Skip to Content

Hebrews

Changes this passage only. Set your default for every passage.

Hebrews 9

1Now even the first covenant had ordinances of divine service, and its sanctuary, a sanctuary of this world.

2For there was a tabernacle prepared, the first, wherein were the candlestick, and the table, and the showbread; which is called the Holy place.

3And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holy of holies; 4having a golden altar of incense, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was a golden pot holding the manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant; 5and above it cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy-seat; of which things we cannot now speak severally.

1Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary.

2For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary.

3And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all;

4Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant;

5And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly.

Commentary · verses 1-5

Behind the veil, in the Holy of Holies, was the Ark of the Covenant which contained manna, Aaron's rod, and the tables of the Covenant: Ten Commandments.

6Now these things having been thus prepared, the priests go in continually into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the services;

6Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God.

Commentary · verse 6

The priests did their service in the first tabernacle, not behind the veil.

7but into the second the high priest alone, once in the year, not without blood, which he offereth for himself, and for the errors of the people:

7But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people:

Commentary · verse 7

Only once a year would a priest go into the Holy of Holies with blood that he offered for himself and for the people.

8the Holy Spirit this signifying, that the way into the holy place hath not yet been made manifest, while the first tabernacle is yet standing;

8The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing:

Commentary · verse 8

The Holy Spirit revealed that the way to the Holy of Holies (where God resides) was not through the Law: it is through grace.

9which is a figure for the time present; according to which are offered both gifts and sacrifices that cannot, as touching the conscience, make the worshipper perfect, 10being only (with meats and drinks and divers washings) carnal ordinances, imposed until a time of reformation.

11But Christ having come a high priest of the good things to come, through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation, 12nor yet through the blood of goats and calves, but through his own blood, entered in once for all into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption.

9Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;

10Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.

11But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;

12Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

Commentary · verses 9-12

...but Christ, by His own blood, made it possible for us to be in the presence of God through the Holy Spirit: grace.

13For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling them that have been defiled, sanctify unto the cleanness of the flesh: 14how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish unto God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

13For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:

14How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

Commentary · verses 13-14

Doctrine: Christ's blood purges our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

15And for this cause he is the mediator of a new covenant, that a death having taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first covenant, they that have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.

15And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

Commentary · verse 15

Doctrine: The reason Christ became the Mediator of the new Covenant was so that we could attain Salvation from sin through His sacrificial death.

16For where a testament is, there must of necessity be the death of him that made it.

16For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.

Commentary · verse 16

Doctrine: A covenant (testament) requires a death.

17For a testament is of force where there hath been death: for it doth never avail while he that made it liveth.

18Wherefore even the first covenant hath not been dedicated without blood.

17For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.

18Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood.

Commentary · verses 17-18

The previous Covenant involved death and blood being shed.

19For when every commandment had been spoken by Moses unto all the people according to the law, he took the blood of the calves and the goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people,

19For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people,

Commentary · verse 19

Next, Paul referenced Exodus 24:4-8.

20saying, This is the blood of the covenant which God commanded to you-ward.

21Moreover the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry he sprinkled in like manner with the blood.

22And according to the law, I may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and apart from shedding of blood there is no remission.

20Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you.

21Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry.

22And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

Commentary · verses 20-22

Doctrine: Without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins.

23It was necessary therefore that the copies of the things in the heavens should be cleansed with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.

23It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.

Commentary · verse 23

The blood of the first Covenant only represented the spiritual truth of what Christ's blood did do. Next, Paul explained what Christ actually did.

24For Christ entered not into a holy place made with hands, like in pattern to the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear before the face of God for us: 25nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place year by year with blood not his own; 26else must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once at the end of the ages hath he been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

24For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:

25Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others;

26For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

Commentary · verses 24-26

Christ entered into the actual holy place and offered Himself to God.

27And inasmuch as it is appointed unto men once to die, and after this cometh judgment; 28so Christ also, having been once offered to bear the sins of many, shall appear a second time, apart from sin, to them that wait for him, unto salvation.

27And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

28So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

Commentary · verses 27-28

Christ will appear again, not for sacrifice of sins, but for the Salvation from sin.

Commentary · verse 28

Theme of Chapter 9: The Covenant according to the Law was a physical example of the actual Covenant that Jesus made for our Dispensation of Grace.

Up and down arrows move between verses, Enter selects one, Shift with an arrow takes in a run. Tab then reaches Save, Add Note and Copy.