Hebrews 9
New Matthew Bible
The value and significance of the old testament, and how far the new excels it.
9 That first tabernacle indeed had observances, and the serving of God, and temporal holiness. 2 For a foretabernacle was made, where the candlestick and the table and the showbread were, which is called holy. 3 But within the second veil there was a tabernacle that is called holiest of all. 4 It had the golden censer, and the ark of the testament overlaid round about with gold, in which was the golden pot with manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tables of the testament. 5 Over the ark were the cherubims of glory covering the seat of grace – of which things we will not now speak particularly.
6 When these things had been set up accordingly, the priests went constantly into the first tabernacle and executed the service of God. 7 But into the second went the high priest alone, once every year – and not without blood, which he offered for himself and for the ignorance of the people. 8 By this the Holy Spirit was signifying that the way of holy things was not yet opened, while as yet the first tabernacle was standing. 9 That tabernacle was a similitude for the time then present, and in which gifts and sacrifices were offered that could not make the offerer perfect as pertaining to the conscience, 10 with only foods and drinks, and various washings and observances of the flesh, which were prescribed until the time of reformation.
11 But Christ, being a high priest of good things to come, came by a greater and a more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands; that is to say, not of this creation. 12 Neither was it by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered once and for all into the holy place, and found eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of oxen and of goats and the ashes of a heifer when sprinkled purified the unclean insofar as the purifying of the flesh is concerned, 14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your consciences from dead works in order to serve the living God?
15 And therefore he is the mediator of the new testament, so that through death, which effected the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, those who are called may receive the promise of eternal inheritance. 16 For where there is a testament, there must also be the death of him who makes the testament, 17 because a testament takes authority when men are dead. It is of no effect as long as he who made it is alive.
18 For which reason also, neither was that first testament ordained without blood. 19 For when all the commandments were read by Moses to all the people, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water and purple wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book and all the people, 20 saying: This is the blood of the testament that God has appointed unto you. 21 Moreover, he sprinkled the tabernacle with blood also, and all the ministering vessels. 22 And also almost all things are by the law purged with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no remission.
23 It is needful then that the similitudes of heavenly things be purified with such things, but the heavenly things themselves are purified with better sacrifices than are those. 24 For Christ has not entered into the holy places that are made with hands, which are but similitudes of true things, but has entered into very heaven, to appear now in the sight of God for us – 25 not to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters into the holy place every year with strange blood. 26 For then he must have repeatedly suffered since the world began. But now, in the end of the world, he has appeared once and for all to put sin to flight by the offering up of himself. 27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, and then comes the judgment, 28 so Christ was offered once to take away the sins of many, and to those who look for him, he will appear again without sin for salvation.
Hebrews 9
English Standard Version
The Earthly Holy Place
9 Now even the first covenant had regulations for worship and (A)an earthly place of holiness. 2 For (B)a tent[a] was prepared, the first section, in which were (C)the lampstand and (D)the table and (E)the bread of the Presence.[b] It is called the Holy Place. 3 Behind (F)the second curtain was a second section[c] called the Most Holy Place, 4 having the golden (G)altar of incense and (H)the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was (I)a golden urn holding the manna, and (J)Aaron's staff that budded, and (K)the tablets of the covenant. 5 Above it were (L)the cherubim of glory overshadowing (M)the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail.
6 These preparations having thus been made, (N)the priests go regularly into the first section, performing their ritual duties, 7 but into the second only (O)the high priest goes, and he but (P)once a year, and not without taking blood, (Q)which he offers for himself and for the unintentional sins of the people. 8 By this the Holy Spirit indicates that (R)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).[d] According to this arrangement, gifts and sacrifices are offered (S)that cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper, 10 but deal only with (T)food and drink and (U)various washings, regulations for the body imposed until the time of reformation.
Redemption Through the Blood of Christ
11 But when Christ appeared as a high priest (V)of the good things that have come,[e] then through (W)the greater and more perfect tent ((X)not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) 12 he (Y)entered (Z)once for all into the holy places, not by means of (AA)the blood of goats and calves but (AB)by means of his own blood, (AC)thus securing an eternal redemption. 13 For if (AD)the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with (AE)the ashes of a heifer, sanctify[f] for the purification of the flesh, 14 how much more will (AF)the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit (AG)offered himself without blemish to God, (AH)purify our[g] conscience (AI)from dead works (AJ)to serve the living God.
15 Therefore he is (AK)the mediator of a new covenant, so that (AL)those who are called may (AM)receive the promised eternal inheritance, (AN)since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.[h] 16 For where a will is involved, the death of the one who made it must be established. 17 For (AO)a will takes effect only at death, since it is not in force as long as the one who made it is alive. 18 Therefore not even the first covenant was inaugurated (AP)without blood. 19 For when every commandment of the law had been declared by Moses to all the people, he took (AQ)the blood of calves and goats, (AR)with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, 20 saying, (AS)“This is the blood of the covenant that God commanded for you.” 21 And in the same way he sprinkled with the blood both (AT)the tent and all the vessels used in worship. 22 Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and (AU)without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.
23 Thus it was necessary for (AV)the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these rites, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ has entered, not into holy places (AW)made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God (AX)on our behalf. 25 Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as (AY)the high priest enters (AZ)the holy places every year with blood not his own, 26 for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, (BA)he has appeared (BB)once for all (BC)at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 And just as (BD)it is appointed for man to die once, and (BE)after that comes judgment, 28 so Christ, having been offered once (BF)to bear the sins of (BG)many, will appear (BH)a second time, (BI)not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly (BJ)waiting for him.
Footnotes
- Hebrews 9:2 Or tabernacle; also verses 11, 21
- Hebrews 9:2 Greek the presentation of the loaves
- Hebrews 9:3 Greek tent; also verses 6, 8
- Hebrews 9:9 Or which is symbolic for the age then present
- Hebrews 9:11 Some manuscripts good things to come
- Hebrews 9:13 Or For if the sprinkling of defiled persons with the blood of goats and bulls and with the ashes of a heifer sanctifies
- Hebrews 9:14 Some manuscripts your
- Hebrews 9:15 The Greek word means both covenant and will; also verses 16, 17
Copyright © 2016 by Ruth Magnusson (Davis). Includes emendations to February 2022. All rights reserved.
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
