en_tn/tNotes/Hebrews/Hebrews_09.md

Hebrews 9

Hebrews 9:1

Connecting Statement:

The author begins a description of the place in which God's faithful people worshiped during the time of the old covenant. He is describing a "tabernacle," a place where people dwell, in which there are two sections, each of which he also calls a tabernacle.

General Information:

The writer makes clear to these Jewish believers that the laws and the tabernacle of the old covenant were only pictures of the better, new covenant.

Now

This word marks a new part of the teaching.

first covenant

See how you translated this in Hebrews 8:7.

had regulations

"had detailed instructions" or "had rules"

Hebrews 9:2

For

The author is continuing the discussion from Hebrews 8:7.

a tabernacle was prepared

A tabernacle was constructed and made ready for use. This idea can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "the Israelites prepared a tabernacle" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)

tabernacle

Or "tent." This is perhaps a metaphor for a place in which the priests set the lampstand and other items. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)

The first

"The first tabernacle." Some versions read the ellipsis as "The first room in the tabernacle" or "The first section of the tabernacle." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-ellipsis)

the lampstand, the table, and the bread of the presence

These objects are all accompanied by the definite article "the," because the author assumes that his readers already know about these things.

bread of the presence

This can be reworded so that the abstract noun "presence" is expressed as the verb "display" or "present." Alternate translation: "bread on display before God" or "bread the priests presented to God" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-abstractnouns)

Hebrews 9:3

Behind the second curtain

The first curtain was the outer wall of the tabernacle, so the "second curtain" was the curtain between the "holy place" and the "most holy place."

second

This is the ordinal word for the number two. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-ordinal)

another tabernacle

"another dwelling place" or "another tent." This is perhaps a metaphor for the place in which the priests set the items described in the next verse. Some versions read the ellipsis as "another room in the tabernacle" or "another section of the tabernacle." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-ellipsis and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)

Hebrews 9:4

Inside it

"Inside the ark of the covenant"

Aaron's rod that budded

This was the rod Aaron had when God proved to the people of Israel that he had chosen Aaron as his priest by making Aaron's rod bud. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)

that budded

"from which leaves and flowers had grown"

tablets of the covenant

Here "tablets" are flat pieces of stone that had writing on them. This refers to the stone tablets on which the ten commandments were written.

Hebrews 9:5

glorious cherubim overshadowed the atonement lid

When the Israelites were making the ark of the covenant, God commanded them to carve two cherubim facing each other, with their wings touching, over the atonement lid of the ark of the covenant. Here they are spoken of as providing shade for the ark of the covenant. Alternate translation: "glorious cherubim covered the atonement lid with their wings"

cherubim

Here "cherubim" means figures of two cherubim. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)

which we cannot

Even though the author uses the plural pronoun "we," he is most likely referring only to himself. Alternate translation: "which I cannot" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-pronouns)

Hebrews 9:6

After these things were prepared

This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "After the priests prepared these things" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)

Hebrews 9:7

not without blood that he offered

Another possible meaning is "not without blood, which he offered."

not without blood

This can be stated in positive form. Alternate translation: "always with blood" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-doublenegatives)

blood

This is the blood of the bull and goat that the high priest had to sacrifice on the Day of Atonement.

Hebrews 9:8

the most holy place

Possible meanings are 1) the inner room of the tabernacle on earth or 2) God's presence in heaven.

the first tabernacle was still standing

Possible meanings are 1) "the outer room of the tabernacle was still standing" or 2) "the earthly tabernacle and the sacrificial system still existed." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)

Hebrews 9:9

This was an illustration

"This was a picture" or "This was a symbol"

for the present time

"for now"

that are now being offered

This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "that the priests now offer" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)

are not able to perfect the worshiper's conscience

The writer speaks of a person's conscience as if it were an object that could be made better and better until it was without fault. A person's conscience is his knowledge of right and wrong. It is also his awareness of whether or not he has done wrong. If he knows he has done wrong, we say that he feels guilty. Alternate translation: "are not able to make the worshiper free from guilt" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)

the worshiper's conscience

The writer appears to refer to only one worshiper, but he means all those who go to worship God at the tabernacle. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-genericnoun)

Hebrews 9:10

until the time of the new order

"until God creates the new order"

new order

"new covenant"

Hebrews 9:11

Connecting Statement:

Having described the service of the tabernacle under God's law, the writer makes clear that Christ's service under the new covenant is better because it is sealed with his blood. It is better also because Christ has entered the true "tabernacle," that is, God's own presence in heaven, instead of entering, as other high priests, into the earthly tabernacle, which was only an imperfect copy.

good things

This does not refer to material things. It means the good things that God promised in his new covenant.

the greater and more perfect tabernacle

This refers to the heavenly tent or tabernacle, which is more important and more perfect than the earthly tabernacle.

that was not made by human hands

This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "that humans hands did not make" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)

human hands

Here "hands" refers to the whole person. Alternate translation: "humans" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-synecdoche)

Hebrews 9:12

most holy place

This means the most holy place in the heavenly tabernacle. It is most holy because God himself lives there.

