Hebrews 9:10

10 They are only a matter of food and drink and various ceremonial washings—external regulations applying until the time of the new order.

Hebrews 9:10 in Other Translations

10 Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.

10 but deal only with food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until the time of reformation.

10 For that old system deals only with food and drink and various cleansing ceremonies—physical regulations that were in effect only until a better system could be established.

10 but are limited to matters of ritual and behavior. It's essentially a temporary arrangement until a complete overhaul could be made.

10 [being] only (with meats and drinks and divers washings) carnal ordinances, imposed until a time of reformation.

10 These gifts and sacrifices were meant to be food, drink, and items used in various purification ceremonies. These ceremonies were required for the body until God would establish a new way of doing things.

10 They are physical regulations and only deal with food, drink, and various washings imposed until the time of restoration.

10 They deal only with food and drink and different kinds of special washings. They are rules that deal with things outside our bodies. People had to obey them only until the new covenant came.

Hebrews 9:10 Meaning and Commentary

Hebrews 9:10

[Which stood] only in meats and drinks
That is, along with the gifts and sacrifices offered, there only were meat offerings and drink offerings; things which only respect the body, and cannot therefore make perfect, as to the conscience; to which may be added, that while the tabernacle was standing, and typical service was in being, there was a prohibition of certain meats, as unclean, and an allowance of others, as clean, ( Leviticus 11:2-31 ) and there were certain drinks which were unlawful to certain persons, at certain times, as to the priests and Nazarites, ( Leviticus 10:9 ) ( Numbers 6:3 ) and which, for the above reason, could make no man perfect:

and divers washings
or "baptisms": the doctrine of which, the apostle would not have laid again, ( Hebrews 6:2 ) these were the washings of the priests and of the Israelites, and of sacrifices, and of garments, and of vessels and other things; and which, because they were performed by immersion, they are called "baptisms": and now since these only sanctified to the purifying of the flesh, or what was outward, they could not reach the conscience, or make perfect with respect to that: and

carnal ordinances:
which belonged to the flesh, and not the spirit or soul, and therefore could not affect that; besides, these were only

imposed on them until the time of reformation;
they were enjoined the Jews only, though by God himself; and were put upon them as a burden, or a yoke, and which was on some accounts intolerable, but were not to continue any longer than the time of the Gospel, here called "the time of reformation", or of "correction", and emendation; in which, things that were faulty and deficient are amended and perfected, and in which burdensome rites and ceremonies are removed, and better ordinances introduced: or rather of direction: in which saints are directed to Christ, the sum and substance of all types, shadows, and sacrifices, and in whom alone perfection is.

Hebrews 9:10 In-Context

8 The Holy Spirit was showing by this that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still functioning.

9 This is an illustration for the present time, indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshiper.

10 They are only a matter of food and drink and various ceremonial washings—external regulations applying until the time of the new order.

11 But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this creation.

12 He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption.

Cross References

• 1. Leviticus 11:2-23
• 2. Numbers 6:3; Colossians 2:16
• 3. Lev 11:25,28,40
• 4. Hebrews 7:16