Word Studies¶
G2511 — katharizō (καθαρίζω) — "to cleanse/purify"¶
Original: καθαρίζω Transliteration: katharizō Part of Speech: verb Definition: From katharos; to cleanse (literally or figuratively) BLB Count: 30 occurrences
Key Parsing in Hebrews 9:23¶
- Form: καθαρίζεσθαι (katharizesthai)
- Parsing: Present Passive Infinitive
- Significance: The present tense infinitive indicates an ongoing or characteristic action, not merely a one-time event. The passive voice means the heavenly things are BEING purified (receiving the action), not purifying themselves.
Translations in KJV¶
| Translation | Count |
|---|---|
| make (clean) | 3 |
| clean / be thou clean | 3+3 |
| was/were cleansed | 2+1 |
| cleanse | 2 |
| purge/purged | 1+1 |
| purify/purifying | 1+1 |
| should be purified | 1 |
Key Occurrences in Hebrews¶
- Heb 9:14 — "purge your conscience from dead works" (katharizō — cleansing of conscience)
- Heb 9:22 — "almost all things are by the law purged with blood" (katharizō — ritual purification)
- Heb 9:23 — "the patterns... should be purified" (katharizō — the heavenly things purified)
- Heb 10:2 — "worshippers once purged" (katharizō — believers cleansed)
LXX Connection: H2891 taher → G2511 katharizō¶
Critical finding: The LXX translates Hebrew taher (H2891, the standard Levitical cleansing verb) as katharizō (G2511) with the HIGHEST correspondence score (31.05). This means: - When the author of Hebrews uses katharizō in 9:23, he is using the standard Greek equivalent of the Levitical purification vocabulary (taher) - He is NOT using dikaioō (G1344), which is how the LXX renders tsadaq (H6663, the Dan 8:14 verb) - The Hebrews author is drawing on Leviticus 16 language, not Daniel 8:14 language
G2032 — epouranios (ἐπουράνιος) — "heavenly"¶
Original: ἐπουράνιος Transliteration: epouranios Part of Speech: adjective Definition: From epi + ouranos; above the sky — celestial, heavenly BLB Count: 20 occurrences
Translations¶
| Translation | Count |
|---|---|
| heavenly | 9 |
| celestial | 2 |
| heavenly things | 1 |
| high | 1 |
| an heavenly | 1 |
Key Occurrences¶
- Heb 3:1 — "partakers of the heavenly calling"
- Heb 6:4 — "tasted of the heavenly gift"
- Heb 8:5 — "shadow of heavenly things" (ta epourania)
- Heb 9:23 — "the heavenly things themselves" (auta ta epourania)
- Heb 11:16 — "a heavenly [country]"
- Heb 12:22 — "the heavenly Jerusalem"
- Eph 1:3 — "spiritual blessings in heavenly [places]"
- Eph 1:20 — "[set] him at his own right hand in heavenly [places]"
- Eph 3:10 — "principalities and powers in heavenly [places]"
- Eph 6:12 — "spiritual wickedness in high [places]" (en tois epouraniois)
Significance for Heb 9:23¶
In Hebrews, "ta epourania" (the heavenly things) consistently refers to the HEAVENLY REALM where God's true sanctuary exists. In Heb 8:5, earthly priests serve "the shadow of heavenly things." In 9:23, "the heavenly things themselves" (auta ta epourania) with the intensive pronoun auta ("themselves") distinguishes the heavenly realities from their earthly copies.
H6663 — tsadaq (צָדַק) — "to be just/vindicated"¶
Original: צָדַק Transliteration: tsadaq Part of Speech: verb (primitive root) Definition: To be (causatively, make) right in a moral or forensic sense — cleanse, clear self, be just, justify, be righteous, turn to righteousness
LXX Translation¶
The LXX primarily renders tsadaq as: - G1344 dikaioō (to justify, declare righteous) — 21 occurrences, score 26.99 - G1342 dikaios (just, righteous) — 22 occurrences - G2919 krinō (to judge, decide) — 8 occurrences
Critical Distinction: tsadaq vs. taher¶
| Feature | tsadaq (H6663) | taher (H2891) |
|---|---|---|
| Domain | Forensic/legal | Ritual/ceremonial |
| Meaning | Vindicate, declare righteous | Purify, make clean |
| Used in Dan 8:14 | YES (nitsdaq) | NO |
| Used in Lev 16 | NO | YES (16:19,30) |
| LXX Greek equivalent | dikaioō (G1344) | katharizō (G2511) |
| Heb 9:23 uses | — | katharizō (via LXX) |
Implication¶
Hebrews 9:23 uses katharizō (the LXX equivalent of taher), connecting to LEVITICAL purification. Daniel 8:14 uses tsadaq (forensic vindication). These are related but distinct: Hebrews describes the purification MECHANISM (blood application), Daniel describes the judicial OUTCOME (vindication/verdict).
G2378 — thusia (θυσία) — "sacrifice"¶
Original: θυσία Transliteration: thusia Part of Speech: feminine noun Definition: From thuō; sacrifice (the act or the victim, literally or figuratively) BLB Count: 29 occurrences
Occurrences in Hebrews¶
- Heb 5:1 — every high priest "to offer gifts and sacrifices"
- Heb 7:27 — "he did once, when he offered up himself"
- Heb 8:3 — "to offer gifts and sacrifices"
- Heb 9:9 — "gifts and sacrifices" that could not perfect
- Heb 9:23 — "better SACRIFICES than these" (kreittoisin THYSIAIS, dative PLURAL)
- Heb 9:26 — "put away sin by the sacrifice of himself"
- Heb 10:1 — "those sacrifices which they offered year by year"
- Heb 10:5 — "sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not"
- Heb 10:8 — "sacrifice and offering... thou wouldest not"
- Heb 10:11 — "offering oftentimes the same sacrifices"
- Heb 10:12 — "one sacrifice for sins for ever"
- Heb 10:26 — "no more sacrifice for sins"
The Plural "Better Sacrifices" (kreittoisin thysiais) in 9:23¶
The plural form in 9:23 is striking because Hebrews elsewhere emphasizes ONE sacrifice (10:12,14). Three possible explanations: 1. Categorial plural — one sacrifice viewed as encompassing multiple types (sin offering, burnt offering, etc.) 2. Grammatical parallel — matching the plural earthly "these" sacrifices in the comparison 3. Multiple applications — one sacrifice applied in multiple phases (inauguration, daily, Day of Atonement)
G5262 — hupodeigma (ὑπόδειγμα) — "copy/pattern/example"¶
Original: ὑπόδειγμα Transliteration: hupodeigma Part of Speech: neuter noun Definition: An exhibit for imitation or warning; copy, example, pattern
All 4 NT Occurrences¶
- Heb 4:11 — "fall after the same example of unbelief"
- Heb 8:5 — "serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things"
- Heb 9:23 — "the patterns (hupodeigmata) of things in the heavens"
- 2 Pet 2:6 — "an ensample unto those..."
Significance¶
In Heb 9:23, the earthly tabernacle and its furnishings are hupodeigmata — copies/patterns of the heavenly realities. The logic: if the COPIES needed purification with animal blood, how much more do the ORIGINALS need purification with better sacrifices. The copy-to-original inference is the backbone of the argument.
G499 — antitypos (ἀντίτυπος) — "antitype/figure/corresponding copy"¶
Used in Heb 9:24: "the holy places made with hands, which are the figures (antitypa) of the true." The earthly holy places are antitypa (corresponding copies) of the alēthina (true/genuine) heavenly sanctuary.
G2725 — katēgoros (κατήγορος) — "accuser"¶
Original: κατήγορος Transliteration: katēgoros Part of Speech: masculine noun Definition: From kata + agora; against one in the assembly, i.e. a complainant at law, prosecutor
Occurrences¶
- Rev 12:10 — "the accuser (ho katēgōr) of our brethren is cast down, which accused (katēgorōn, present active participle) them before our God day and night"
- Acts 23:30, 35; 24:8; 25:16,18 — legal accusers in Roman courts
Rev 12:10 Parsing¶
- katēgōr (nominative singular) — the accuser (as a title/role)
- katēgorōn (present active participle) — "the one accusing" — continuous, ongoing action
- The present participle indicates that the accusation is HABITUAL and ONGOING — "day and night"
H7854 — satan (שָׂטָן) — "adversary/accuser"¶
Original: שָׂטָן Transliteration: satan Definition: An opponent; especially (with the article prefixed) Satan, the arch-enemy of good Key verses: Job 1:6-9; 2:1-5; Zech 3:1-2; 1 Chr 21:1
Connection to Heavenly Purification¶
Satan functions as the ACCUSER in the heavenly court (Zech 3:1; Rev 12:10). His accusations against God's people create the context for WHY heavenly things need purification — the sanctuary is "defiled" by the sin records of those who have been forgiven and by the accusations brought against them.