Add parallel Print Page Options

Messiah Enters the Heavenly Holies

Now even the first one had regulations for worship and the earthly sanctuary. [a] For a tent was prepared: in the outer[b] part were the menorah, the table, and the presentation of the bread[c]—this is called the Holy Place. Beyond the second curtain[d] was a dwelling called the Holy of Holies. [e] It held a golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant, completely covered with gold. In the ark was a golden jar holding the manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant[f] and above it, cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat.[g] But it is not now possible to speak in detail about these things.

Now with these things prepared this way,

the kohanim
    do continually enter
        into the outer tent[h]
            while completing the services;
        but into the inner,[i]
    once a year,

the kohen gadol alone[j]—and not without blood which he offers for himself and for the unintentional sins[k] of the people. By this the Ruach ha-Kodesh makes clear that the way into the Holies has not yet been revealed while the first tent is still standing. It is a symbol for the present time. Accordingly, gifts and sacrifices are being offered that cannot make the worshiper perfect with respect to conscience. 10 These relate only to food and drink and various washings[l]—regulations for the body imposed until a time of setting things straight.

11 But when Messiah appeared as Kohen Gadol of the good things that have now come, passing through the greater and more perfect Tent not made with hands (that is to say not of this creation),

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 9:2 cf. Exod. 25:8, 23-29.
  2. Hebrews 9:2 Lit. first.
  3. Hebrews 9:2 cf. Lev. 24:5-9.
  4. Hebrews 9:3 Heb. parokhet.
  5. Hebrews 9:4 cf. Exod. 26:31-33; 40:3.
  6. Hebrews 9:4 cf. Exod. 25:10-16; 1 Kings 8:7.
  7. Hebrews 9:5 cf. Exod. 25:18-19.
  8. Hebrews 9:6 Lit. first tent, i.e. the Holy Place; cf. Exod. 27:20-21.
  9. Hebrews 9:7 Lit. second, i.e. the Holy of Holies; cf. Lev. 16:2, 34.
  10. Hebrews 9:7 cf. Exod. 30:10; Lev. 16:15, 34.
  11. Hebrews 9:7 cf. Num. 15:22, 30.
  12. Hebrews 9:10 cf. Lev. 11; Num. 6:3; 19:13.

Εἶχε μὲν [a]οὖν ἡ πρώτη δικαιώματα λατρείας τό τε ἅγιον κοσμικόν. σκηνὴ γὰρ κατεσκευάσθη ἡ πρώτη ἐν ᾗ ἥ τε λυχνία καὶ ἡ τράπεζα καὶ ἡ πρόθεσις τῶν ἄρτων, ἥτις λέγεται Ἅγια· μετὰ δὲ τὸ δεύτερον καταπέτασμα σκηνὴ ἡ λεγομένη [b]Ἅγια Ἁγίων, χρυσοῦν ἔχουσα θυμιατήριον καὶ τὴν κιβωτὸν τῆς διαθήκης περικεκαλυμμένην πάντοθεν χρυσίῳ, ἐν ᾗ στάμνος χρυσῆ ἔχουσα τὸ μάννα καὶ ἡ ῥάβδος Ἀαρὼν ἡ βλαστήσασα καὶ αἱ πλάκες τῆς διαθήκης, ὑπεράνω δὲ αὐτῆς Χερουβὶν δόξης κατασκιάζοντα τὸ ἱλαστήριον· περὶ ὧν οὐκ ἔστιν νῦν λέγειν κατὰ μέρος.

Τούτων δὲ οὕτως κατεσκευασμένων, εἰς μὲν τὴν πρώτην σκηνὴν διὰ παντὸς εἰσίασιν οἱ ἱερεῖς τὰς λατρείας ἐπιτελοῦντες, εἰς δὲ τὴν δευτέραν ἅπαξ τοῦ ἐνιαυτοῦ μόνος ὁ ἀρχιερεύς, οὐ χωρὶς αἵματος, ὃ προσφέρει ὑπὲρ ἑαυτοῦ καὶ τῶν τοῦ λαοῦ ἀγνοημάτων, τοῦτο δηλοῦντος τοῦ πνεύματος τοῦ ἁγίου, μήπω πεφανερῶσθαι τὴν τῶν ἁγίων ὁδὸν ἔτι τῆς πρώτης σκηνῆς ἐχούσης στάσιν, ἥτις παραβολὴ εἰς τὸν καιρὸν τὸν ἐνεστηκότα, καθ’ [c]ἣν δῶρά τε καὶ θυσίαι προσφέρονται μὴ δυνάμεναι κατὰ συνείδησιν τελειῶσαι τὸν λατρεύοντα, 10 μόνον ἐπὶ βρώμασιν καὶ πόμασιν καὶ διαφόροις βαπτισμοῖς, [d]δικαιώματα σαρκὸς μέχρι καιροῦ διορθώσεως ἐπικείμενα.

11 Χριστὸς δὲ παραγενόμενος ἀρχιερεὺς τῶν [e]γενομένων ἀγαθῶν διὰ τῆς μείζονος καὶ τελειοτέρας σκηνῆς οὐ χειροποιήτου, τοῦτ’ ἔστιν οὐ ταύτης τῆς κτίσεως,

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. ΠΡΟΣ ΕΒΡΑΙΟΥΣ 9:1 οὖν Holmes WHmarg ] + καὶ WH Treg NIV RP
  2. ΠΡΟΣ ΕΒΡΑΙΟΥΣ 9:3 Ἅγια Ἁγίων WH NIV RP ] τὰ ἅγια τῶν ἁγίων Treg
  3. ΠΡΟΣ ΕΒΡΑΙΟΥΣ 9:9 ἣν WH Treg NIV ] ὃν RP
  4. ΠΡΟΣ ΕΒΡΑΙΟΥΣ 9:10 δικαιώματα WH NIV ] καὶ δικαιώματα Treg; καὶ δικαιώμασιν RP
  5. ΠΡΟΣ ΕΒΡΑΙΟΥΣ 9:11 γενομένων WH NIV ] μελλόντων Treg RP

Worship in the Earthly Tabernacle

Now the first covenant had regulations for worship and also an earthly sanctuary.(A) A tabernacle(B) was set up. In its first room were the lampstand(C) and the table(D) with its consecrated bread;(E) this was called the Holy Place.(F) Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place,(G) which had the golden altar of incense(H) and the gold-covered ark of the covenant.(I) This ark contained the gold jar of manna,(J) Aaron’s staff that had budded,(K) and the stone tablets of the covenant.(L) Above the ark were the cherubim of the Glory,(M) overshadowing the atonement cover.(N) But we cannot discuss these things in detail now.

When everything had been arranged like this, the priests entered regularly(O) into the outer room to carry on their ministry. But only the high priest entered(P) the inner room,(Q) and that only once a year,(R) and never without blood,(S) which he offered for himself(T) and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance.(U) The Holy Spirit was showing(V) by this that the way(W) into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still functioning. This is an illustration(X) for the present time, indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered(Y) were not able to clear the conscience(Z) of the worshiper. 10 They are only a matter of food(AA) and drink(AB) and various ceremonial washings(AC)—external regulations(AD) applying until the time of the new order.

The Blood of Christ

11 But when Christ came as high priest(AE) of the good things that are now already here,[a](AF) he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle(AG) that is not made with human hands,(AH) that is to say, is not a part of this creation.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 9:11 Some early manuscripts are to come