15 Therefore he is (A)the mediator of a new covenant, so that (B)those who are called may (C)receive the promised eternal inheritance, (D)since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.[a] 16 For where a will is involved, the death of the one who made it must be established. 17 For (E)a will takes effect only at death, since it is not in force as long as the one who made it is alive. 18 Therefore not even the first covenant was inaugurated (F)without blood. 19 For when every commandment of the law had been declared by Moses to all the people, he took (G)the blood of calves and goats, (H)with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, 20 saying, (I)“This is the blood of the covenant that God commanded for you.” 21 And in the same way he sprinkled with the blood both (J)the tent and all the vessels used in worship. 22 Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and (K)without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.

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Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 9:15 The Greek word means both covenant and will; also verses 16, 17

15 And because of this, he is the mediator of a new covenant, in order that, because[a] a death has taken place for the redemption of transgressions committed during the first covenant, those who are the called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. 16 For where there is a will, it is a necessity for the death of the one who made the will to be established. 17 For a will is in force concerning those who are dead, since it is never in force when the one who made the will is alive. 18 Therefore not even the first covenant was ratified without blood. 19 For when[b] every commandment had been spoken by Moses to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves[c] with water and scarlet wool and hyssop and sprinkled both the scroll itself and all the people, 20 saying,

“This is the blood of the covenant that God has commanded for you.”[d]

21 And likewise he sprinkled both the tabernacle and all the utensils of service with the blood. 22 Indeed, nearly everything is purified with blood according to the law, and apart from the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

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Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 9:15 Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“has taken place”) which is understood as causal
  2. Hebrews 9:19 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the temporal participle (“had been spoken”)
  3. Hebrews 9:19 Some manuscripts have “calves and goats”
  4. Hebrews 9:20 A quotation from Exod 24:8