Hebrews 8:1-9:10

English Standard Version

Jesus, High Priest of a Better Covenant

8 Now the point in what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest, ^(A)one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, ²a minister in the holy places, in ^(B)the true tent^[a] that the Lord ^(C)set up, not man. ³For ^(D)every high priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices; thus ^(E)it is necessary for this priest also to have something to offer. ⁴Now if he were on earth, he would not be a priest at all, since there are priests who offer gifts according to the law. ⁵They serve ^(F)a copy and ^(G)shadow of the heavenly things. For when Moses was about to erect the tent, he was instructed by God, saying, ^(H)“See that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown you on the mountain.” ⁶But as it is, Christ^[b] has obtained a ministry that is ^(I)as much more excellent than the old as ^(J)the covenant ^(K)he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises. ⁷^(L)For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion to look for a second.

⁸For he finds fault with them when he says:^[c]

^(M)“Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord,
    when I will establish a new covenant with the house of Israel
    and with the house of Judah,
⁹not like the covenant that I made with their fathers
    on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt.
For they did not continue in my covenant,
    and so I showed no concern for them, declares the Lord.
¹⁰^(N)For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel
    after those days, declares the Lord:
I will put my laws into their minds,
    and ^(O)write them on their hearts,
and I will be their God,
    and they shall be my people.
¹¹And they shall not teach, each one his neighbor
    and each one his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’
for they shall ^(P)all know me,
    from the least of them to the greatest.
¹²For I will be merciful toward their iniquities,
    ^(Q)and I will remember their sins no more.”

¹³In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. And ^(R)what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.

The Earthly Holy Place

9 Now even the first covenant had regulations for worship and ^(S)an earthly place of holiness. ²For ^(T)a tent^[d] was prepared, the first section, in which were ^(U)the lampstand and ^(V)the table and ^(W)the bread of the Presence.^[e] It is called the Holy Place. ³Behind ^(X)the second curtain was a second section^[f] called the Most Holy Place, ⁴having the golden ^(Y)altar of incense and ^(Z)the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was ^(AA)a golden urn holding the manna, and ^(AB)Aaron's staff that budded, and ^(AC)the tablets of the covenant. ⁵Above it were ^(AD)the cherubim of glory overshadowing ^(AE)the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail.

⁶These preparations having thus been made, ^(AF)the priests go regularly into the first section, performing their ritual duties, ⁷but into the second only ^(AG)the high priest goes, and he but ^(AH)once a year, and not without taking blood, ^(AI)which he offers for himself and for the unintentional sins of the people. ⁸By this the Holy Spirit indicates that ^(AJ)the way into the holy places is not yet opened as long as the first section is still standing ⁹(which is symbolic for the present age).^[g] According to this arrangement, gifts and sacrifices are offered ^(AK)that cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper, ¹⁰but deal only with ^(AL)food and drink and ^(AM)various washings, regulations for the body imposed until the time of reformation.