# They serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things
The words "copy" and "shadow" have similar meanings and are metaphors meaning that something is not the real thing but it is similar to the real thing. These words emphasize that the priesthood and the earthly temple were images of Christ, the true high priest, and the heavenly temple. AT: "They serve what is a vague image of the heavenly things" or "They serve what is only similar to the heavenly things" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-doublet]])
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "It is just as God warned Moses when Moses was" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]])
Moses did not construct the tabernacle himself. He ordered the people to construct it. Alternate translation: "was about to command the people to construct the tabernacle" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])