Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Hebrews 9:22

"And according to the law, I may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and apart from shedding of blood there is no remission." — Hebrews 9:22 (ASV)

Cleansing, then, meant blood, though the qualification “nearly everything” shows that the author is well aware that there were exceptions. Thus the worshiper who was too poor to offer even little birds might instead make a cereal offering (Leviticus 5:11–13). Some purification could be effected with water (e.g., Leviticus 15:10), and there might be purification of metal objects by fire and “the water of im purity” (Numbers 31:22–23). On one occasion gold made atonement for the warriors (Numbers 31:50), while on another occasion incense atoned (Numbers 16:46). But such ceremonies were all exceptional. As a whole the Levitical system looks constantly for blood as the means of putting away sin and impurity.