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:
HEBREWS 9:7KJVWhat does Hebrews 9:7 mean?
Hebrews 9:7 explains that only the high priest could enter the inner room of the tabernacle, and he did so alone, just once each year, bringing blood to offer for his own sins and for the unintentional sins of the people. This verse highlights the strict limits and requirements around access to God's presence under the old covenant.
The writer of Hebrews is speaking to Jewish Christians, reminding them of the Day of Atonement ritual described in the Old Testament. The "second" refers to the Most Holy Place, which only the high priest could enter, and only after making a blood sacrifice. This sets up a contrast with Jesus' once-for-all sacrifice, which the wider passage will soon explain.
The Greek behind Hebrews 9:7
- The word "alone" (μόνος, monos, G3441) stresses that no one but the high priest could enter the Most Holy Place, underlining how exclusive and restricted this access was.
- The term "once" (ἅπαξ, hapax, G530) means a single time each year, showing the limited and temporary nature of this ritual.
- The Greek word for "errors" (ἀγνοήματα, agnoēmata, G51) refers specifically to unintentional sins or mistakes, not deliberate rebellion, which clarifies what kind of sins were being addressed by the sacrifice.
Why Hebrews 9:7 matters
- This verse clears up that the old covenant system was not open to everyone; only the high priest could approach God's presence, and only with a blood offering.
- The focus on unintentional sins shows the limitations of the old sacrifices—they did not cover every kind of wrongdoing, only those done in ignorance.
- By describing the ritual in detail, Hebrews 9:7 prepares the reader for the argument that Jesus' sacrifice is different: it is not repeated yearly, and it grants access to God for all who trust in him.