The Meaning of Hebrews 12:27 Explained

Hebrews 12:27

KJV: And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.

YLT: and this -- 'Yet once' -- doth make evident the removal of the things shaken, as of things having been made, that the things not shaken may remain;

Darby: But this Yet once, signifies the removing of what is shaken, as being made, that what is not shaken may remain.

ASV: And this word , Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that have been made, that those things which are not shaken may remain.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And  this [word], Yet  once more,  signifieth  the removing  of those things that are shaken,  as  of things that are made,  that  those things which cannot  be shaken  may remain. 

What does Hebrews 12:27 Mean?

Context Summary

Hebrews 12:18-29 - Hearken To God's Latest Word
Sinai rocked with earthquake and burned with fire. None might touch it without incurring the death penalty. How much better our Christian heritage! Not a lonely mountain, but a city and commonwealth of holy souls. Not bands of worshipers gathered from the land of Canaan, but hosts of angels, the spirits of just men; and our blessed Lord Himself. For the blood of animals, the blood of Jesus; for the Old Covenant, the New; for Abel's death beside his altar, the Savior's death on the cross.
Notice the writer does not say that we shall, but that we are come, Hebrews 12:22. Already, in our holiest moments, we are part of that great throng to which so many of our beloved have gone. Around us the most stable structures are being tested and some are crumbling to the ground. As they fall they show that their service was transient. But as the scaffolding is taken down, the true building-the City of God-emerges. [source]

Chapter Summary: Hebrews 12

1  An exhortation to constant faith, patience, and godliness by Christ's example
22  A commendation of the new covenant

Greek Commentary for Hebrews 12:27

And this word [το δε]
He uses the article to point out “ετι απαχ — eti hapax ” which he explains The removing For this word see Hebrews 7:12; Hebrews 11:5. For the transitory nature of the world see 1 Corinthians 7:31; 1 John 2:17. “There is a divine purpose in the cosmic catastrophe” (Moffatt). Made Perfect passive participle of ποιεω — poieō Made by God, but made to pass away. That those things which are not shaken may remain Final clause with μη — mē and the first aorist active subjunctive of μενω — menō The Kingdom of God is not shaken, fearful as some saints are about it. [source]
This word “yet once more” [τὸ δέ Ἔτι ἅπαξ]
Attention is called to this phrase as specially significant, because it indicates that the shaking prophesied by Haggai is to be final. It is to precede the new heaven and the new earth. Isaiah 65:17; Isaiah 66:22; 2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:1. [source]
Signifieth [δηλοῖ]
From δῆλος manifestevident. To make manifest to the mind. Used of indications which lead the mind to conclusions about the origin or character of things. See Thucyd. i. 3; Aesch. Pers. 518. Comp. 1 Corinthians 3:13; Hebrews 9:8; 1 Peter 1:11. Appropriate to prophetic revelations. [source]
The removing [τὴν μετάθεσιν]
See on Hebrews 7:12. For the thought comp. 1 John 2:17; 1 Corinthians 7:31. [source]
As of things that are made [ὡς πεποιημένων]
Made indeed by God, who also makes the new heaven and the new earth (Isaiah 65:17; Isaiah 66:22), but made to pass away. [source]
That the things which cannot be shaken may remain [ἵνα μείνῃ τὰ μὴ σαλευόμενα]
Whether we consider the things which are shaken, the old heavens and earth which pass away, or the new heaven and earth which cannot be shaken, both are πεποιημένα madeby God. The writer perceives this, and therefore adds to as of things that are made a clause stating that they were made (by God himself) to pass away. Accordingly, ἵνα inorder that is to be connected with πεποιημένων , after which the comma should be removed. Rend. “the removal of things made in order that they might await the things which are not shaken.” Μένειν is used in this sense, await, Acts 20:5, Acts 20:23, and often in Class. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Hebrews 12:27

