Old Covenant Ministry

Now the first covenant also had regulations for ministry and an earthly sanctuary. For a tabernacle was set up, and in the first room, which is called the holy place, were the lampstand, the table, and the presentation loaves.(A) Behind the second curtain was a tent called the most holy place.(B) It had the gold altar of incense and the ark of the covenant, covered with gold on all sides, in which was a gold jar containing the manna, Aaron’s staff that budded, and the tablets of the covenant.(C) The cherubim of glory were above the ark overshadowing the mercy seat. It is not possible to speak about these things in detail right now.(D)

With these things prepared like this, the priests enter the first room repeatedly, performing their ministry.(E) But the high priest alone enters the second room, and he does that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offers for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance.(F) The Holy Spirit was making it clear that the way into the most holy place had not yet been disclosed while the first tabernacle was still standing.(G) This is a symbol for the present time, during which gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the worshiper’s conscience.(H) 10 They are physical regulations and only deal with food, drink, and various washings imposed until the time of the new order.(I)

New Covenant Ministry

11 But Christ has appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come.[a] In the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands (that is, not of this creation(J)), 12 he entered the most holy place once for all time, not by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption.(K) 13 For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a young cow, sprinkling those who are defiled, sanctify for the purification of the flesh,(L) 14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit(M) offered himself without blemish to God, cleanse our[b] consciences from dead works so that we can serve the living God?(N)

15 Therefore, he is the mediator(O) of a new covenant,[c](P) so that those who are called might receive the promise(Q) of the eternal inheritance, because a death has taken place for redemption from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.(R) 16 Where a will exists, the death of the one who made it must be established. 17 For a will is valid only when people die, since it is never in effect while the one who made it is living. 18 That is why even the first covenant was inaugurated with blood. 19 For when every command had been proclaimed by Moses to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and goats,[d] along with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll itself and all the people,(S) 20 saying, This is the blood of the covenant that God has ordained for you.[e](T) 21 In the same way, he sprinkled the tabernacle and all the articles of worship with blood.(U) 22 According to the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.(V)

23 Therefore, it was necessary for the copies of the things in the heavens to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves to be purified with better sacrifices than these.(W) 24 For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with hands (only a model[f] of the true one) but into heaven itself, so that he might now appear in the presence of God for us.(X) 25 He did not do this to offer himself many times, as the high priest enters the sanctuary yearly with the blood of another.(Y) 26 Otherwise, he would have had to suffer many times since the foundation of the world. But now he has appeared one time, at the end of the ages,(Z) for the removal of sin by the sacrifice of himself.(AA) 27 And just as it is appointed for people to die once—and after this, judgment(AB) 28 so also Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many,(AC) will appear a second time,(AD) not to bear sin, but[g] to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.(AE)

Footnotes

  1. 9:11 Other mss read that are to come
  2. 9:14 Other mss read your
  3. 9:15 The Gk word used here can be translated covenant, will, or testament, also in vv. 16,17,18.
  4. 9:19 Some mss omit and goats
  5. 9:20 Ex 24:8
  6. 9:24 Or antitype, or figure
  7. 9:28 Lit time, apart from sin,

The Old and the New

Now even the first covenant had (A)regulations for divine worship and (B)the earthly sanctuary. For (C)a [a]tabernacle was equipped, the [b]outer sanctuary, in which were (D)the lampstand, (E)the table, and (F)the [c]sacred bread; this is called the Holy Place. Behind (G)the second veil there was a [d]tabernacle which is called the (H)Most Holy Place, having a golden [e](I)altar of incense and (J)the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was (K)a golden jar holding the manna, (L)Aaron’s staff which budded, and (M)the tablets of the covenant; and above it were the (N)cherubim of glory (O)overshadowing the [f]atoning cover; but about these things we cannot now speak in detail.

