The Earthly Ministry Of The Old Covenant

1 Now even the first Agreement had regulations for [governing] service [to God] and an earthly sanctuary.

1 Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary.

1 Now even the first covenant had (A)regulations of divine worship and (B)the earthly sanctuary.

1 Now the first covenant also had regulations for ministry and an earthly sanctuary.

1 Now even the first covenant had regulations for worship and an earthly sanctuary.

2 For the Tabernacle was constructed with its outer compartment containing the lampstand and the table and the Bread of Presence. This was called the "Holy Place."

2 For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary.

2 For there was (C)a (a)tabernacle prepared, the (b)outer one, in which were (D)the lampstand and (E)the table and (F)the (c)sacred bread; this is called the holy place.

2 For a tabernacle was set up, and in the first room, which is called the holy place, were the lampstand, the table, and the presentation loaves.(A)

2 For a tent was set up, and in the first part were the lamp stand, the table, and the bread of the Presence. This was called the Holy Place.

3 And behind the second curtain [of] the Tabernacle was [a room] called the "Holy of Holies."

3 And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all;

3 Behind (G)the second veil there was a (d)tabernacle which is called the (H)Holy of Holies,

3 Behind the second curtain, the tabernacle was called the most holy place.(B)

3 Behind the second curtain was the part of the tent called the Most Holy Place,

4 It had a golden altar for [burning] incense [in it], and [originally] the gold-plated Chest of the Agreement, containing a golden jar of manna, Aaron's staff that sprouted buds and the tablets of the Agreement.

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 Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant;

4 having a golden (e)(I)altar of incense and (J)the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was (K)a golden jar holding the manna, and (L)Aaron’s rod which budded, and (M)the tables of the covenant;

4 It contained the gold altar of incense and the ark of the covenant, covered with gold on all sides, in which there was a gold jar containing the manna, Aaron’s staff that budded, and the tablets of the covenant.(C)

4 which had the gold altar for incense and the Ark of the Covenant completely covered with gold. In it were the gold jar holding the manna, Aaron's staff that had budded, and the Tablets of the Covenant.

5 Above it were the cherubim [Note: These were winged, angelic-like, golden figurines] spread out over the [Chest] covering, where sins were [symbolically] forgiven. But we cannot now speak of these things in detail.

5 And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly.

5 and above it were the (N)cherubim of glory (O)overshadowing the mercy seat; but of these things we cannot now speak in detail.

5 The cherubim of glory were above it overshadowing the mercy seat. It is not possible to speak about these things in detail right now.(D)

5 Above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the place of atonement. (We cannot discuss these things in detail now.)

6 Now after preparing these things [i.e., the table, incense, etc.], the priests regularly enter the outer room of the Tabernacle [i.e., the Holy Place] to carry out the duties of their service.

6 Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God.

6 Now when these things have been so prepared, the priests (P)are continually entering the (f)outer (g)tabernacle performing the divine worship,

6 With these things set up this way, the priests enter the first room repeatedly, performing their ministry.(E)

6 When everything had been arranged like this, the priests always went into the first part of the tent to perform their duties.

7 But [only] once a year the head priest goes alone into the inner room [i.e., Holy of Holies], and never without [animal] blood, which he offers [as a sacrifice] for himself and for the sins done in ignorance by the people.

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:

7 but into (Q)the second, only (R)the high priest enters (S)once a year, (T)not without taking blood, which he (U)offers for himself and for the (h)(V)sins of the people committed in ignorance.

7 But the high priest alone enters the second room, and he does that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offers for himself and for the sins of the people committed in ignorance.(F)

7 But only the high priest went into the second part, and then only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins committed by the people in ignorance.

8 [By his doing this] the Holy Spirit signifies that the way into the Holy Place [Note: This actually refers to the Holy of Holies, and represents heaven] had not yet been disclosed [i.e., made accessible] while the first Tabernacle was still standing.

