Hebrews 9:26

KJV

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.

KJV (with Strong's)

For then {G1893} must {G1163} he {G846} often {G4178} have suffered {G3958} since {G575} the foundation {G2602} of the world {G2889}: but {G1161} now {G3568} once {G530} in {G1909} the end {G4930} of the world {G165} hath he appeared {G5319} to {G1519} put away {G115} sin {G266} by {G1223} the sacrifice {G2378} of himself {G846}.

Complete Jewish Bible

for then he would have had to suffer death many times — from the founding of the universe on. But as it is, he has appeared once at the end of the ages in order to do away with sin through the sacrifice of himself.

Berean Standard Bible

Otherwise, Christ would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But now He has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of Himself.

American Standard Version

else must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once at the end of the ages hath he been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Hebrews 9:26 profoundly asserts the absolute sufficiency and finality of Jesus Christ's atoning sacrifice. It presents a stark contrast between the hypothetical necessity for Christ to suffer repeatedly, mirroring the Old Covenant's endless sacrifices, and the glorious reality of His singular, decisive appearance at the climax of history. This "once for all" offering served to utterly abolish sin through His self-sacrifice, establishing a new and perfect covenant that renders all prior sacrificial systems obsolete.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is deeply embedded within the author of Hebrews' sustained argument for the superiority of Christ's priesthood and sacrifice over the Levitical system. Chapters 8 and 9 meticulously detail the Old Covenant's tabernacle, its rituals, and the high priest's annual entry into the Most Holy Place with the blood of animals ([Hebrews 9:7](/hebrews/9-7 "Hebrews 9:7 - The High Priest's Annual Entry")). The author consistently highlights the temporary, symbolic, and imperfect nature of these sacrifices, which could only ceremonially cleanse but never truly "take away sins" ([Hebrews 10:4](/hebrews/10-4 "Hebrews 10:4 - Animal Sacrifices Cannot Take Away Sins")). Hebrews 9:26 serves as a powerful climax to this comparison, emphasizing that Christ's single, perfect sacrifice has definitively achieved what the Old Covenant rituals could only foreshadow, thereby inaugurating the superior New Covenant ([Hebrews 8:6](/hebrews/8-6 "Hebrews 8:6 - Christ, the Mediator of a Better Covenant")).

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The original audience of the Book of Hebrews was likely Jewish Christians, possibly contemplating a return to Judaism due to persecution or a misunderstanding of the New Covenant's finality. They were deeply familiar with the temple worship, the Levitical priesthood, and the annual Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), which was the pinnacle of the Old Testament sacrificial system. On this day, the high priest entered the Most Holy Place to make atonement for the sins of the people. The author's detailed exposition of the tabernacle and its rituals in [Hebrews 9:1-10](/hebrews/9-1-10 "Hebrews 9:1-10 - The Earthly Tabernacle and Its Services") would resonate strongly with this background, allowing them to grasp the profound implications of Christ's once-for-all sacrifice as the ultimate fulfillment and abolition of these familiar, yet imperfect, practices.

* **Key Themes:** Hebrews 9:26 contributes significantly to several overarching themes in the epistle. Firstly, it underscores the **Superiority of Christ** as both the ultimate High Priest and the perfect sacrifice, surpassing all human priests and animal offerings. Secondly, it highlights the **Finality and Efficacy of Christ's Sacrifice**, emphasizing that His death was a singular, decisive event ("once") that fully accomplished atonement, unlike the "often" repeated sacrifices of the Old Covenant. Thirdly, the phrase "in the end of the world" (or "consummation of the ages") points to the theme of **Salvation History and Eschatological Fulfillment**, signaling that Christ's coming marked a pivotal turning point, the climax of God's redemptive plan. Finally, it reinforces the theme of **Abolition of Sin**, asserting that Christ's sacrifice did not merely cover but truly "put away" the power and guilt of sin, providing genuine and lasting forgiveness and access to God ([Hebrews 10:19-22](/hebrews/10-19-22 "Hebrews 10:19-22 - Confidence to Enter the Most Holy Place")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **put away (Greek, _athétēsis'_):** From G115, meaning "cancellation (literally or figuratively):--disannulling, put away." This term signifies a complete annulment or abolition. It is a strong word that implies not just a covering or forgiveness of sin, but its utter removal or doing away with, highlighting the definitive and permanent nature of Christ's work.
* **once (Greek, _hápax'_):** From G530, meaning "one (or a single) time (numerically or conclusively):--once." This adverb is crucial to the verse's argument, emphasizing the singularity and unrepeatable nature of Christ's sacrifice. It stands in direct contrast to the "often" (G4178, _pollákis_) suffering that would have been required if His sacrifice were like the Old Covenant offerings.
* **end (Greek, _syntéleia'_):** From G4930, meaning "entire completion, i.e. consummation (of a dispensation):--end." This word, often translated as "consummation" or "climax," refers not merely to the termination of chronological time but to the culmination or fulfillment of a specific period or divine dispensation. In this context, it signifies the decisive moment in salvation history when God's redemptive plan reached its ultimate goal through Christ.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world":** This clause sets up a counterfactual argument. If Christ's sacrifice were like the Old Covenant animal sacrifices, which had to be repeated continually because they could not truly remove sin, then logically, Christ would have had to suffer repeatedly throughout all of human history, from creation onward. This highlights the inherent inadequacy of any system requiring repetition for atonement.
* **"but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared":** This phrase introduces a powerful contrast ("but now"). It declares the glorious reality: Christ's appearance was a singular, decisive event ("once"). This appearance occurred at a divinely appointed moment, "in the end of the world" (or "consummation of the ages"), signifying the climax of God's redemptive plan and the transition from the old covenant era to the new. His incarnation and sacrificial death were not random but perfectly timed.
* **"to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself."** This final clause states the profound purpose and means of Christ's singular appearance. He came not merely to cover sin, but to "put away" (abolish, annul) it definitively. The means by which this was accomplished was "by the sacrifice of himself," emphasizing that He was both the perfect High Priest and the blameless, sufficient offering, providing a complete and final atonement for humanity's sin.

