αἱματεκχυσία

From the study of Hebrews 9:22

Range of meaning

A compound of haima (blood) and ekchysis (a pouring out, from ekcheō, "to pour out"). Literally "blood-pouring". It could refer to (1) the shedding of blood by killing the animal, (2) the ritual pouring of blood at the base of the altar, or (3) the whole process of offering and applying the blood.

Against the English

KJV, BSB, WEB, NIV, ESV and NASB all have "shedding of blood". This is accurate as far as it goes, but in modern English it suggests violence, wounds and the amount of blood spilled. YLT's "blood-shedding" mirrors the compound shape. No English version brings out the possible altar-ritual sense of "pouring out".

How it drifted

"Shedding of blood" in English is mostly the language of killing and war ("bloodshed"). The Greek verb behind it, ekcheō haima, covers both murder (Gen 9:6 LXX) and the priest pouring blood at the altar (Lev 4:7, 18, 25, 30, 34 LXX). So the English narrows a word that pointed at both death and ritual.

Used elsewhere in the period

The noun is not found in any Greek text before Hebrews. The author may have coined it, and later Christian writers use it from Hebrews. The phrase behind it is common in the Septuagint (the Greek Old Testament): ekcheei to haima "he shall pour out the blood" at the altar's base (Lev 4:7 etc.; Exod 29:12), and ekcheōn haima for murder (Gen 9:6). The Gospel cup sayings use the same verb: "my blood of the covenant, poured out (ekchynnomenon) for many for the forgiveness (aphesin) of sins" (Matt 26:28; cf. Mark 14:24; Luke 22:20). The rabbis later state a close parallel: "there is no atonement except with blood" (ein kapparah ella be-dam, b. Yoma 5a; b. Zevaḥim 6a; b. Menaḥot 93b).