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Hebrews 9
Tree of Life Version

Messiah Enters the Heavenly Holies

9 Now even the first one had regulations for worship and the earthly sanctuary. [a] 2 For a tent was prepared: in the outer[b] part were the menorah, the table, and the presentation of the bread[c]—this is called the Holy Place. 3 Beyond the second curtain[d] was a dwelling called the Holy of Holies. [e] 4 It held a golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant, completely covered with gold. In the ark was a golden jar holding the manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant[f]— 5 and above it, cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat.[g] But it is not now possible to speak in detail about these things.

6 Now with these things prepared this way,

the kohanim
    do continually enter
        into the outer tent[h]
            while completing the services;
7         but into the inner,[i]
    once a year,

the kohen gadol alone[j]—and not without blood which he offers for himself and for the unintentional sins[k] of the people. 8 By this the Ruach ha-Kodesh makes clear that the way into the Holies has not yet been revealed while the first tent is still standing. 9 It is a symbol for the present time. Accordingly, gifts and sacrifices are being offered that cannot make the worshiper perfect with respect to conscience. 10 These relate only to food and drink and various washings[l]—regulations for the body imposed until a time of setting things straight.

11 But when Messiah appeared as Kohen Gadol of the good things that have now come, passing through the greater and more perfect Tent not made with hands (that is to say not of this creation), 12 He entered into the Holies once for all—not by the blood of goats and calves but by His own blood, having obtained eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of goats and bulls[m] and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled[n] sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, 14 how much more will the blood of Messiah—who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God—cleanse our[o] conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

15 For this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant,[p] in order that those called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—since a death has taken place that redeems them from violations under the first covenant. 16 For where there is a covenant, the death of the one who made it must be established. [q] 17 For a covenant is secured upon the basis of dead bodies, since it has no strength as long as the one who made it lives. 18 That is why not even the first covenant was inaugurated without blood. 19 For when every commandment had been spoken by Moses to all the people according to the Torah, he took the blood of the calves and goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and he sprinkled both the book itself and all the people. 20 He said, “This is the blood of the covenant which God commanded you.” [r] 21 And in the same way, he sprinkled the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry with the blood. [s] 22 And nearly everything is purified in blood according to the Torah, and apart from the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.[t]

23 Therefore it was necessary for the replicas of these heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices—but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Messiah did not enter into Holies made with hands—counterparts of the true things—but into heaven itself, now to appear in God’s presence on our behalf. 25 And He did not offer Himself again and again—as the kohen gadol enters into the Holy of Holies year after year with blood that is not his own. 26 For then He would have needed to suffer again and again from the foundation of the world. But as it is, He has been revealed once and for all at the close of the ages—to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. 27 And just as it is appointed for men to die once, and after this judgment, [u] 28 so also Messiah, was offered once to bear the sins of many.[v] He will appear a second time, apart from sin, to those eagerly awaiting Him for salvation.[w]

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 9:2 cf. Exod. 25:8, 23-29.
  2. Hebrews 9:2 Lit. first.
  3. Hebrews 9:2 cf. Lev. 24:5-9.
  4. Hebrews 9:3 Heb. parokhet.
  5. Hebrews 9:4 cf. Exod. 26:31-33; 40:3.
  6. Hebrews 9:4 cf. Exod. 25:10-16; 1 Kings 8:7.
  7. Hebrews 9:5 cf. Exod. 25:18-19.
  8. Hebrews 9:6 Lit. first tent, i.e. the Holy Place; cf. Exod. 27:20-21.
  9. Hebrews 9:7 Lit. second, i.e. the Holy of Holies; cf. Lev. 16:2, 34.
  10. Hebrews 9:7 cf. Exod. 30:10; Lev. 16:15, 34.
  11. Hebrews 9:7 cf. Num. 15:22, 30.
  12. Hebrews 9:10 cf. Lev. 11; Num. 6:3; 19:13.
  13. Hebrews 9:13 cf. Lev. 16:14-15.
  14. Hebrews 9:13 cf. Num. 19:9, 17-18.
  15. Hebrews 9:14 Some mss. read your.
  16. Hebrews 9:15 Heb. brit hadashah.
  17. Hebrews 9:17 cf. Exod. 24:8(LXX); Ps. 50:5(49:5 LXX); Lk. 22:29.
  18. Hebrews 9:21 Exod. 24:8.
  19. Hebrews 9:22 cf. Exod. 29:12; Lev. 8:15.
  20. Hebrews 9:22 Lit. pardon, cancellation, removal; cf. Mt. 6:12; Mk. 1:4; Lev. 16:26(LXX).
  21. Hebrews 9:28 cf. Gen. 3:19, Dan. 12:2.
  22. Hebrews 9:28 cf. Isa. 53:12.
  23. Hebrews 9:28 cf. Mt. 1:21; Rom. 11:26-27.
Listen to Hebrews 9
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Hebrews 9
New King James Version