Luke 21:26 Shall be shaken [σαλευθήσονται]
Compare Matthew 11:7; Luke 6:38; Acts 4:31; Hebrews 12:26, Hebrews 12:27. The root of the verb is the same as that of billows, Luke 21:25. [source]
Hebrews 7:12 A change [μετάθεσις]
A transfer to a new basis. Only in Hebrews. See Hebrews 11:5; Hebrews 12:27. The inferiority of the Levitical priesthood is inferred from the fact that another priesthood was promised. If perfection was possible at all under the Mosaic economy, it must come through the Levitical priesthood, since that priesthood was, in a sense, the basis of the law. The whole legal system centered in it. The fundamental idea of the law was that of a people united with God. Sin, the obstacle to this ideal union, was dealt with through the priesthood. If the law failed to effect complete fellowship with God, the priesthood was shown to be a failure, and must be abolished; and the change of the priesthood involved the abolition of the entire legal system. [source]
Hebrews 6:4 Those who were once enlightened [τοὺς ἅπαξ φωτισθέντας]
Rend. “once for all enlightened.” Ἅπαξ is frequent in the Epistle. Comp. Hebrews 9:7, Hebrews 9:26, Hebrews 9:27, Hebrews 9:28; Hebrews 10:2; Hebrews 12:26, Hebrews 12:27. Indicating that the enlightenment ought to have sufficed to prevent them from falling away; not that it does not admit of repetition. Enlightened, through the revelation of God in Christ, the true light, and through the power of the Spirit. Φωτίζειν in lxx usually to teach or instruct; see Psalm 119:130; 2 Kings 12:2; 2 Kings 17:27. Comp. in N.T. John 1:9; Ephesians 1:18; Ephesians 3:9; Hebrews 10:32. Erasmus gives the correct explanation: “Who once for all have left the darkness of their former life, having been enlightened by the gospel teaching.” There is no ground for explaining the word here of baptism, although the fathers from the time of Justin Martyr used φωτίζειν and φωτοσμός in that sense, and this usage continued down to the Reformation. See Just. Mart. Apol. i. 62. Chrysostom entitled his 59th Homily, addressed to candidates for baptism, πρὸς τοὺς μέλλοντας φωτίζεσθαι tothose who are about to be enlightened; and justified this name for baptism by this passage and Hebrews 10:32. The Peshitto translates this passage, “who have once (for all) descended to baptism.” The N.T. gives no example of this usage. [source]
Hebrews 13:14 For here have we no continuing city [οὐ γὰρ ἔχομεν ὧδε μένουσαν πόλιν]
Here, on earth. Continuing city. Let us go forth without the gate to Jesus; for the system which has its center in Jerusalem, the Holy City, is no more ours. We are excluded from its religious fellowship by embracing the faith of him who suffered without the gate. The city itself is not abiding. As a holy city, it is the center and representative of a system of shadows and figures (Hebrews 8:5; Hebrews 9:9, Hebrews 9:23, Hebrews 9:24; Hebrews 10:1), which is to be shaken and removed, even as is the city itself (Hebrews 12:27); Hebrews 8:13; Hebrews 9:10; Hebrews 10:9, Hebrews 10:18. If the epistle had been written after the destruction of Jerusalem a reference to that event could hardly have been avoided here. [source]
Hebrews 12:28 Fear [δέους]
N.T.oSee 12:22; 13:16; 15:23. Its fundamental idea is timid apprehension of danger; while φόβος is the terror which seizes one when the danger appears. Schmidt (Synon. 139,10) illustrates happily. In a primitive forest an undefined sense of possible danger possesses one, and makes his heart beat quickly at every rustle of a leaf. This is δέος . When the voice and tread of a wild beast are distinctly heard close at hand, the δέος becomes φόβος . The phrase “with pious care and fear” is not explanatory of acceptably. These are to accompany ( μετὰ ) acceptable service. They do not imply a cringing or slavish feeling, but grow out of the warning in Hebrews href="/desk/?q=heb+12:25&sr=1">Hebrews 12:25, which runs through the two following verses, and implies that the catastrophe of Hebrews 12:27will be final, leaving no more opportunity to retrieve the refusal of God's invitation to the privileges of the new covenant, or the relapse into the superseded economy of Judaism. [source]
Hebrews 11:5 Was translated [μετετετη]
First aorist passive indicative of μετατιτημι — metatithēmi old verb to transpose, to change as in Hebrews 7:12; Acts 7:16. That he should not see death Here again του — tou with the infinitive usually expresses purpose, but in this case result is the idea as in Matthew 21:23; Romans 1:24; Romans 7:3, etc. (Robertson, Grammar, p. 1002). He was not found Imperfect passive of ευρισκω — heuriskō from Genesis 5:24. Was still not found. Translated First aorist active of same verb as μετετετη — metetethē just before. Translation Substantive from the same verb μετατιτημι — metatithēmi used already in Hebrews 7:12 for change. See also Hebrews 12:27. Our very word “metathesis.” He hath had witness borne him Perfect passive indicative of μαρτυρεω — martureō stands on record still, “he has been testified to.” That he had been well-pleasing unto God Perfect active infinitive of ευαρεστεω — euaresteō late compound from ευαρεστος — euarestos (well-pleasing), in N.T. only in Hebrews 11:5.; Hebrews 13:16. With dative case τεωι — theōi Quoted here from Genesis 5:22, Genesis 5:24. The word is common of a servant pleasing his master. [source]
Hebrews 7:12 The priesthood being changed [μετατιτεμενης της ιεροσυνης]
Genitive absolute with present passive participle of μετατιτημι — metatithēmi old word to transfer (Galatians 1:6). A change Old substantive from μετατιτημι — metatithēmi In N.T. only in Heb. (Hebrews 7:12; Hebrews 11:5; Hebrews 12:27). God‘s choice of another kind of priesthood for his Son, left the Levitical line off to one side, forever discounted, passed by “the order of Aaron” (την ταχιν Ααρων — tēn taxin Aarōn). [source]
Hebrews 9:8 The Holy Ghost this signifying [τουτο δηλουντος του πνευματος του αγιου]
Genitive absolute with present active participle of δηλοω — dēloō to make plain. Used as in Hebrews 12:27. The way into the Holy place Here as in Hebrews 9:12, Hebrews 9:25 των αγιων — tōn hagiōn is used for the very Presence of God as in Hebrews 8:2 and is in the objective genitive. οδον — Hodon is the accusative of general reference with the infinitive. Hath not yet been made manifest Perfect passive infinitive of πανεροω — phaneroō to make plain Another genitive absolute with present active participle of εχω — echō (having standing στασιν — stasin), “the first tabernacle still having a place.” The veil at the entrance kept the people out of the first tent as the second veil (Hebrews 9:3) kept the priests out of the Holy of Holies (the very Presence of God). [source]

