Hebrews 9:13

“For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled, sanctify for the cleanness of the flesh,”
Hebrews 9:13 · direct translation from the Greek

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His blood, unlike that of animals, cleanses the conscienceThe Cross

With the Greek beneath

Forγὰρifεἰthe bloodτὸ αἷμαof goatsτράγωνandκαὶbulls,ταύρωνandκαὶthe ashesσποδὸςof a heiferδαμάλεωςsprinklingῥαντίζουσαthose who have been defiled,τοὺς κεκοινωμένουςsanctifyἁγιάζειforπρὸςthe cleannessτὴν καθαρότηταof the flesh,τῆς σαρκὸς

Explicit type · Numbers 19:9

Go to Numbers 19:9

Hebrews names the ashes of the heifer of Numbers 19, which were used in water to purify those who were defiled, and in 9:14 compares their effect with that of the Messiah’s blood.

The biblical author himself makes the connection, in these words:

σποδὸς δαμάλεως ῥαντίζουσα τοὺς κεκοινωμένους “the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled” (Hebrews 9:13)

σποδὸςspodosG4700אֵפֶרeferH665“ash, ashes”

Hebrews 9:13, word by word

the bloodαἷμαhaima

blood

The red fluid that runs through the bodies of people and animals.

Where else “haima” appears

of goatsτράγωνtragōn

male goat

A male goat.

Where else “tragōn” appears

bullsταύρωνtaurōn

bull

Bull, ox.

Where else “taurōn” appears

the ashesσποδὸςspodos

ashes

Ashes.

Where else “spodos” appears

of a heiferδαμάλεωςdamaleōs

heifer

Heifer: a young cow.

Where else “damaleōs” appears

sprinklingῥαντίζουσαrhantizousa

sprinkle

Sprinkle; also cleanse by sprinkling.

Where else “rhantizousa” appears

those who have been defiledκεκοινωμένουςkekoinōmenous

defile

To leave someone stained, without the purity God requires.

Where else “kekoinōmenous” appears

sanctifyἁγιάζειhagiazei

set apart

To set something or someone apart for God.

Where else “hagiazei” appears

the cleannessκαθαρότηταkatharotēta

purity, cleansing

Purity, cleanness; cleansing.

Where else “katharotēta” appears

of the fleshσαρκὸςsarkos

flesh

The soft part of the body, of people or animals; also the body itself.

Where else “sarkos” appears

Translation note

This recalls Leviticus 16 and Numbers 19.

The context

12not through the blood of goats and calves, but through his own blood, he entered once for all into the Holy Place, having obtained eternal redemption.

13 · This verse (above)

14how much more will the blood of the Messiah, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to worship the living God!

Read all of Hebrews 9

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