Hebrews 7:27

KJV

Who 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.

KJV (with Strong's)

Who {G3739} needeth {G2192}{G318} not {G3756} daily {G2596}{G2250}, as {G5618} those high priests {G749}, to offer up {G399} sacrifice {G2378}, first {G4386} for {G5228} his own {G2398} sins {G266}, and then {G1899} for the people's {G2992}: for {G1063} this {G5124} he did {G4160} once {G2178}, when he offered up {G399} himself {G1438}.

Complete Jewish Bible

one who does not have the daily necessity, like the other cohanim g’dolim, of offering up sacrifices first for their own sins and only then for those of the people; because he offered one sacrifice, once and for all, by offering up himself.

Berean Standard Bible

Unlike the other high priests, He does not need to offer daily sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people; He sacrificed for sin once for all when He offered up Himself.

American Standard Version

who needeth not daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people: for this he did once for all, when he offered up himself.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Hebrews 7:27 profoundly contrasts the temporary, repeated, and imperfect sacrifices of the Levitical high priests with the singular, perfect, and eternally effective self-offering of Jesus Christ. This verse underscores Christ's sinless nature, His unique role as both priest and sacrifice, and the definitive finality of His atoning work, which completely fulfills and surpasses the Old Covenant sacrificial system.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Hebrews 7 is a pivotal chapter in the epistle, meticulously developing the argument for the superiority of Jesus Christ's priesthood over the Levitical priesthood, drawing heavily on the figure of Melchizedek. The author establishes that Christ's priesthood is "after the order of Melchizedek" ([Hebrews 7:17](/hebrews/7-17 "Hebrews 7:17 - Christ a Priest Forever After the Order of Melchizedek")), signifying an eternal and unchangeable office, unlike the mortal and successive Levitical priests ([Hebrews 7:23](/hebrews/7-23 "Hebrews 7:23 - Mortal Levitical Priests")). Verse 27 specifically addresses the sacrificial duties, highlighting the fundamental difference in the nature and efficacy of the sacrifices offered. While the preceding verses emphasize Christ's enduring life and permanent priesthood ([Hebrews 7:24-25](/hebrews/7-24-25 "Hebrews 7:24-25 - Christ's Unchangeable Priesthood")), this verse zeroes in on the decisive act that defines His priestly work: a single, perfect self-sacrifice that eliminates the need for any further offerings.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The original audience of Hebrews was primarily Jewish Christians, deeply familiar with the intricate sacrificial system mandated by the Mosaic Law. This system, detailed in books like [Leviticus](/leviticus/1 "Leviticus - The Book of Laws and Sacrifices"), required daily and annual animal sacrifices performed by the Levitical priests. Central to this was the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), where the high priest would first offer a sacrifice for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people ([Leviticus 16:6-10](/leviticus/16-6-10 "Leviticus 16:6-10 - Atonement for Priest and People")). This ritual had to be repeated yearly because it could not permanently remove sin. The author of Hebrews contrasts this continuous, imperfect cycle with the once-for-all, perfect sacrifice of Christ, demonstrating His supremacy and the obsolescence of the old covenant rituals.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within Hebrews and the broader New Testament. It underscores the **Superiority of Christ's Priesthood**, showing how His sinless nature and eternal office make Him infinitely more effective than any human high priest. It highlights the **Finality and Sufficiency of Christ's Sacrifice**, emphasizing that His single offering for sin was complete and perfect, rendering all subsequent sacrifices unnecessary. This leads directly to the theme of the **New Covenant's Supremacy**, as Christ's work inaugurates a better covenant based on a better sacrifice ([Hebrews 8:6](/hebrews/8-6 "Hebrews 8:6 - Christ, Mediator of a Better Covenant")). Furthermore, it implicitly speaks to **Christ's Sinlessness**, a foundational truth that distinguishes Him from all human priests who, being sinful, first needed to atone for themselves, as seen in the requirements for the [high priest on the Day of Atonement](/leviticus/16 "Leviticus 16 - The Day of Atonement").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **needeth (Greek, _anánkē'_):** G318. This word denotes "constraint," "distress," or "necessity." When combined with "not" (G3756, _ou_), it strongly emphasizes that Jesus was under no compulsion or obligation to offer sacrifices for His own sins, unlike the earthly high priests. This highlights His inherent perfection and sinlessness, a stark contrast to the human priests who were themselves flawed and required atonement.
* **sacrifice (Greek, _thysía'_):** G2378. From the verb "to sacrifice" (G2380, _thýō_), this term refers to the act of offering or the victim itself, whether literally or figuratively. In this context, it refers to the atoning offering made to God. The verse contrasts the multiple animal sacrifices of the Old Covenant with Christ's singular, ultimate "sacrifice" of Himself, which was the perfect and final atonement for sin.
* **once (Greek, _ephápax'_):** G2178. This crucial adverb means "upon one occasion (only)" or "once for all." It is a powerful theological term that emphatically stresses the singular, decisive, and unrepeatable nature of Christ's sacrifice. Its use here, and elsewhere in Hebrews (e.g., [Hebrews 9:26](/hebrews/9-26 "Hebrews 9:26 - Christ Appearing Once to Put Away Sin"), [Hebrews 10:10](/hebrews/10-10 "Hebrews 10:10 - Sanctified Through Christ's Offering Once for All")), signifies the completed and eternally sufficient work of Christ, rendering all further sacrifices obsolete.
* **himself (Greek, _heautoû'_):** G1438. This reflexive pronoun emphasizes that Jesus was not merely the High Priest offering an external sacrifice, but uniquely the sacrifice itself. He offered His own life, body, and blood as the perfect, unblemished atonement. This self-offering underscores the voluntary, personal, and ultimate nature of His redemptive act, making Him both the perfect mediator and the perfect provision for sin.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice":** This opening clause immediately establishes a profound contrast. The "Who" refers to Jesus, the great High Priest introduced in the preceding verses. Unlike the Levitical high priests who, due to their own mortality and imperfection, had to perform their sacrificial duties repeatedly, even "daily" (referring to the continuous cycle of temple sacrifices, though the high priest's specific role was yearly on the Day of Atonement, the broader system was daily), Jesus has no such necessity. His perfection negates the need for ongoing or repeated offerings on His part.
* **"first for his own sins, and then for the people's":** This phrase highlights a critical flaw in the Old Covenant priesthood. Before the high priest could mediate for the sins of the people, he first had to offer a sacrifice for his own sins, acknowledging his own impurity and need for atonement (as prescribed in [Leviticus 16:6](/leviticus/16-6 "Leviticus 16:6 - The High Priest's Sin Offering")). This demonstrated the inherent imperfection and sinfulness of human priests, underscoring their inability to perfectly bridge the gap between a holy God and sinful humanity. Jesus, being sinless, had no need for such a personal atonement.
* **"for this he did once, when he offered up himself":** This is the climactic declaration of the verse and the core of the author's argument. The "for this" refers to the offering for the people's sins. Crucially, Jesus "did once" perform this ultimate act. The Greek word _ephápax_ ("once for all") powerfully conveys the finality and completeness of His sacrifice. Instead of offering an animal, He "offered up himself," serving as both the perfect High Priest and the spotless, sufficient sacrifice. This single, voluntary, and perfect self-offering permanently dealt with the sin problem, rendering all previous and future sacrifices for sin unnecessary and ineffective.

