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23 That is why the Tabernacle and everything in it, which were copies of things in heaven, had to be purified by the blood of animals. But the real things in heaven had to be purified with far better sacrifices than the blood of animals.

24 For Christ did not enter into a holy place made with human hands, which was only a copy of the true one in heaven. He entered into heaven itself to appear now before God on our behalf. 25 And he did not enter heaven to offer himself again and again, like the high priest here on earth who enters the Most Holy Place year after year with the blood of an animal. 26 If that had been necessary, Christ would have had to die again and again, ever since the world began. But now, once for all time, he has appeared at the end of the age[a] to remove sin by his own death as a sacrifice.

27 And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment, 28 so also Christ was offered once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him.

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Footnotes

  1. 9:26 Greek the ages.

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.