#### Literary Devices
The primary literary device employed in Hebrews 9:26 is **Contrast**. The author meticulously contrasts the hypothetical "often" suffering of Christ, if His sacrifice were like the Old Covenant's, with the glorious reality of His "once" for all appearance. This stark juxtaposition powerfully emphasizes the superiority and finality of Christ's atonement. There is also significant **Theological Argumentation**, where the author uses logical deduction to demonstrate the perfection of Christ's work, building on the preceding descriptions of the tabernacle and its limitations. The phrase "sacrifice of himself" also employs **Symbolism**, where Christ embodies both the priest and the perfect victim, fulfilling and transcending all previous sacrificial types.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Hebrews 9:26 stands as a central pillar of Christian theology, affirming the once-for-all efficacy of Christ's atoning work. It underscores that the Old Covenant sacrifices, though divinely ordained, were merely shadows pointing to the substance found in Christ. His single offering perfectly satisfied God's righteous demands, rendering any further sacrifice for sin unnecessary and ineffective. This truth liberates believers from the burden of repeated rituals or works to earn forgiveness, anchoring their hope entirely in Christ's finished work. It reveals God's perfect timing in salvation history, bringing the "ages" to their intended climax in the person and work of Jesus.

* [Romans 6:10](/romans/6-10 "Romans 6:10 - Christ Died Once for All")
* [1 Peter 3:18](/1_peter/3-18 "1 Peter 3:18 - Christ Suffered Once for Sins")
* [Hebrews 10:10](/hebrews/10-10 "Hebrews 10:10 - Sanctified Through Christ's Sacrifice Once for All")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Hebrews 9:26 offers profound assurance and freedom to believers today. The truth that Jesus' sacrifice was "once" and "for all" means that our salvation is not dependent on our continuous efforts or repeated rituals, but rests entirely on His completed work. This liberates us from the endless cycle of trying to earn God's favor or appease His wrath. We are called to place our full trust in Christ's perfect and sufficient atonement, knowing that our sins have been definitively "put away" by His self-offering. This understanding should cultivate a deep sense of gratitude, leading to confident access to God's throne of grace ([Hebrews 4:16](/hebrews/4-16 "Hebrews 4:16 - Approach God's Throne with Confidence")) and a life lived in worship and obedience, not out of fear, but out of love for the One who gave Himself for us.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the "once for all" nature of Christ's sacrifice impact your understanding of forgiveness and security in your faith?**
* **In what ways might we, even subtly, revert to a "repeated sacrifice" mentality in our Christian walk, and how can the truth of Hebrews 9:26 counteract this?**
* **What does it mean for your daily life that Christ appeared "in the end of the world" to put away sin?**

### FAQ

**What does "the end of the world" mean in this verse?**

Answer: The King James Version's phrase "in the end of the world" (Greek: _syntéleia tōn aiōnōn_) does not refer to the literal end of the physical earth, but rather to the "consummation of the ages" or the "climax of the ages." The Greek word _aiōn_ (G165) here signifies a period of time, an age, or a dispensation. Thus, Christ's appearance occurred at the decisive, divinely appointed culmination of God's redemptive plan throughout history. It marks the transition from the old covenant era, characterized by types and shadows, to the new covenant era, characterized by the fulfillment of those types in Christ. This timing emphasizes the strategic and ultimate importance of Jesus' incarnation and atoning death as the grand finale of God's dealings with humanity concerning sin and salvation ([Galatians 4:4](/galatians/4-4 "Galatians 4:4 - God Sent His Son at the Proper Time")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Hebrews 9:26 beautifully encapsulates the Christ-centered fulfillment of God's redemptive plan. Jesus, as the ultimate High Priest and perfect sacrifice, definitively brings to an end the cycle of repeated animal sacrifices that characterized the Old Covenant. He is the Lamb of God, who, unlike the countless lambs slain under the Law, offered Himself "once" for all time. His self-sacrifice on the cross was the singular, sufficient act that truly "put away sin," not merely covering it, but utterly abolishing its power and guilt. This climactic event, occurring "in the end of the world" (the consummation of the ages), inaugurated the New Covenant, establishing a new and living way for humanity to draw near to God ([Hebrews 10:19-20](/hebrews/10-19-20 "Hebrews 10:19-20 - The New and Living Way")). Jesus' finished work on the cross ([John 19:30](/john/19-30 "John 19:30 - It Is Finished!")) perfectly fulfills the prophetic types and shadows of the Old Testament, making Him the Alpha and Omega of salvation history, the one through whom all things are reconciled to God ([Colossians 1:20](/colossians/1-20 "Colossians 1:20 - Reconciliation Through Christ")).

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].

1 Peter 1:20

Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,

Matthew 25:34

Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

Hebrews 1:2

Hath in these last days spoken unto us by [his] Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

1 Peter 3:18

¶ For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

Hebrews 10:4

For [it is] not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.

Hebrews 7:27

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.