Hebrews 9:13

sprinkling of a heifer's ashes on those who have been defiled

The priest would drop small amounts of the ashes on the people who were defiled.

for the cleansing of their flesh

Here "flesh" refers to the entire body. Alternate translation: "for the cleansing of their bodies" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)

Hebrews 9:14

how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

The author uses this question to emphasize that Christ's sacrifice was the most powerful. Alternate translation: "then certainly Christ's blood will cleanse our conscience even more from dead works to serve the living God! Because, through the eternal Spirit, he offered himself unblemished to God." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)

the blood of Christ

The "blood" of Christ stands for his death. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)

unblemished

A small, unusual spot or defect on a person's body is a metaphor for a small sin or moral fault. Alternate translation: "without even the smallest fault" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)

cleanse our conscience

Here "conscience" refers to a person's feeling of guilt. Believers no longer have to feel guilty for the sins they have committed because Jesus sacrificed himself and has forgiven them. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)

cleanse

Here "cleanse" stands for the action of relieving our consciences from guilt for the sins we have committed. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)

dead works

Sinful deeds are spoken of as if they belonged to the world of the dead. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)

Hebrews 9:15

For this reason

"As a result" or "Because of this"

he is the mediator of a new covenant

A mediator is a person who helps two parties come to an agreement. Christ, as mediator, made it possible for a better covenant between God and humans to exist. See how you translated a similar phrase in Hebrews 8:6.

first covenant

See how you translated this in Hebrews 8:7.

for the redemption of those under the first covenant from their transgressions

"to take away the transgressions of those who were under the first covenant." The abstract noun "transgressions" can be translated using the verb "transgress." Possible meanings are 1) here "their transgressions" is a metonym for the guilt of their transgressions. Alternate translation: "to take away the guilt of those who were under the first covenant." Or 2) here "their transgressions" is a metonym for the punishment for their transgressions. Alternate translation: "to take away the punishment that those who were under the first covenant deserved because they had transgressed" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)

the redemption of those

The abstract noun "redemption" can be translated using the verb "redeem." Alternate translation: "to redeem those" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-abstractnouns)

those who are called

This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "those whom God has chosen to be his children" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)

inheritance

Receiving what God has promised believers is spoken of as if it were inheriting property and wealth from a family member. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)

Hebrews 9:16

will

a legal document in which a person states who should receive his possessions when he himself dies

the death of the person who made it must be proven

This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "someone must prove that the person who made the will has died"

Hebrews 9:17

General Information:

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Hebrews 9:18

So not even the first covenant was established without blood

This can be stated in active and positive form. Alternate translation: "So God established even the first covenant with blood" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-doublenegatives)

first covenant

See how you translated this in Hebrews 8:7.

blood

The death of animals sacrificed to God is spoken of as if it were nothing but blood. Alternate translation: "the death of animals sacrificed to God" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)

Hebrews 9:19

took the blood ... with water ... and sprinkled ... the scroll ... and all the people

The priest dipped the hyssop in the blood and the water and then shook the hyssop so drops of blood and water would fall on the scroll and on the people. Sprinkling was a symbolic action done by the priests by which they applied the benefits of the covenant to people and to objects. Here the scroll and the people's acceptability to God are renewed. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-symaction)

hyssop

a woody shrub with flowers in summer, used in ceremonial sprinkling

Hebrews 9:20

the blood of the covenant

Here "blood" refers to the death of the animals sacrificed to carry out the covenant's requirements. Alternate translation: "the blood that brings into effect the covenant" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)

Hebrews 9:21

he sprinkled

"Moses sprinkled"

sprinkled

Sprinkling was a symbolic action done by the priests by which they applied the benefits of the covenant to people and to objects. See how you translated this in Hebrews 9:19. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-symaction)

all the containers used in the ministry

A container is an object that can hold things. Here it may refer to any kind of utensil or tool. Alternate translation: "all the utensils used in the ministry"

used in the ministry

This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "the priests used in their work" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)

blood

Here the animal "blood" represents the animal's death. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)

Hebrews 9:22

almost everything is cleansed with blood

Making something acceptable to God is spoken of as if it were cleansing that thing. This idea can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "the priests use blood to cleanse almost everything" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)

Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness

Here "shedding of blood" refers to something dying as a sacrifice to God. This double negative can mean that all forgiveness comes through the shedding of blood. Alternate translation: "Forgiveness only comes when something dies as a sacrifice" or "God only forgives when something dies as a sacrifice" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-doublenegatives)

forgiveness

You can state explicitly the implied meaning. Alternate translation: "forgiveness of the sins of the people" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)

Hebrews 9:23

the copies of the things in heaven should be cleansed with these animal sacrifices

This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "the priests should use these animal sacrifices to cleanse what are copies of things that are in heaven" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)

the heavenly things themselves had to be cleansed with much better sacrifices

That is, better than the sacrifices used to cleanse the earthly copies. This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "as for the heavenly things themselves, God had to cleanse them with much better sacrifices" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)

Hebrews 9:24

the most holy place made with hands, which

Here "with hands" means "by humans." This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "the most holy place, which humans made, and which" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-synecdoche and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)

of the true one

"of the true most holy place"

Hebrews 9:25

Connecting Statement:

The writer emphasizes that Christ (now in heaven interceding for us) had to die only once for sins and that he will return to earth a second time.

He did not go there

"He did not enter heaven"

year by year

"every year" or "each year"

with the blood of another

This means with the blood of an animal victim, not with his own blood.

Hebrews 9:26

If that had been the case

"If he had had to offer himself often"

since the foundation of the world

The author speaks of the world as if it were a building set on a foundation. Alternate translation: "since the creation of the world" or "since God created the world" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)

to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself

Doing away with sin represents having God forgive it. Alternate translation: "to cause God to forgive sins by sacrificing himself" or "to sacrifice himself so that God can forgive sin" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)

Hebrews 9:27

General Information:

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Hebrews 9:28

Christ was offered once

This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "Christ offered himself once" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)

to take away the sins

The act of making us innocent rather than guilty for our sins is spoken of as if our sins were physical objects that Christ could carry away from us. Alternate translation: "so that God would forgive the sins" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)

the sins

Here "sins" mean the guilt that people have before God because of the sins they committed. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)