What Does Hebrews 9:22 Mean in the King James?
And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
What English calls “remission” is release, and the verse binds that release to blood poured out.
THE MEANING
The verse joins cleansing and release to blood being poured out. “Remission” carries the sense of release, of letting go. Its opening qualification matters: it says “almost all things,” not all things.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the idea that release is simply a verbal cancellation with no life given.
THE ROOT
ἄφεσις
aphesis
GROWS FROM
ἀφίημι (aphiēmi), from ἀπό (apo) + ἵημι (hiēmi)
Send away; release; let go.
“remission” in this verse is aphesis. The Greek noun ἄφεσις names release, while its verb ἀφίημι can appear in English as either “leave” or “forgive.” The same word family holds together letting go of what you carry and releasing a debt or offense.
ALSO GROWS
aphentes: Having left; having let go.
ἀφέντες
Matthew 4:20 uses this form when the disciples leave their nets, showing the same word family behind “remission” also means letting go.
aphes: Release; forgive.
ἄφες
Matthew 6:12 uses this form for forgiving debts, making the link between remission and release concrete.
καθαρίζεται
katharizetai
GROWS FROM
καθαρίζω (katharizō), from καθαρός (katharos)
Make clean; cleanse.
“Purged” is cleansing language: the verse places becoming clean beside being released. The two ideas remain distinct in Greek, yet the sentence joins them in one movement.
ALSO GROWS
katharos: Clean; pure.
καθαρός
This related word names the clean state that cleansing brings about.
katharismos: Cleansing; purification.
καθαρισμός
Hebrews 1:3 uses this family for what the KJV calls “purged our sins,” keeping the language of removal and cleansing together.
αἱματεκχυσίας
haimatekchysias
GROWS FROM
αἷμα (haima) + ἐκχέω (ekcheō)
Blood poured out.
The Greek word translated “shedding” combines blood with pouring out, keeping the action visible. Leviticus 17:11 connects life with blood, so the image carries blood and life given together.
ALSO GROWS
haima: Blood.
αἷμα
The first part names blood directly, grounding the phrase in something concrete.
ekcheō: Pour out; shed.
ἐκχέω
This verb makes clear that the verse describes blood poured out, not merely blood present.
THE PATTERN
Scripture joins sacrificial cleansing and release to blood as life poured out.
For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;THE THREAD
In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;Ephesians uses the same Greek noun ἄφεσις (aphesis, release) that Hebrews renders “remission,” here translated “forgiveness.” The shared root reveals release beneath both English words, while both verses place that release beside blood.
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