Hebrews 9:7

KJV

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:

KJV (with Strong's)

But {G1161} into {G1519} the second {G1208} went the high priest {G749} alone {G3441} once {G530} every year {G1763}, not {G3756} without {G5565} blood {G129}, which {G3739} he offered {G4374} for {G5228} himself {G1438}, and {G2532} for the errors {G51} of the people {G2992}:

Complete Jewish Bible

but only the cohen hagadol enters the inner one; and he goes in only once a year, and he must always bring blood, which he offers both for himself and for the sins committed in ignorance by the people.

Berean Standard Bible

But only the high priest entered the second room, and then only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance.

American Standard Version

but into the second the high priest alone, once in the year, not without blood, which he offereth for himself, and for the errors of the people:

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Hebrews 9:7 describes the highly restricted access to the Most Holy Place within the earthly tabernacle under the Old Covenant, emphasizing the unique role of the high priest. This sacred space, representing God's immediate presence, could only be entered by the high priest, and only once annually, on the Day of Atonement. His entry was strictly conditioned upon the offering of blood, not only for the sins of the people but also for his own "errors," underscoring the limitations and temporary nature of the Mosaic sacrificial system in providing full access to a holy God.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Hebrews 9:7 is an integral part of the author's detailed exposition comparing the Old Covenant's tabernacle rituals with the New Covenant's superior reality in Christ. The preceding verse, [Hebrews 9:6](/hebrews/9-6 "Hebrews 9:6 - Priestly Duties in the Holy Place"), describes the regular, daily duties of the priests in the first compartment of the tabernacle, the Holy Place. Verse 7 then sharply contrasts this by detailing the highly restricted access to the inner sanctuary, the Most Holy Place (or Holy of Holies), setting the stage for the climactic argument that Christ's once-for-all sacrifice transcends and fulfills these Old Covenant shadows. This verse functions as a critical bridge, moving from the general priestly service to the pinnacle of Old Covenant atonement, thereby highlighting its inherent limitations before introducing Christ's perfect work.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The description in Hebrews 9:7 directly references the annual ritual of Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, as prescribed in [Leviticus 16](/leviticus/16 "Leviticus 16 - The Day of Atonement Rituals"). This was the holiest day in the Israelite calendar, a solemn occasion for national repentance and atonement. The tabernacle itself, and later the Temple, served as the central place of worship for ancient Israel, a portable sanctuary designed according to divine specifications. Its layout, particularly the stark division between the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place, visually communicated the profound separation between a holy God and sinful humanity. The high priest, as the sole mediator, bore the immense responsibility of representing the people before God, a role laden with strict ritualistic requirements to ensure his purity and the efficacy of the atonement.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several key themes woven throughout Hebrews. It underscores the **Limited Access to God** under the Old Covenant, where only one man, once a year, could enter the divine presence, symbolizing humanity's inability to approach God directly due to sin. It highlights the **Necessity of Blood for Atonement**, a foundational principle reiterated throughout the Old Testament and explicitly stated in [Hebrews 9:22](/hebrews/9-22 "Hebrews 9:22 - Necessity of Blood"). Furthermore, the annual repetition of the ritual, emphasized by "once every year," implicitly points to the **Imperfection and Temporary Nature** of the Old Covenant sacrifices, setting up the profound contrast with Christ's perfect, singular, and eternal atonement, which is the central argument developed later in [Hebrews 9](/hebrews/9 "Hebrews 9 - Christ's Superior Sacrifice") and [Hebrews 10](/hebrews/10 "Hebrews 10 - Christ's Perfect Sacrifice").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **second (Greek, _deúteros'_):** This word refers to the "second" compartment of the tabernacle, the Most Holy Place (or Holy of Holies), distinguishing it from the "first" compartment, the Holy Place, mentioned in the preceding verse. The use of "second" immediately signals a progression to the most sacred and restricted area, emphasizing its unique status as the dwelling place of God's presence.
* **high priest (Greek, _archiereús'_):** This term denotes the chief priest, the highest spiritual authority in Israel, who alone was permitted to enter the Most Holy Place. The singular nature of this office and its exclusive access underscore the profound separation between God and humanity under the Old Covenant.
* **once (Greek, _hápax'_):** This adverb highlights the singular, annual nature of the high priest's entry into the Most Holy Place. The emphasis on "once" is crucial for the author's argument, as it contrasts sharply with Christ's "once for all" sacrifice, demonstrating the temporary and incomplete nature of the Old Covenant rituals.
* **errors (Greek, _agnóēma'_):** This word signifies a "thing ignored" or a "shortcoming," implying sins committed out of ignorance or inadvertence. While distinct from deliberate rebellion, these "errors" still required atonement, demonstrating that even unintentional transgressions separated people from God and that even the high priest, as a human, was not exempt from the need for cleansing.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"But into the second [went] the high priest alone once every year,"**: This clause establishes the extreme exclusivity and infrequency of access to the Most Holy Place. "The second" refers to the Holy of Holies, the innermost sanctuary. Only the "high priest," and he "alone," was permitted to enter, signifying that direct access to God's presence was severely restricted. The phrase "once every year" specifies the annual Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), highlighting the temporary and repeatable nature of the Old Covenant's most significant atoning ritual.
* **"not without blood,"**: This crucial phrase underscores the fundamental principle of atonement under the Old Covenant: the shedding of blood was indispensable for the remission of sins. The high priest's entry was contingent upon his bringing sacrificial blood, which served as a covering for sin, signifying life given for life. This foreshadows the ultimate, perfect sacrifice of Christ.
* **"which he offered for himself,"**: Before making atonement for the people, the high priest first had to offer blood for his own sins. This detail reveals the high priest's own human imperfection and sinfulness, demonstrating that even the mediator under the Old Covenant was flawed and in need of divine cleansing, further emphasizing the limitations of the system.
* **"and [for] the errors of the people:"**: Finally, the blood was offered for the "errors" (sins) of the entire Israelite community. This act was meant to provide a temporary covering for the nation's collective and individual transgressions, allowing them to remain in covenant relationship with a holy God for another year.