What do the individual words in Hebrews 12:27 mean?

This now Yet once [more] signifies the of the [things] being shaken removing as having been created so that should remain the things not being shaken
τὸ δὲ Ἔτι ἅπαξ δηλοῖ τὴν τῶν σαλευομένων μετάθεσιν ὡς πεποιημένων ἵνα μείνῃ τὰ μὴ σαλευόμενα

τὸ  This 
Parse: Article, Nominative Neuter Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
δὲ  now 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: δέ  
Sense: but, moreover, and, etc.
Ἔτι  Yet 
Parse: Adverb
Root: ἔτι  
Sense: yet, still.
ἅπαξ  once  [more] 
Parse: Adverb
Root: ἅπαξ  
Sense: once, one time.
δηλοῖ  signifies 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: δηλόω  
Sense: to make manifest.
τῶν  of  the  [things] 
Parse: Article, Genitive Neuter Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
σαλευομένων  being  shaken 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Middle or Passive, Genitive Neuter Plural
Root: σαλεύω  
Sense: a motion produced by winds, storms, waves, etc.
μετάθεσιν  removing 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: μετάθεσις  
Sense: transfer: from one place to another.
πεποιημένων  having  been  created 
Parse: Verb, Perfect Participle Middle or Passive, Genitive Neuter Plural
Root: ποιέω  
Sense: to make.
ἵνα  so  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ἵνα  
Sense: that, in order that, so that.
μείνῃ  should  remain 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Subjunctive Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: μένω  
Sense: to remain, abide.
τὰ  the  things 
Parse: Article, Nominative Neuter Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
σαλευόμενα  being  shaken 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Middle or Passive, Nominative Neuter Plural
Root: σαλεύω  
Sense: a motion produced by winds, storms, waves, etc.