Hebrews 9
The Earthly Holy Place
Now even the first covenant had regulations for worship and aan earthly place of holiness. 2 For aa tent was prepared, the first section, in which were bthe lampstand and cthe table and dthe bread of the Presence. It is called the Holy Place. 3 Behind athe second curtain was a second section called the Most Holy Place, 4 having the golden aaltar of incense and bthe ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was ca golden urn holding the manna, and dAaron’s staff that budded, and ethe tablets of the covenant. 5 Above it were athe cherubim of glory overshadowing bthe mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail.
6 These preparations having thus been made, athe priests go regularly into the first section, performing their ritual duties, 7 but into the second only athe high priest goes, and he but aonce a year, and not without taking blood, bwhich he offers for himself and for the unintentional sins of the people. 8 By this the Holy Spirit indicates that athe way into the holy places is not yet opened as long as the first section is still standing 9 (which is symbolic for the present age). According to this arrangement, gifts and sacrifices are offered athat cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper, 10 but deal only with afood and drink and bvarious washings, regulations for the body imposed until the time of reformation.
Redemption Through the Blood of Christ
11 But when Christ appeared as a high priest aof the good things that have come, then through bthe greater and more perfect tent (cnot made with hands, that is, not of this creation) 12 he aentered bonce for all into the holy places, not by means of cthe blood of goats and calves but dby means of his own blood, ethus securing an eternal redemption. 13 For if athe blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with bthe ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, 14 how much more will athe blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit boffered himself without blemish to God, cpurify our conscience dfrom dead works eto serve the living God.
15 Therefore he is athe mediator of a new covenant, so that bthose who are called may creceive the promised eternal inheritance, dsince a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant. 16 For where a will is involved, the death of the one who made it must be established. 17 For aa will takes effect only at death, since it is not in force as long as the one who made it is alive. 18 Therefore not even the first covenant was inaugurated awithout blood. 19 For when every commandment of the law had been declared by Moses to all the people, he took athe blood of calves and goats, bwith water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, 20 saying, a“This is the blood of the covenant that God commanded for you.” 21 And in the same way he sprinkled with the blood both athe tent and all the vessels used in worship. 22 Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and awithout the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.
23 Thus it was necessary for athe copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these rites, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ has entered, not into holy places amade with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God bon our behalf. 25 Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as athe high priest enters bthe holy places every year with blood not his own, 26 for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, ahe has appeared bonce for all cat the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 And just as ait is appointed for man to die once, and bafter that comes judgment, 28 so Christ, having been offered once ato bear the sins of bmany, will appear ca second time, dnot to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly ewaiting for him.
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway,
a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.