Now when these things have been so prepared, the priests (P)are continually entering the [g]outer [h]tabernacle, performing the divine worship, but into (Q)the second, only (R)the high priest enters (S)once a year, (T)not without taking blood which he (U)offers for himself and for the [i](V)sins of the people committed in ignorance. (W)The Holy Spirit is signifying this, (X)that the way into the holy place has not yet been disclosed while the [j]outer tabernacle is still standing, which is a symbol for the present time. Accordingly (Y)both gifts and sacrifices are offered which (Z)cannot make the worshiper perfect in conscience, 10 since they relate only to (AA)food, (AB)drink, and various (AC)washings, (AD)regulations for the [k]body imposed until (AE)a time of reformation.

11 But when Christ appeared as a (AF)high priest of the (AG)good things [l]having come, He entered through (AH)the greater and more perfect [m]tabernacle, (AI)not made by hands, that is, (AJ)not of this creation; 12 and not through (AK)the blood of goats and calves, but (AL)through His own blood, He (AM)entered the holy place (AN)once for all time, [n]having obtained (AO)eternal redemption. 13 For if (AP)the blood of goats and bulls, and (AQ)the [o]ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled, sanctify for the [p]cleansing of the flesh, 14 how much more will (AR)the blood of Christ, who through [q](AS)the eternal Spirit (AT)offered Himself without blemish to God, (AU)cleanse your conscience from (AV)dead works to serve (AW)the living God?

15 For this reason (AX)He is the (AY)mediator of a (AZ)new covenant, so that, since a death has taken place for the redemption of the violations that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been (BA)called may (BB)receive the promise of (BC)the eternal inheritance. 16 For where there is a [r]covenant, there must of necessity [s]be the death of the one who made it. 17 For a [t]covenant is valid only when people are dead, [u]for it is never in force while the one who made it lives. 18 Therefore even the first covenant was not inaugurated without blood. 19 For when every commandment had been (BD)spoken by Moses to all the people according to the Law, (BE)he took the (BF)blood of the calves and the goats, with (BG)water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both (BH)the book itself and all the people, 20 saying, “(BI)This is the blood of the covenant which God commanded you.” 21 And in the same way he (BJ)sprinkled both the [v]tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry with the blood. 22 And (BK)almost all things are cleansed with blood, according to the Law, and (BL)without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

23 Therefore it was necessary for the (BM)copies of the things in the heavens to be cleansed with these things, but (BN)the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ (BO)did not enter a holy place made by hands, a mere copy of (BP)the true one, but into (BQ)heaven itself, now (BR)to appear in the presence of God for us; 25 nor was it that He would offer Himself often, as (BS)the high priest enters (BT)the Holy Place (BU)year by year with blood that is not his own. 26 Otherwise, He would have needed to suffer often since (BV)the foundation of the world; but now (BW)once at (BX)the consummation of the ages He has been (BY)revealed to put away sin [w](BZ)by the sacrifice of Himself. 27 And just as (CA)it is destined for people to die once, and after this (CB)comes judgment, 28 so Christ also, having been (CC)offered once to (CD)bear the sins of many, will appear (CE)a second time for (CF)salvation (CG)without reference to sin, to those who (CH)eagerly await Him.

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 9:2 Or sacred tent
  2. Hebrews 9:2 Lit first
  3. Hebrews 9:2 Lit loaves of presentation
  4. Hebrews 9:3 Or sacred tent
  5. Hebrews 9:4 Or censer
  6. Hebrews 9:5 Also called mercy seat; i.e., where blood was sprinkled on the Day of Atonement
  7. Hebrews 9:6 Lit first
  8. Hebrews 9:6 Or sacred tent
  9. Hebrews 9:7 Lit ignorance of the people
  10. Hebrews 9:8 Lit first
  11. Hebrews 9:10 Lit flesh
  12. Hebrews 9:11 One early ms to come
  13. Hebrews 9:11 Or sacred tent
  14. Hebrews 9:12 Or obtaining
  15. Hebrews 9:13 I.e., ashes mixed in water
  16. Hebrews 9:13 Lit purity
  17. Hebrews 9:14 Or His eternal spirit
  18. Hebrews 9:16 Or testament
  19. Hebrews 9:16 Lit be brought
  20. Hebrews 9:17 Or testament
  21. Hebrews 9:17 One early ms for is it then...lives?
  22. Hebrews 9:21 Or sacred tent
  23. Hebrews 9:26 Or by His sacrifice