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.
HEBREWS 9:26KJVWhat does Hebrews 9:26 mean?
Hebrews 9:26 says that if Christ’s sacrifice had to be repeated, he would have suffered many times since the world began, but instead, he appeared once at the end of the ages to do away with sin by offering himself. The verse emphasizes the once-for-all nature of Jesus’ self-sacrifice to remove sin.
The writer of Hebrews is explaining to Jewish Christians that Jesus’ death is different from the repeated animal sacrifices of the old covenant. The audience is being shown that Jesus’ single act of self-sacrifice is enough to deal with sin completely, marking a turning point in history. The verse highlights that Jesus’ appearance and sacrifice happened at a decisive moment, not as a repeated ritual.
The Greek behind Hebrews 9:26
- "often" (πολλάκις, pollakis): This word means "many times" or "frequently." The writer uses it to stress that, unlike the old sacrifices, Jesus’ suffering was not a repeated event.
- "once" (ἅπαξ, hapax): This means "once for all." It underscores the finality and sufficiency of Jesus’ sacrifice, in contrast to the ongoing sacrifices under the old system.
- "to put away" (ἀθέτησις, athetēsis): This word means "to annul," "to set aside," or "to do away with." It shows that Jesus’ sacrifice was meant to completely remove the problem of sin, not just cover it temporarily.
- "sacrifice" (θυσία, thysia): This word refers to an offering made to God. Here, it is used to describe Jesus offering himself, highlighting the personal and voluntary nature of his act.
Why Hebrews 9:26 matters
- Hebrews 9:26 clarifies that Jesus’ sacrifice is not a repeated ritual but a unique, once-for-all event, setting it apart from the continual sacrifices of the old covenant.
- The verse helps readers see that the purpose of Jesus’ coming was to completely remove sin, not just to provide a temporary solution.
- This verse ties into the broader argument of Hebrews that Jesus’ priesthood and sacrifice are superior and final, giving believers confidence in the sufficiency of his work.