The Earthly Holy Place

Hebrews 9

1 Now even the first covenant had regulations for worship and m an earthly place of holiness. 2 For n a tent 1 was prepared, the first section, in which were o the lampstand and p the table and q the bread of the Presence. 2 It is called the Holy Place. 3 Behind r the second curtain was a second section 3 called the Most Holy Place, 4 having the golden s altar of incense and t the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was u a golden urn holding the manna, and v Aaron's staff that budded, and w the tablets of the covenant. 5 Above it were x the cherubim of glory overshadowing y the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail.

6 These preparations having thus been made, z the priests go regularly into the first section, performing their ritual duties, 7 but into the second only a the high priest goes, and he but a once a year, and not without taking blood, b which he offers for himself and for the unintentional sins of the people. 8 By this the Holy Spirit indicates that c the 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). 4 According to this arrangement, gifts and sacrifices are offered d that cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper, 10 but deal only with e food and drink and f various washings, regulations for the body imposed until the time of reformation.

  1. Cross References
    Exodus 25:8
    And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst.
  2. Cross References
    Exodus 26:1
    Moreover, you shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen and blue and purple and scarlet yarns; you shall make them with cherubim skillfully worked into them.
  3. Cross References
    Exodus 25:31 - 39
    You shall make a lampstand of pure gold. The lampstand shall be made of hammered work: its base, its stem, its cups, its calyxes, and its flowers shall be of one piece with it.
    Exodus 26:35
    And you shall set the table outside the veil, and the lampstand on the south side of the tabernacle opposite the table, and you shall put the table on the north side.
    Exodus 40:4
    And you shall bring in the table and arrange it, and you shall bring in the lampstand and set up its lamps.
  4. Cross References
    Exodus 25:23 - 29
    You shall make a table of acacia wood. Two cubits shall be its length, a cubit its breadth, and a cubit and a half its height.
  5. Cross References
    Exodus 25:30
    And you shall set the bread of the Presence on the table before me regularly.
    Leviticus 24:5 - 8
    You shall take fine flour and bake twelve loaves from it; two tenths of an ephah shall be in each loaf.
  6. Cross References
    Exodus 26:31 - 33
    And you shall make a veil of blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen. It shall be made with cherubim skillfully worked into it.
    Exodus 40:3
    And you shall put in it the ark of the testimony, and you shall screen the ark with the veil.
    Exodus 40:21
    And he brought the ark into the tabernacle and set up the veil of the screen, and screened the ark of the testimony, as the Lord had commanded Moses.
  7. Cross References
    Leviticus 16:12 - 13
    And he shall take a censer full of coals of fire from the altar before the Lord, and two handfuls of sweet incense beaten small, and he shall bring it inside the veil
  8. Cross References
    Exodus 25:10
    They shall make an ark of acacia wood. Two cubits and a half shall be its length, a cubit and a half its breadth, and a cubit and a half its height.
    Exodus 26:33
    And you shall hang the veil from the clasps, and bring the ark of the testimony in there within the veil. And the veil shall separate for you the Holy Place from the Most Holy.
    Exodus 40:3
    And you shall put in it the ark of the testimony, and you shall screen the ark with the veil.
    Exodus 40:21
    And he brought the ark into the tabernacle and set up the veil of the screen, and screened the ark of the testimony, as the Lord had commanded Moses.
    Revelation 11:19
    Then God's temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen within his temple. There were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and heavy hail.
  9. Cross References
    Exodus 16:33 - 34
    And Moses said to Aaron, "Take a jar, and put an omer of manna in it, and place it before the Lord to be kept throughout your generations.
  10. Cross References
    Numbers 17:10
    And the Lord said to Moses, "Put back the staff of Aaron before the testimony, to be kept as a sign for the rebels, that you may make an end of their grumblings against me, lest they die.
  11. Cross References
    Exodus 25:16
    And you shall put into the ark the testimony th...
    Exodus 40:20
    He took the testimony and put it into the ark, ...
    Deuteronomy 10:2
    And I will write on the tablets the words that ...
    Deuteronomy 10:5
    Then I turned and came down from the mountain a...
    1 Kings 8:9
    There was nothing in the ark except the two tab...
    1 Kings 8:21
    And there I have provided a place for the ark, ...
    2 Chronicles 5:10
    There was nothing in the ark except the two tab...
  12. Cross References
    Exodus 25:18 - 22
    And you shall make two cherubim of gold; of hammered work shall you make them, on the two ends of the mercy seat.
    1 Kings 8:6 - 7
    Then the priests brought the ark of the covenant of the Lord to its place in the inner sanctuary of the house, in the Most Holy Place, underneath the wings of the cherubim.
  13. Cross References
    Leviticus 16:2
    And the Lord said to Moses, "Tell Aaron your brother not to come at any time into the Holy Place inside the veil, before the mercy seat that is on the ark, so that he may not die. For I will appear in the cloud over the mercy seat.
  14. Cross References
    Numbers 28:3
    And you shall say to them, This is the food offering that you shall offer to the Lord : two male lambs a year old without blemish, day by day, as a regular offering.
  15. Cross References
    Leviticus 16:15
    Then he shall kill the goat of the sin offering that is for the people and bring its blood inside the veil and do with its blood as he did with the blood of the bull, sprinkling it over the mercy seat and in front of the mercy seat.
    Leviticus 16:34
    And this shall be a statute forever for you, that atonement may be made for the people of Israel once in the year because of all their sins." And Moses did as the Lord commanded him.
    Hebrews 10:3
    But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year.
    Exodus 30:10
    Aaron shall make atonement on its horns once a year. With the blood of the sin offering of atonement he shall make atonement for it once in the year throughout your generations. It is most holy to the Lord.
  16. Cross References
    Leviticus 16:15
    Then he shall kill the goat of the sin offering that is for the people and bring its blood inside the veil and do with its blood as he did with the blood of the bull, sprinkling it over the mercy seat and in front of the mercy seat.
    Leviticus 16:34
    And this shall be a statute forever for you, that atonement may be made for the people of Israel once in the year because of all their sins." And Moses did as the Lord commanded him.
    Hebrews 10:3
    But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year.
    Exodus 30:10
    Aaron shall make atonement on its horns once a year. With the blood of the sin offering of atonement he shall make atonement for it once in the year throughout your generations. It is most holy to the Lord.
  17. Cross References
    Hebrews 5:3
    Because of this he is obligated to offer sacrifice for his own sins just as he does for those of the people.
  18. Cross References
    Hebrews 10:20
    By the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh.
    John 14:6
    Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
  19. Cross References
    Hebrews 7:19
    (for the law made nothing perfect); but on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.
  20. Cross References
    Leviticus 11:2
    Speak to the people of Israel, saying, These are the living things that you may eat among all the animals that are on the earth.
  21. Cross References
    Mark 7:4
    And when they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other traditions that they observe, such as the washing of cups and pots and copper vessels and dining couches.)
    Mark 7:8
    You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men.
    Leviticus 11:25
    And whoever carries any part of their carcass shall wash his clothes and be unclean until the evening.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.
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