Hebrews 9

1 Now indeed even the first covenant had ordinances of divine service and an earthly sanctuary.

It is true that even the first covenant had its regulations for divine worship, and its sanctuary – though only a material one.

2 For a tabernacle was prepared. In the first part were the lamp stand, the table, and the show bread, which is called the Holy Place.

For a tent was constructed, with an outer part which contained the stand for the lamps, and the table, and the consecrated bread. This is called the sanctuary.

3 After the second veil was the tabernacle which is called the Holy of Holies,

The part of the tent behind the second curtain is called the inner sanctuary.

4 having a golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which was a golden pot holding the manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant;

In it is the gold incense-altar, and the ark containing the covenant, completely covered with gold. In the ark is a gold casket containing the manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tablets on which the covenant was written;

5 and above it cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat, of which things we cannot speak now in detail.

while above it, and overshadowing the cover on which atonement was made, are the cherubim of the presence. Now is not the time to discuss these things in detail.

6 Now these things having been thus prepared, the priests go in continually into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the services,

Such, then, was the arrangement of the tent. Into the outer part priests are constantly going, in the discharge of their sacred duties;

7 but into the second the high priest alone, once in the year, not without blood, which he offers for himself and for the errors of the people.

but into the inner only the high priest goes, and that but once a year, and never without taking the blood of a victim, which he offers on his own behalf, and on behalf of the errors of the people.

8 The Holy Spirit is indicating this, that the way into the Holy Place was not yet revealed while the first tabernacle was still standing.

By this the Holy Spirit is teaching that the way into the sanctuary was hidden, as long as the outer part of the tent still remained.

9 This is a symbol of the present age, where gifts and sacrifices are offered that are incapable, concerning the conscience, of making the worshiper perfect,

For that was only a type, to continue down to the present time; and, in keeping with it, both gifts and sacrifices are offered, though incapable of satisfying the conscience of the worshiper;

10 being only (with foods and drinks and various washings) fleshly ordinances, imposed until a time of reformation.

the whole system being concerned only with food and drink and various ablutions – external ceremonials imposed until the coming of the new order.

11 But Christ having come as a high priest of the coming good things, through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation,

But, when Christ came, he appeared as high priest of that better system which was established; and he entered through that nobler and more perfect tent, not made by human hands – that is to say, not a part of this present creation.

12 nor yet through the blood of goats and calves, but through his own blood, entered in once for all into the Holy Place, having obtained consummate (aiōnios g166) redemption.

Nor was it with the blood of goats and calves, but with his own blood, that he entered, once and for all, into the sanctuary, and obtained our eternal deliverance. (aiōnios g166)

13 For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled, sanctify to the cleanness of the flesh,

For, if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of the ashes of a heifer, purify those who have been defiled (as far as ceremonial purification goes),

14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the consummate (aiōnios g166) Spirit offered himself without defect to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

how much more will the blood of the Christ, who, through his eternal Spirit, offered himself up to God, as a victim without blemish, purify our consciences from a lifeless formality, and fit us for the service of the living God! (aiōnios g166)

15 For this reason he is the mediator of a new covenant, since a death has occurred for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first covenant, that those who have been called may receive the promise of the consummate (aiōnios g166) inheritance.

And that is why he is the intermediary of a new covenant; in order that, as a death has taken place to effect a deliverance from the offenses committed under the first covenant, those who have received the call may obtain the eternal inheritance promised to them. (aiōnios g166)

16 For where a last will and testament is, there must of necessity be the death of him who made it.

Whenever such a covenant as a will is in question, the death of the testator must of necessity be alleged.

17 For a will is in force where there has been death, for it is never in force while he who made it lives.

For such a covenant takes effect only on death, it does not come into force as long as the testator is alive.

18 Therefore even the first covenant has not been dedicated without blood.

This explains why even the first covenant was not ratified without the shedding of blood.

19 For when every commandment had been spoken by Moses to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of the calves and the goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people,

For, when every command had been announced to all the people by Moses in accordance with the Law, he took the blood of the calves and of the goats, with water, scarlet wool, and a bunch of hyssop, and sprinkled even the book of the Law, as well as all the people,

20 saying, “This is the blood of the covenant which God has commanded you.”

saying, as he did so – “This is the blood that renders valid the covenant which God has commanded to be made with you.”

21 He sprinkled the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry in the same way with the blood.

And in the same way he also sprinkled with the blood the tent and all the things that were used in public worship.

22 According to the law, nearly everything is cleansed with blood, and apart from shedding of blood there is no remission.

Indeed, under the Law, almost everything is purified with blood; and, unless blood is shed, no forgiveness is to be obtained.

23 It was necessary therefore that the copies of the things in the heavens should be cleansed with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.

While, then, it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly realities to be purified by such means as these, the heavenly realities themselves required better sacrifices.

24 For Christ has not entered into holy places made with hands, which are representations of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us;

For it was not into a sanctuary made by human hands, which merely foreshadowed the true one, that Christ entered, but into heaven itself, so that he might now appear in the presence of God on our behalf.

25 nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest enters into the holy place year by year with blood not his own,

Nor yet was it to offer himself may times, as year after year the high priest entered the sanctuary with an offering of blood – but not his own blood;

26 or else he must have suffered often since the foundation of the world. But now once at the consummation of the ages (aiōn g165), he has been revealed to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

for then Christ would have had to undergo death many times since the creation of the world. But now, once and for all, at the close of the age, he has appeared, in order to abolish sin by the sacrifice of himself. (aiōn g165)

27 Inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once, and after this, judgment,

And, as it is ordained for people to die but once (death being followed by judgment),

28 so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin, but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.

so it is with the Christ. He was offered up once and for all, to bear away the sins of many; and the second time he will appear – but without any burden of sin – to those who are waiting for him, to bring salvation.