#### Literary Devices
The author of Hebrews masterfully employs **Contrast** in this verse, setting the highly restricted access to the Most Holy Place against the more routine activities in the Holy Place described previously. This contrast serves to magnify the sanctity and inaccessibility of God's presence under the Old Covenant. **Symbolism** is also profoundly at play, as the tabernacle itself, its compartments, the high priest, and the sacrificial blood are not merely physical objects or rituals but powerful symbols pointing to deeper spiritual realities. The Most Holy Place symbolizes God's dwelling, the high priest symbolizes the need for a mediator, and the blood symbolizes the cost of atonement. The phrase "once every year" utilizes **Emphasis through Repetition of Frequency**, underscoring the temporary and incomplete nature of the Old Covenant atonement, which required constant re-enactment, thereby creating an expectation for a more permanent solution.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Hebrews 9:7 is a pivotal verse that encapsulates the limitations and prophetic nature of the Old Covenant. It vividly portrays a system where access to God's presence was severely restricted, mediated by an imperfect human priest, and dependent on repeated animal sacrifices. This annual ritual, while divinely ordained for its time, could only "cover" sins temporarily, never truly taking them away or perfecting the conscience of the worshiper. The necessity for the high priest to offer blood for his own sins before atoning for the people highlights the inherent flaw in a system reliant on a sinful mediator. This verse, therefore, serves as a crucial backdrop against which the unparalleled superiority of Christ's sacrifice and priesthood is illuminated, demonstrating that the Old Covenant was a shadow pointing to the substantive reality found in Him.

* [Leviticus 16:34](/leviticus/16-34 "Leviticus 16:34 - Annual Day of Atonement")
* [Hebrews 10:1-4](/hebrews/10-1-4 "Hebrews 10:1-4 - Ineffectiveness of Repeated Sacrifices")
* [Hebrews 9:11-14](/hebrews/9-11-14 "Hebrews 9:11-14 - Christ's Superior Sacrifice")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Hebrews 9:7 invites us to reflect on the profound shift from the Old Covenant to the New. Imagine the awe and trepidation surrounding the Day of Atonement: the high priest, burdened by the sins of a nation and his own, entering the most sacred space, knowing that his very life depended on strict adherence to God's commands. This scene powerfully illustrates the holiness of God and the gravity of sin, which created such a chasm between humanity and the divine. For us today, this verse should evoke immense gratitude. We no longer need an earthly high priest to mediate for us, nor do we need annual, temporary sacrifices. Through Christ, we have been granted direct, continuous, and confident access to God's throne of grace. This privilege calls us to live lives of humble gratitude, bold prayer, and confident obedience, knowing that our access is secured not by our merit or repeated rituals, but by the perfect, once-for-all sacrifice of our great High Priest.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the limited access described in Hebrews 9:7 deepen your appreciation for the direct access we have to God through Christ?**
* **What does the high priest offering blood for his own "errors" teach us about the nature of human mediation versus divine mediation?**
* **In what ways might we still be tempted to rely on our own "rituals" or efforts rather than fully trusting in Christ's finished work for our access to God?**

