Hebrews 9:28 Meaning and Explanation
“So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →So Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many, and will appear a second time, apart from sin, to bring salvation to those waiting for him.
What Does Hebrews 9:28 Mean?
The chapter closes with a glorious parallel to the verse before. Just as people die once and then face judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many, taking upon himself what we could never carry. His first coming was to deal with sin through his self-offering, the once-for-all sacrifice the whole chapter has proclaimed.
But the story does not end at the cross. He will appear a second time, the writer promises, this time not to deal with sin, for that is finished, but to bring full salvation to those who eagerly wait for him. The same Christ who entered heaven for us will return for us. So the chapter that began with an earthly sanctuary ends gazing upward, with hope fixed on the One who bore our sins and will come again.
Hebrews 9:28 in the Original Language
anaphero (ἀναφέρω), 'bear' -- to carry up and take upon oneself, as of a burden laid on another.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hebrews 9:28
What does Hebrews 9:28 mean?
So Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many, and will appear a second time, apart from sin, to bring salvation to those waiting for him.