood, literally (of men or animals), figuratively (the juice of grapes) or specially (the atoning blood of christ); by implication, bloodshed, also k
ὃ
which
G3739
ὃ
which
Strong's:
G3739
Word #:
14 of 22
the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that
προσφέρει
he offered
G4374
προσφέρει
he offered
Strong's:
G4374
Word #:
15 of 22
to bear towards, i.e., lead to, tender (especially to god), treat
ὑπὲρ
for
G5228
ὑπὲρ
for
Strong's:
G5228
Word #:
16 of 22
"over", i.e., (with the genitive case) of place, above, beyond, across, or causal, for the sake of, instead, regarding; with the accusative case super
ἑαυτοῦ
himself
G1438
ἑαυτοῦ
himself
Strong's:
G1438
Word #:
17 of 22
(him- her-, it-, them-, my-, thy-, our-, your-)self (selves), etc
καὶ
and
G2532
καὶ
and
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
18 of 22
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
τῶν
G3588
τῶν
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
19 of 22
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
τοῦ
G3588
τοῦ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
20 of 22
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
Cross References
Leviticus 16:34And this shall be an everlasting statute unto you, to make an atonement for the children of Israel for all their sins once a year. And he did as the LORD commanded Moses.Leviticus 5:18And he shall bring a ram without blemish out of the flock, with thy estimation, for a trespass offering, unto the priest: and the priest shall make an atonement for him concerning his ignorance wherein he erred and wist it not, and it shall be forgiven him.Hebrews 7:27Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.Exodus 30:10And Aaron shall make an atonement upon the horns of it once in a year with the blood of the sin offering of atonements: once in the year shall he make atonement upon it throughout your generations: it is most holy unto the LORD.Isaiah 3:12As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths.Isaiah 28:7But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment.Isaiah 9:16For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed.Hosea 4:12My people ask counsel at their stocks, and their staff declareth unto them: for the spirit of whoredoms hath caused them to err, and they have gone a whoring from under their God.
Historical Context
Leviticus 16 prescribed the Day of Atonement ritual. The high priest's single annual entrance made that day Israel's most solemn. Yet even this highest privilege was restricted, temporary, and imperfect, pointing to the need for better access through a better priest.
Questions for Reflection
- What does the limitation to 'once a year' teach about the distance between God and humanity under the old covenant?
- How does Christ's sacrifice provide access to God's presence not just annually but constantly?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Into the Most Holy Place, the high priest alone entered, 'once a year, not without blood, which he offered for himself and for the people's sins committed in ignorance.' This annual limitation demonstrated restricted access to God under the old covenant. The need for blood 'for himself' showed human priesthood's imperfection. The limitation to 'ignorance' sins showed incompleteness. Christ's sacrifice addresses all sin and provides constant access.