Ὑπὲρ ἁμαρτιῶν (cf. 5:1), like περὶ ἁμαρτιῶν in v. 26, means generally “to deal with sin” (MHT 3.269f.;
Moule 1971.64; Schelkle 132–134). The meaning is expressed more fully in the
closely related verse 1:3, καθαρισμὸν τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν ποιησάμενος,
and in the present context (Is. 53 LXX has διὰ τὰς ἁμαρτίας ἡμῶν in v. 5, ταῖς ἁμαρτίαις ἡμῶν in v. 6,
and περὶ ἁμαρτίας in v. 10). The aorist
participle προσενέγκας
contrasts with the present προσφέρων
in v. 11, and emphasizes once again, though in a subordinate clause, that
Jesus’ sacrifice is once for all. The distinction is blurred by the Vulgate’s
translation offerens in both places
(F. F. Bruce 239n.67). (Paul Ellingworth, The Epistle to the Hebrews: A Commentary on the Greek Text [New
International Greek Testament Commentary; Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans, 1993],
509)
The Greek aorist participle προσενεγκας (‘having offered”) in
v. 12 is in sharp contrast to the present participle προσφερων (‘‘offering”’) in v. 11. But
since Latin has no perfect participle active (except in deponent verbs), the
Latin version uses the present participle offerens as the rendering of
both these forms. The context here really rules out the implication of the
Latin present participle; it is a contradiction in terms to say (as R. A.
Knox’s translation of the Vulgate puts it) : “‘he sits for ever at the right
hand of God, offering for our sins a sacrifice that is never repeated” (a
footnote in Knox’s version points out that the Greek means: “‘he has taken his
seat at the right hand of God after offering a sacrifice’’). (The Latin
replacement of the Greek aorist indicative εκαθισεν by the present sedet does not materially affect the
sense.) (F. F. Bruce, The Epistle to the Hebrews: The English Text With
Introduction, Exposition, and Notes [Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans, 1970],
239 n. 67)