#### Literary Devices
The primary literary device employed in Hebrews 7:27 is **Contrast**. The author meticulously sets Jesus Christ's priesthood and sacrifice in stark opposition to the Levitical high priests and their sacrificial system. This contrast highlights Christ's superiority in every aspect: His sinless nature versus their sinfulness, His eternal priesthood versus their mortality, and His single, perfect sacrifice versus their repeated, imperfect offerings. This rhetorical strategy serves to convince the Jewish Christian audience of the definitive and ultimate nature of Christ's work. Furthermore, the verse employs **Climax**, building to the powerful declaration "for this he did once, when he offered up himself." This phrase serves as the theological crescendo, providing the ultimate answer to the inadequacy of the old covenant. The emphatic use of the word "once" (Greek _ephápax_) also functions as a form of **Emphasis**, underscoring the finality and non-repeatability of Christ's atoning work, a concept central to the entire epistle.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Hebrews 7:27 is a cornerstone of New Testament theology, articulating the profound truth that Christ's sacrifice on the cross was a singular, complete, and eternally effective act of atonement. Unlike the Old Covenant sacrifices, which were merely types and shadows that needed constant repetition because they could not truly take away sin, Christ's self-offering achieved perfect and permanent redemption. This means that believers in Christ are not under a system of ongoing appeasement or ritual performance for sin; instead, their salvation is secured by a finished work. This truth provides immense assurance, establishes direct access to God through Christ, and underscores the new covenant's superiority, which is founded on a better sacrifice and a perfect High Priest who lives forever to intercede for His people.

