Hebrews 9:19

New Testament Epistle (General) ASV (1901)

What does Hebrews 9:19 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “For when every commandment had been spoken by Moses unto all the people according to the law, he took the blood of the calves and the goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people,” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

For when every commandment had been spoken by Moses unto all the people according to the law, he took the blood of the calves and the goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people,
Hebrews 9:19 — American Standard Version

Context — Hebrews 9

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
19For when every commandment had been spoken by Moses unto all the people according to the law, he took the blood of the calves and the goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people,

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“For when Moses had spoken every precept, etc..] Contained in the decalogue, in the book of the covenant, everyone of the precepts in (<022201>Exodus 22:1-23:33) for this is to be understood of the written law, and not of the oral law the Jews talk of, which they say Moses first delivered by word of mouth to Aaron, then to his two sons, Eleazar and Ithamar, then to the seventy elders of Israel, and then to the whole congregation; so that Aaron heard it four times, his sons thrice, the seventy elders twice, and all Israel once f198: but this is the written law which he spoke audibly, and in a known language, to all the people according to the law; which God gave him on the Mount: this may…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“For--confirming the general truth, Heb 9:16. spoken . . . according to the law--strictly adhering to every direction of "the law of commandments contained in ordinances" (Eph 2:15). Compare Exo 24:3, "Moses told the people all the words of the Lord, and all the judgments; and all the people answered with one voice," &c. the blood of calves--Greek, "the calves," namely, those sacrificed by the "young men" whom he sent to do so (Exo 24:5). The "peace offerings" there mentioned were "of oxen" (Septuagint, "little calves"), and the "burnt offerings" were probably (though this is not specified), as on the day of atonement, goats. The law in Exodus sanctioned formally many sacrificial practices in…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people - When he had recited all the Law, and had given all the commandments entrusted him to deliver; Exodus 24:3. He took the blood of calves and of goats - This passage has given great perplexity to commentators from the fact that Moses in his account of the transactions connected with the ratification of the covenant with the people, Exodus 24:0, mentions only a part of the circumstances here referred to. He says nothing of the blood of calves and of goats; nothing of water, and scarletwool, and hyssop; nothing of sprinkling the book, the tabernacle, or the vessels of the ministry. It has been made a question, therefore, whence Paul…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“He took the blood of calves - Or heifers. And of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop - All these circumstances are not particularly mentioned in that chapter of Exodus, but are supposed to be already known from other passages of Moses. And the book itself - Which contained all he had said. And sprinkled all the people - Who were near him. The blood was mixed with water to prevent its growing too stiff for sprinkling; perhaps also to typify that blood and water, Joh 19:34. Exo 24:7-8 Hebrews 9:20”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“the blood: Heb 9:12, Heb 10:4; Exo 24:5, Exo 24:6, Exo 24:8-11; Lev 1:2, Lev 1:3, Lev 1:10, Lev 3:6, Lev 16:14-18 scarlet: or, purple, Lev 14:4-6, Lev 14:49-52; Num 19:6; Mat 27:28; Mar 15:17, Mar 15:20; Joh 19:2, Joh 19:5 hyssop: Exo 12:22; Num 19:18; Psa 51:7 sprinkled: Heb 12:24; Exo 24:8; Isa 52:15; Eze 36:25; Pe1 1:2 Hebrews 9:20”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification