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23 So it was necessary for the sketches[a] of the things in heaven to be purified with these sacrifices,[b] but the heavenly things themselves required[c] better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with hands—the representation[d] of the true sanctuary[e]—but into heaven itself, and he appears now in God’s presence for us. 25 And he did not enter to offer[f] himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the sanctuary 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 now he has appeared once for all at the consummation of the ages to put away sin by his sacrifice. 27 And just as people[g] are appointed to die once, and then to face judgment,[h] 28 so also, after Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many,[i] to those who eagerly await him he will appear a second time, not to bear sin[j] but to bring salvation.[k]

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Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 9:23 tn Or “prototypes,” “outlines,” referring to the earthly sanctuary. See Heb 8:5 above for the prior use of this term.
  2. Hebrews 9:23 tn Grk “with these”; in the translation the referent (sacrifices) has been specified for clarity.
  3. Hebrews 9:23 tn Grk “the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.”
  4. Hebrews 9:24 tn Or “prefiguration.”
  5. Hebrews 9:24 tn The word “sanctuary” is not in the Greek text at this point, but has been supplied for clarity.
  6. Hebrews 9:25 tn Grk “and not that he might offer,” continuing the previous construction.
  7. Hebrews 9:27 tn Here ἀνθρώποις (anthrōpois) has been translated as a generic noun (“people”).
  8. Hebrews 9:27 tn Grk “and after this—judgment.”
  9. Hebrews 9:28 sn An allusion to Isa 53:12.
  10. Hebrews 9:28 tn Grk “without sin,” but in context this does not refer to Christ’s sinlessness (as in Heb 4:15) but to the fact that sin is already dealt with by his first coming.
  11. Hebrews 9:28 tn Grk “for salvation.” This may be construed with the verb “await” (those who wait for him to bring them salvation), but the connection with “appear” (as in the translation) is more likely.

23 So it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be cleansed with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things had to be cleansed with better sacrifices than these. 24 Christ didn’t enter the holy place (which is a copy of the true holy place) made by human hands, but into heaven itself, so that he now appears in God’s presence for us. 25 He didn’t enter to offer himself over and over again, like the high priest enters the earthly holy place every year with blood that isn’t his. 26 If that were so, then Jesus would have to suffer many times since the foundation of the world. Instead, he has now appeared once at the end of the ages to get rid of sin by sacrificing himself. 27 People are destined to die once and then face judgment. 28 In the same way, Christ was also offered once to take on himself the sins of many people. He will appear a second time, not to take away sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.

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