* [Hebrews 9:12](/hebrews/9-12 "Hebrews 9:12 - Christ Entered Once into the Holy Place")
* [Hebrews 9:26](/hebrews/9-26 "Hebrews 9:26 - Christ Appeared Once to Put Away Sin")
* [Hebrews 10:10-14](/hebrews/10-10-14 "Hebrews 10:10-14 - Sanctified Through One Offering Forever")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The truth of Hebrews 7:27 offers profound spiritual liberation and assurance for every believer. To know that Jesus, our perfect High Priest, "did once" offer Himself for our sins means that the colossal debt of sin has been definitively paid, completely and for all time. We are no longer bound by the endless cycle of guilt, striving, or ritualistic attempts to earn God's favor or atone for our own failures. This completed work frees us from the burden of self-justification and invites us into a life of rest and gratitude, knowing that our standing before God is secured by Christ's perfect sacrifice, not by our imperfect efforts. It empowers us to approach God's throne of grace with confidence ([Hebrews 4:16](/hebrews/4-16 "Hebrews 4:16 - Approach the Throne of Grace with Confidence")), not because of our own merit, but because of the infinite merit of His "once for all" offering. Our worship, service, and daily lives should flow from this profound truth, recognizing the immense value and sufficiency of Christ's finished work on the cross.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the "once for all" nature of Christ's sacrifice deepen your assurance of salvation and free you from the burden of guilt?**
* **In what ways might we, even subtly, still try to "add" to Christ's finished work (e.g., through excessive self-punishment, legalism, or striving for perfection to earn favor), and how can we resist this tendency by resting in His completed work?**
* **How does understanding Jesus as both the perfect High Priest and the ultimate Sacrifice transform your approach to worship, prayer, and your daily walk with God?**

### FAQ
**Why did the Old Testament high priests need to offer sacrifices for their own sins?**

Answer: The Old Testament high priests, being human, were themselves sinful and imperfect. Before they could mediate for the sins of the people, they first had to make atonement for their own sins, as prescribed in the Mosaic Law, particularly on the Day of Atonement ([Leviticus 16:6](/leviticus/16-6 "Leviticus 16:6 - The High Priest's Sin Offering")). This requirement highlighted their human frailty and the temporary, incomplete nature of their priesthood. It also served to demonstrate that a truly perfect high priest was needed—one who had no sin of His own for which to atone—a role perfectly fulfilled by Jesus Christ.

**What is the significance of the word "once" (ephápax) in this verse, and why is it so important?**

Answer: The Greek word _ephápax_ (G2178), translated as "once," carries immense theological weight. It means "once for all," "once only," or "a single time." Its significance lies in emphasizing the absolute finality, completeness, and unrepeatable nature of Jesus Christ's sacrifice. Unlike the Old Covenant sacrifices, which had to be offered repeatedly (daily or yearly) because they could not permanently remove sin, Christ's single offering was perfectly sufficient to atone for all sins for all time. This "once for all" sacrifice means there is no need for any further offerings for sin, signifying the full and complete accomplishment of redemption. This concept is foundational to the New Covenant and is reiterated throughout Hebrews (e.g., [Hebrews 9:26](/hebrews/9-26 "Hebrews 9:26 - Christ Appearing Once to Put Away Sin"), [Hebrews 10:10](/hebrews/10-10 "Hebrews 10:10 - Sanctified Through One Offering Once for All")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Hebrews 7:27 stands as a brilliant testament to the Christ-centered fulfillment of all Old Testament sacrificial systems. The entire apparatus of the Levitical priesthood, with its daily offerings and annual Day of Atonement rituals, served as a prophetic shadow, pointing forward to the ultimate reality found in Jesus Christ. He is the antitype, the perfect High Priest who, unlike His human predecessors, needed not offer sacrifice for His own sins because He was utterly sinless ([2 Corinthians 5:21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "2 Corinthians 5:21 - Christ Knew No Sin")). Moreover, He uniquely fulfilled the role of both the priest and the sacrifice, offering "himself" as the spotless Lamb of God ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")). His death on the cross was not merely one in a long line of sacrifices, but the singular, definitive, "once for all" offering that permanently put away sin ([Hebrews 9:26](/hebrews/9-26 "Hebrews 9:26 - Christ Appeared Once to Put Away Sin")). This perfect act inaugurated a new and better covenant ([Hebrews 8:6](/hebrews/8-6 "Hebrews 8:6 - Christ, Mediator of a Better Covenant")), granting believers direct and confident access to God's presence through His shed blood ([Hebrews 10:19-20](/hebrews/10-19-20 "Hebrews 10:19-20 - Access Through Christ's Blood")). Thus, Hebrews 7:27 declares the glorious truth that in Christ, the endless cycle of sacrifice has ceased, replaced by the eternal efficacy of His completed work, bringing perfect redemption and reconciliation.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Hebrews 9:12

Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption [for us].

Hebrews 9:28

So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

Hebrews 9:14

How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

Ephesians 5:2

And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

Hebrews 10:6

In burnt offerings and [sacrifices] for sin thou hast had no pleasure.

Hebrews 10:12

But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;

Titus 2:14

Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.