Hebrews 9
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
The Earthly and the Heavenly Sanctuaries
9 Now[a] the first covenant had regulations for worship and an earthly sanctuary. 2 For a tent[b] was constructed, the first one, in which were the lampstand, the table, and the bread of the Presence;[c] this is called the holy place.(A) 3 Behind the second curtain was a tent[d] called the holy of holies.(B) 4 In it stood the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which there were a golden urn holding the manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant;(C) 5 above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat.[e] Of these things we cannot speak now in detail.(D)
6 These preparations having thus been made, the priests go continually into the first tent[f] to carry out their ritual duties, 7 but only the high priest goes into the second, and he but once a year and not without taking the blood that he offers for himself and for the sins committed unintentionally by the people.(E) 8 By this the Holy Spirit indicates that the way into the sanctuary has not yet been disclosed as long as the first tent[g] is still standing.(F) 9 This is a symbol[h] of the present time, indicating that gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper(G) 10 but deal only with food and drink and various baptisms, regulations for the body imposed until the time comes to set things right.(H)
11 But when Christ came as a high priest of the good things that have come,[i] then through the greater and more perfect tent[j] (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation),(I) 12 he entered once for all into the holy place, not with the blood of goats and calves but with his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption.(J) 13 For if the blood of goats and bulls and the sprinkling of the ashes of a heifer sanctifies those who have been defiled so that their flesh is purified,(K) 14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit[k] offered himself without blemish to God, purify our[l] conscience from dead works to worship the living God!(L)
15 For this reason he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, because a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions under the first covenant.[m](M) 16 Where a will[n] is involved, the death of the one who made it must be established. 17 For a will[o] takes effect only at death, since it is not in force as long as the one who made it is alive. 18 Hence not even the first covenant was inaugurated without blood.(N) 19 For when every commandment had been told to all the people by Moses in accordance with the law, he took the blood of calves and goats,[p] with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the scroll itself and all the people,(O) 20 saying, “This is the blood of the covenant that God has ordained for you.” 21 And in the same way he sprinkled with the blood both the tent[q] and all the vessels used in worship.(P) 22 Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.(Q)
Christ’s Sacrifice Takes Away Sin
23 Thus it was necessary for the sketches of the heavenly things to be purified with these rites, but the heavenly things themselves need better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made by human hands, a mere copy of the true one, but he entered into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf.(R) 25 Nor was it to offer himself again and again, as the high priest enters the holy place year after year with blood that is not his own, 26 for then he would have had to suffer again and again since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to remove sin by the sacrifice of himself.(S) 27 And just as it is appointed for mortals to die once and after that the judgment,(T) 28 so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.(U)
Footnotes
- 9.1 Other ancient authorities add even
- 9.2 Or tabernacle
- 9.2 Gk the presentation of the loaves
- 9.3 Or tabernacle
- 9.5 Or the place of atonement
- 9.6 Or tabernacle
- 9.8 Or tabernacle
- 9.9 Gk parable
- 9.11 Other ancient authorities read good things to come
- 9.11 Or tabernacle
- 9.14 Other ancient authorities read Holy Spirit
- 9.14 Other ancient authorities read your
- 9.15 The Greek word used here means both covenant and will
- 9.16 The Greek word used here means both covenant and will
- 9.17 The Greek word used here means both covenant and will
- 9.19 Other ancient authorities lack and goats
- 9.21 Or tabernacle
Hebrews 9
New American Standard Bible
The Old and the New
9 Now even the first covenant had (A)regulations for divine worship and (B)the earthly sanctuary. 2 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. 3 Behind (G)the second veil there was a [d]tabernacle which is called the (H)Most Holy Place, 4 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; 5 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.
6 Now when these things have been so prepared, the priests (P)are continually entering the [g]outer [h]tabernacle, performing the divine worship, 7 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. 8 (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, 9 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
- Hebrews 9:2 Or sacred tent
- Hebrews 9:2 Lit first
- Hebrews 9:2 Lit loaves of presentation
- Hebrews 9:3 Or sacred tent
- Hebrews 9:4 Or censer
- Hebrews 9:5 Also called mercy seat; i.e., where blood was sprinkled on the Day of Atonement
- Hebrews 9:6 Lit first
- Hebrews 9:6 Or sacred tent
- Hebrews 9:7 Lit ignorance of the people
- Hebrews 9:8 Lit first
- Hebrews 9:10 Lit flesh
- Hebrews 9:11 One early ms to come
- Hebrews 9:11 Or sacred tent
- Hebrews 9:12 Or obtaining
- Hebrews 9:13 I.e., ashes mixed in water
- Hebrews 9:13 Lit purity
- Hebrews 9:14 Or His eternal spirit
- Hebrews 9:16 Or testament
- Hebrews 9:16 Lit be brought
- Hebrews 9:17 Or testament
- Hebrews 9:17 One early ms for is it then...lives?
- Hebrews 9:21 Or sacred tent
- Hebrews 9:26 Or by His sacrifice
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
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