Hebrews 9:10 Meaning and Explanation
“Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Those regulations dealt with foods, drinks, and various washings, outward ordinances meant to last only until the time of setting things right.
What Does Hebrews 9:10 Mean?
The writer sums up the character of the old ceremonies. They concerned outward things: rules about food and drink, and various ritual washings, ordinances touching the body and the flesh. He adds the crucial words: these were 'imposed until the time of reformation,' that is, until the moment God would set everything right.
Far from being permanent, these regulations were a temporary discipline with an expiration built in. They governed the surface of life while pointing forward to a deeper cleansing that only God could bring. The phrase 'time of reformation' lifts our eyes to Christ, in whom the shadow gives way to substance. What managed the outward person was always meant to yield to One who renews the inner person.
Hebrews 9:10 in the Original Language
diorthosis (διόρθωσις), 'reformation' -- a setting straight, a putting right of things.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hebrews 9:10
What does Hebrews 9:10 mean?
Those regulations dealt with foods, drinks, and various washings, outward ordinances meant to last only until the time of setting things right.