The Earthly Sanctuary(A)

9 Then indeed, even the first covenant had ordinances of divine service and (B)the earthly sanctuary. 2 For a tabernacle was prepared: the first part, in which was the lampstand, the table, and the showbread, which is called the [a]sanctuary; 3 (C)and behind the second veil, the part of the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of All, 4 which had the (D)golden censer and (E)the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which were (F)the golden pot that had the manna, (G)Aaron’s rod that budded, and (H)the tablets of the covenant; 5 and (I)above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail.

Limitations of the Earthly Service

6 Now when these things had been thus prepared, (J)the priests always went into the first part of the tabernacle, performing the services. 7 But into the second part the high priest went alone (K)once a year, not without blood, which he offered for (L)himself and for the people’s sins committed in ignorance; 8 the Holy Spirit indicating this, that (M)the way into the Holiest of All was not yet made manifest while the first tabernacle was still standing. 9 It was symbolic for the present time in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered (N)which cannot make him who performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience— 10 concerned only with (O)foods and drinks, (P)various [b]washings, (Q)and fleshly ordinances imposed until the time of reformation.

The Heavenly Sanctuary

11 But Christ came as High Priest of (R)the good things [c]to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. 12 Not (S)with the blood of goats and calves, but (T)with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place (U)once for all, (V)having obtained eternal redemption. 13 For if (W)the blood of bulls and goats and (X)the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, [d]sanctifies for the [e]purifying of the flesh, 14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without [f]spot to God, (Y)cleanse your conscience from (Z)dead works (AA)to serve the living God? 15 And for this reason (AB)He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that (AC)those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.

The Mediator’s Death Necessary

16 For where there is a testament, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. 17 For (AD)a testament is in force after men are dead, since it has no power at all while the testator lives. 18 (AE)Therefore not even the first covenant was dedicated without blood. 19 For when Moses had spoken every [g]precept to all the people according to the law, (AF)he took the blood of calves and goats, (AG)with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, 20 saying, (AH)“This is the (AI)blood of the covenant which God has commanded you.” 21 Then likewise (AJ)he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry. 22 And according to the law almost all things are [h]purified with blood, and (AK)without shedding of blood there is no [i]remission.

Greatness of Christ’s Sacrifice

23 Therefore it was necessary that (AL)the copies of the things in the heavens should be [j]purified with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For (AM)Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are [k]copies of (AN)the true, but into heaven itself, now (AO)to appear in the presence of God for us; 25 not that He should offer Himself often, as (AP)the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood of another— 26 He then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. 27 (AQ)And as it is appointed for men to die once, (AR)but after this the judgment, 28 so (AS)Christ was (AT)offered once to bear the sins (AU)of many. To those who (AV)eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 9:2 holy place, lit. holies
  2. Hebrews 9:10 Lit. baptisms
  3. Hebrews 9:11 NU that have come
  4. Hebrews 9:13 sets apart
  5. Hebrews 9:13 cleansing
  6. Hebrews 9:14 blemish
  7. Hebrews 9:19 command
  8. Hebrews 9:22 cleansed
  9. Hebrews 9:22 forgiveness
  10. Hebrews 9:23 cleansed
  11. Hebrews 9:24 representations
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Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Tree of Life (TLV) Translation of the Bible. Copyright © 2015 by The Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society.

New King James Version (NKJV)

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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