Hebrews 9
Modern English Version
The Earthly and Heavenly Sanctuaries
9 Then indeed, the first covenant had ordinances for divine services and an earthly sanctuary. 2 A tabernacle was made. In the first part of the tabernacle, called the Holy Place, were the candlestick, the table, and the showbread. 3 Behind the second veil was the second part of the tabernacle called the Most Holy Place, 4 which contained the golden censer and the ark of the covenant overlaid with gold, containing the golden pot holding the manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant. 5 Above the ark were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Concerning these things we cannot now speak in detail.
6 Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests would regularly go into the first part, conducting the services of God. 7 But only the high priest went into the second part once a year, not without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins of the people, committed in ignorance. 8 The Holy Spirit was signifying through this that the way into the Most Holy Place was not yet revealed, because the first part of the tabernacle was still standing. 9 This is an illustration for the present time, showing that the gifts and sacrifices offered could not perfect the conscience of those who worshipped, 10 since they are concerned only with foods and drinks, ceremonial cleansings, and fleshly ordinances imposed until the time of reformation.
11 But Christ, when He came as a High Priest of the good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation, 12 neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood, He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of bulls and goats, and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies so that the flesh is purified, 14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
15 For this reason He is the Mediator of a new covenant, since a death has occurred for the redemption of the sins that were committed under the first covenant, so that those who are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.
16 For where there is a will, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. 17 For a will has force after men are dead, since it has no force at all while the testator lives. 18 So not even the first covenant was inaugurated without blood. 19 For when Moses had taught every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book and all the people, 20 saying, “This is the blood of the covenant that God has commanded you to keep.”[a] 21 Likewise he sprinkled both the tabernacle and all the vessels of worship with blood. 22 And according to the law almost everything must be cleansed with blood; without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.
Christ’s Sacrifice Takes Away Sin
23 It was therefore necessary that the replicas of heavenly things be cleansed with these sacrifices, but that the heavenly things themselves be cleansed with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ did not enter holy places made with hands, which are patterned after the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us. 25 Nor did He enter to offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. 26 For then He would have had to suffer repeatedly since the world was created, but now He has appeared once at the end of the ages to put away sin by sacrificing Himself. 27 As it is appointed for men to die once, but after this comes the judgment, 28 so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many, and He will appear a second time, not to bear sin but to save those who eagerly wait for Him.
Footnotes
Hebrews 9
American Standard Version
9 Now even the first covenant had ordinances of divine service, and its sanctuary, a sanctuary of this world. 2 For there was a tabernacle prepared, the first, wherein [a]were the candlestick, and the table, and [b]the showbread; which is called the Holy place. 3 And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holy of holies; 4 having a golden [c]altar of incense, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein [d]was a golden pot holding the manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant; 5 and above it cherubim of glory overshadowing [e]the mercy-seat; of which things we cannot now speak severally. 6 Now these things having been thus prepared, the priests go in continually into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the services; 7 but into the second the high priest alone, once in the year, not without blood, which he offereth for himself, and for the [f]errors of the people: 8 the Holy Spirit this signifying, that the way into the holy place hath not yet been made manifest, while the first tabernacle is yet standing; 9 which 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, 10 being only (with meats and drinks and divers washings) carnal ordinances, imposed until a time of reformation.
11 But Christ having come a high priest of [g]the good things to come, through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation, 12 nor 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. 13 For 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: 14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through [h]the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish unto God, cleanse [i]your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? 15 And for this cause he is the mediator of a new [j]covenant, that a death having taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first [k]covenant, they that have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. 16 For where a [l]testament is, there must of necessity [m]be the death of him that made it. 17 For a [n]testament is of force [o]where there hath been death: [p]for it doth never avail while he that made it liveth. 18 Wherefore even the first covenant hath not been dedicated without blood. 19 For 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, 20 saying, [q]This is the blood of the [r]covenant which God commanded to you-ward. 21 Moreover the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry he sprinkled in like manner with the blood. 22 And according to the law, I may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and apart from shedding of blood there is no remission.
23 It 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. 24 For 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: 25 nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place year by year with blood not his own; 26 else must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once at the [s]end of the ages hath he been manifested to put away sin [t]by the sacrifice of himself. 27 And inasmuch as it is [u]appointed unto men once to die, and after this cometh judgment; 28 so 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.
Footnotes
- Hebrews 9:2 Or, are
- Hebrews 9:2 Greek the setting forth of the loaves.
- Hebrews 9:4 Or, censer. 2 Chr. 26:19; Ezek. 8:11.
- Hebrews 9:4 Or, is
- Hebrews 9:5 Greek the propitiatory.
- Hebrews 9:7 Greek ignorances. Ecclus. 23:2f.
- Hebrews 9:11 Some ancient authorities read the good things that are come.
- Hebrews 9:14 Or, his eternal spirit
- Hebrews 9:14 Many ancient authorities read our.
- Hebrews 9:15 The Greek word here used signifies both covenant and testament.
- Hebrews 9:15 The Greek word here used signifies both covenant and testament.
- Hebrews 9:16 The Greek word here used signifies both covenant and testament.
- Hebrews 9:16 Greek be brought.
- Hebrews 9:17 The Greek word here used signifies both covenant and testament.
- Hebrews 9:17 Greek over the dead.
- Hebrews 9:17 Or, for doth it ever . . . liveth?
- Hebrews 9:20 Ex. 24:8.
- Hebrews 9:20 The Greek word here used signifies both covenant and testament.
- Hebrews 9:26 Or, consummation
- Hebrews 9:26 Or, by his sacrifice
- Hebrews 9:27 Greek laid up for. Col. 1:5; 2 Tim. 4:8.
The Holy Bible, Modern English Version. Copyright © 2014 by Military Bible Association. Published and distributed by Charisma House.
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