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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comRobertson Word Pictures - Hebrews 9:10 - 9:10
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
Only with meats and drinks and divers washings (monon epi brōmasin kai pomasin kai diaphorois baptismois). The parenthesis of the Revised Version here is unnecessary. The use of epi here with the locative case is regular, “in the matter of” (Luk 12:52; Joh 12:16; Act 21:24). What ritual value these Levitical sacrifices had was confined to minute regulations about diet and ceremonial cleansing (clean and unclean). For “divers” (diaphorois, late adjective, in N.T. only in Heb 1:4; Heb 8:6; Heb 9:10; Rom 12:6) say “different” or “various.” Baptismois is, of course, the Jewish ceremonial immersions (cf. Mar 7:4; Exo 29:4; Lev 11:25, Lev 11:28.; Num 8:7; Rev 6:2).
Carnal ordinances (dikaiōmasin sarkos). But the correct text is undoubtedly simply dikaiōmata sarkos (nominative case), in apposition with dōra te kai thusiai (gifts and sacrifices). See Heb 9:1 for dikaiōmata.
Imposed (epikeimena). Present middle or passive participle of epikeimai, old verb to lie upon (be laid upon). Cf. 1Co 9:16.
Until a time of reformation (mechri kairou diorthōseōs). Definite statement of the temporary nature of the Levitical system already stated in Heb 7:10-17; Heb 8:13 and argued clearly by Paul in Gal 3:15-22. Diorthōsis is a late word, here alone in N.T. (from diorthoō, to set right or straight), used by Hippocrates for making straight misshapen limbs like anorthoō in Heb 12:12. Here for reformation like diorthōma (reform) in Act 24:2. Christianity itself is the great Reformation of the current Judaism (Pharisaism) and the spiritual Judaism foreshadowed by the old Abrahamic promise (see Gal 3; Rom 9).