Hebrews 9 KJV
The Heavenly Tabernacle
Hebrews Chapter 9: The Heavenly Tabernacle
Hebrews 9:4 lists Aaron's budding rod inside the ark, forging an explicit literary link to Numbers 17's priestly validation narrative that is absent from the Exodus tabernacle accounts.
1hen verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary.
2 For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary.
3 And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all;
4 Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaronโs rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant;
5 And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly.
6 Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God.
7 But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people:
8 The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing:
9 Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;
10 Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.
11 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;cf.
12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.cf.
13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:cf.
14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?cf.
15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.cf.
16 For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.cf.
17 For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.cf.
18 Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood.cf.
19 For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people,cf.
20 Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you.cf.
21 Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry.cf.
22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.cf.
23 It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.
24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:
25 Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others;
26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
โ โ arrow keys to navigate chapters ยท spacebar to play/pause audio
Did You Know?
Hebrews 9:4 lists Aaron's budding rod inside the ark, forging an explicit literary link to Numbers 17's priestly validation narrative that is absent from the Exodus tabernacle accounts.
The chapter exploits the double meaning of 'testament' in verses 16-17 to equate covenant ratification with a legal will, requiring the testator's death. An interpretive move unique to the KJV rendering and absent in most modern translations.
Verse 23 asserts that the heavenly sanctuary itself needed purification by better sacrifices, extending the logic of atonement to the divine realm rather than limiting it to earthly defilement.
The text contrasts the old rites as sanctifying only 'unto the purifying of the flesh' (v13) with Christ's blood purging the conscience, introducing a psychological and inward dimension to sacrificial efficacy not present in Leviticus.
Christ's second appearance 'without sin unto salvation' (v28) mirrors the high priest emerging from the holy of holies on the Day of Atonement, but reframes the return as eschatological rather than annual.
Commentary & Study Notes Jamieson-Fausset-Brown (1871) ยท Public Domain Then verily โ Greek, "Accordingly then." Resuming the subject from Heb 8:5. In accordance with the command given to Moses, "the first covenant had," &c. had โ not "has," for asโฆ
Classic verse-by-verse commentary on Hebrews 9 from Jamieson, Fausset & Brown (1871). Covers: Inferiority of the old to the new covenant in the means of access to God: the blood of bulls and goats of no real avail: the blood of Christ all-sufficient to purge away sin, whence flows our hope of his appearing again for our perfect salvation; Proof of and enlargement on, the "eternal redemption" mentioned in heb 9:12.
- 1
- Then verily โ Greek, "Accordingly then." Resuming the subject from Heb 8:5. In accordance with the command given to Moses, "the first covenant had," &c. had โ not "has," for as a covenant it no longer existed, though its rites were observed till the destruction of Jerusalem. ordinances โ of divine right and institution. service โ worship. a worldly sanctuary โ Greek, "its (literally, 'the') sanctuary worldly," mundane; consisting of the elements of the visible world. Contrasted with the heavenly sanctuary. Compare Heb 9:11, 12, "not of this building," Heb 9:24. Material, outward, perishing (however precious its materials were), and also defective religiously. In Heb 9:2-5, "the worldly sanctuary" is discussed; in Heb 9:6, &c., the "ordinances of worship." The outer tabernacle the Jews believed, signified this world; the Holy of Holies, heaven. JOSEPHUS calls the outer, divided into two parts, "a secular and common place," answering to "the earth and sea"; and the inner holiest place, the third part, appropriated to God and not accessible to men.
- 2
- Defining "the worldly tabernacle." a tabernacle โ "the tabernacle." made โ built and furnished. the first โ the anterior tabernacle. candlestick... table โ typifying light and life (Ex 25:31-39). The candlestick consisted of a shaft and six branches of gold, seven in all, the bowls made like almonds, with a knop and a flower in one branch. It was carried in Vespasian's triumph, and the figure is to be seen on Titus' arch at Rome. The table of shittim wood, covered with gold, was for the showbread (Ex 25:23-30). showbread โ literally, "the setting forth of the loaves," that is, the loaves set forth: "the show of the bread" [ALFORD]. In the outer holy place: so the Eucharist continues until our entrance into the heavenly Holy of Holies (1Co 11:26). which, &c. โ "which (tabernacle) is called the holy place," as distinguished from "the Holy of Holies."
Read all 28 notes on Hebrews 9 โ