23 It was necessary, then, for the copies(A) of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with human hands that was only a copy of the true one;(B) he entered heaven itself,(C) now to appear for us in God’s presence.(D) 25 Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place(E) every year with blood that is not his own.(F) 26 Otherwise Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world.(G) But he has appeared(H) once for all(I) at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself.(J) 27 Just as people are destined to die once,(K) and after that to face judgment,(L) 28 so Christ was sacrificed once(M) to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time,(N) not to bear sin,(O) but to bring salvation(P) to those who are waiting for him.(Q)

Read full chapter

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]

Read full chapter

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.