### FAQ

**What was "the second" place mentioned in the verse?**

Answer: "The second" refers to the Most Holy Place, also known as the Holy of Holies. This was the innermost and most sacred compartment of the tabernacle (and later, the Temple), separated from the Holy Place by a thick veil. It was considered the dwelling place of God's immediate presence, housing the Ark of the Covenant, which contained the tablets of the Law, Aaron's staff, and a pot of manna. Its extreme sanctity is emphasized by the highly restricted access described in [Hebrews 9:7](/hebrews/9-7 "Hebrews 9:7 - Access to the Most Holy Place").

**Why did the high priest go "alone" into the Most Holy Place?**

Answer: The high priest went "alone" to underscore the singular and irreplaceable nature of his mediatorial role on the Day of Atonement. No one else, not even other priests, was permitted to witness or participate in this most sacred act of national atonement. This solitude emphasized the solemnity of the occasion and the immense responsibility placed upon him as the sole representative of the people before God, highlighting the profound separation between a holy God and sinful humanity that necessitated such a unique mediator.

**Why was it necessary for the high priest to offer blood "for himself" as well as for the people?**

Answer: The requirement for the high priest to offer blood "for himself" before atoning for the people's sins highlights his own human imperfection and sinfulness. Unlike Christ, who was without sin ([Hebrews 4:15](/hebrews/4-15 "Hebrews 4:15 - Christ's Sinless Nature")), the Levitical high priest was a fallen human being, subject to the same "errors" and transgressions as the people he represented. This necessity underscored the temporary and insufficient nature of the Old Covenant priesthood, which could not provide perfect or permanent cleansing, ultimately pointing to the need for a sinless, perfect High Priest.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Hebrews 9:7, with its vivid portrayal of the Old Covenant high priest's annual, blood-stained entry into the earthly Most Holy Place, serves as a profound foreshadowing of Christ's superior work. The limitations of the Old Covenant system—the high priest's own sinfulness, the annual repetition of the sacrifice, and the restricted access—all underscore the need for a perfect, once-for-all atonement. Jesus Christ fulfills this need as our great High Priest, who is "holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens" ([Hebrews 7:26](/hebrews/7-26 "Hebrews 7:26 - Christ Our Perfect High Priest")). Unlike the earthly high priest who offered the blood of animals, Christ entered the true, heavenly sanctuary "once for all" not with the blood of goats and calves, "but with his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption" ([Hebrews 9:12](/hebrews/9-12 "Hebrews 9:12 - Christ's Eternal Redemption")). His single, perfect sacrifice on the cross definitively dealt with sin, making repeated offerings unnecessary ([Hebrews 10:10](/hebrews/10-10 "Hebrews 10:10 - Christ's Single Sacrifice")). Through His finished work, the veil separating humanity from God was torn ([Matthew 27:51](/matthew/27-51 "Matthew 27:51 - The Torn Veil")), granting believers "boldness to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus" ([Hebrews 10:19](/hebrews/10-19 "Hebrews 10:19 - Access Through Christ's Blood")), providing direct, confident, and continuous access to God's presence, a privilege unimaginable under the Old Covenant.

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

Leviticus 16:34

And this shall be an everlasting statute unto you, to make an atonement for the children of Israel for all their sins once a year. And he did as the LORD commanded Moses.

Leviticus 5:18

And he shall bring a ram without blemish out of the flock, with thy estimation, for a trespass offering, unto the priest: and the priest shall make an atonement for him concerning his ignorance wherein he erred and wist [it] not, and it shall be forgiven him.

Exodus 30:10

And Aaron shall make an atonement upon the horns of it once in a year with the blood of the sin offering of atonements: once in the year shall he make atonement upon it throughout your generations: it [is] most holy unto the LORD.

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.

Hebrews 10:19

¶ Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,

Hebrews 10:20

By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;

Hebrews 9:24

For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, [which are] the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: