And just as it is destined for people to die once, and after this comes judgment,
Parallel translations
- WEB Inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once, and after this, judgment,
- KJV And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
- BSB Just as man is appointed to die once, and after that to face judgment,
- NKJV And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,
- NLT And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment,
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Just as people die once and then face judgment, so the pattern of human destiny is fixed. This sets up a parallel with Christ.
Overview
This sober verse states the universal human reality: one death, followed by judgment. It is often cited against ideas of reincarnation or second chances after death. Here its primary purpose is to form an analogy, our once-for-all death parallels Christ's once-for-all death, leading into the hope of his return.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 24
- 2 Cor 5:10For we must all be revealed before the judgment seat of Christ; that each one may receive the things in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
- Eccl 12:7and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.
- Eccl 12:14For God will bring every work into judgment, with every hidden thing, whether it is good, or whether it is evil.
- Acts 17:31because he has appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness by the man whom he has ordained; of which he has given assurance to all men, in that he has raised him from the dead.”
- 2 Sam 14:14For we must die, and are like water spilled on the ground, which can’t be gathered up again; neither does God take away life, but devises means, that he who is banished not be an outcast from him.
- John 5:26–29For as the Father has life in himself, even so he gave to the Son also to have life in himself.
- Eccl 9:5For the living know that they will die, but the dead don’t know anything, neither do they have any more a reward; for their memory is forgotten.
- Jude 1:15to execute judgment on all, and to convict all the ungodly of all their works of ungodliness which they have done in an ungodly way, and of all the hard things which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.”
- Matt 25:31–46“But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory.
- Eccl 11:9Rejoice, young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth, and walk in the ways of your heart, and in the sight of your eyes; but know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.
- 2 Tim 4:1I command you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at his appearing and his Kingdom:
- Eccl 3:20All go to one place. All are from the dust, and all turn to dust again.
- 1 Cor 4:5Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each man will get his praise from God.
- Rom 5:12Therefore as sin entered into the world through one man, and death through sin; and so death passed to all men, because all sinned.
- Job 14:5Seeing his days are determined, the number of his months is with you, and you have appointed his bounds that he can’t pass;
- Rom 14:9–12For to this end Christ died, rose, and lived again, that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living.
- Ps 89:48What man is he who shall live and not see death, who shall deliver his soul from the power of Sheol? Selah.
- Gen 3:19By the sweat of your face will you eat bread until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken. For you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”
- Job 30:23For I know that you will bring me to death, To the house appointed for all living.
- Heb 6:2of the teaching of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
- Rev 20:11I saw a great white throne, and him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. There was found no place for them.
- Rom 2:5But according to your hardness and unrepentant heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath, revelation, and of the righteous judgment of God;
- Job 19:25But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives. In the end, he will stand upon the earth.
- Eccl 9:10Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in Sheol, where you are going.
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Christ at the center
Hebrews is sustained worship of Christ: better than angels, Moses, and the priests; the great High Priest after Melchizedek who by one sacrifice perfects forever those he saves.
How Hebrews 9:27 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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