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:

8 (W)The Holy Spirit is signifying this, (X)that the way into the holy place has not yet been disclosed while the (i)outer tabernacle is still standing,

8 The Holy Spirit was making it clear that the way into the most holy place had not yet been disclosed while the first tabernacle was still standing.(G)

8 The Holy Spirit was indicating by this that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first part of the tent was still standing.

9 [That Tabernacle] is symbolic of the present time, [indicating] that both gifts and [animal] sacrifices, which are offered [by the priests], are not able to give the worshiper a clear conscience

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;

9 which is a symbol for the present time. Accordingly (Y)both gifts and sacrifices are offered which (Z)cannot make the worshiper perfect in conscience,

9 This is a symbol for the present time, during which gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the worshiper’s conscience.(H)

9 This illustration for today indicates that the gifts and sacrifices being offered could not clear the conscience of a worshiper,

10 since, with foods and drinks and various [ceremonial] washings, they are only outward regulations imposed until the time when everything would be made right [i.e., under the New Agreement].

10 Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.

10 since they relate only to (AA)food and (AB)drink and various (AC)washings, (AD)regulations for the (j)body imposed until (AE)a time of reformation.

10 They are physical regulations and only deal with food, drink, and various washings imposed until the time of restoration.(I)

10 since they deal only with food, drink, and various washings, which are required for the body until the time when things would be set right.

The Heavenly Ministry Of The New Covenant

11 But when Christ became the Head Priest of the good things that have come, He entered the greater and more complete Tabernacle, not made by hand, that is, not part of this creation [i.e., heaven, See 8:2].

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;

11 But when Christ appeared as a (AF)high priest of the (AG)good things (k)to come, He entered through (AH)the greater and more perfect (l)tabernacle, (AI)not made with hands, that is to say, (AJ)not of this creation;

11 But the Messiah has appeared, high priest of the good things that have come.(a) In the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands (that is, not of this creation(J)),

11 But when the Messiah came as a high priest of the good things that have come, he went through the greater and more perfect tent that was not made by human hands and that is not a part of this creation.

12 And He did not enter [the heavenly Holy of Holies] by means of the blood of goats and calves but, by means of His own blood He entered the Holy of Holies [i.e., heaven] once for all time, [after] having obtained never ending redemption [i.e., salvation for us on the cross].

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.

12 and not through (AK)the blood of goats and calves, but (AL)through His own blood, He (AM)entered the holy place (AN)once for all, (m)having obtained (AO)eternal redemption.

12 He entered the most holy place once for all, not by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood, having obtained eternal redemption.(K)

12 Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with his own blood he went into the Most Holy Place once for all and secured our eternal redemption.

13 For if the blood of goats and bulls, and a [burnt] heifer's ashes sprinkled on people who had been [ceremonially] defiled, could purify them so as to make them [ceremonially] clean on the outside,

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:

13 For if (AP)the blood of goats and bulls and (AQ)the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the (n)cleansing of the flesh,

13 For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a young cow, sprinkling those who are defiled, sanctify for the purification of the flesh,(L)

13 For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are unclean purifies them physically,

14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Holy Spirit [or, His eternal Spirit] offered Himself without [moral] blemish to God, cleanse our consciences from deeds which lead to [spiritual] death to serve the living God?

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?

14 how much more will (AR)the blood of Christ, who through (o)(AS)the eternal Spirit (AT)offered Himself without blemish to God, (AU)cleanse (p)your conscience from (AV)dead works to serve (AW)the living God?

14 how much more will the blood of the Messiah, who through the eternal Spirit(M) offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse our(b) consciences from dead works to serve the living God?(N)

14 how much more will the blood of the Messiah, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from dead actions so that we may serve the living God!

15 Therefore, Christ is the Mediator of a New Agreement, so that [all] those people who have been called [by God] can receive the promise of the never ending inheritance. [This is possible because] a death has taken place for the redemption of [people's] sins who lived under the first Agreement.

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.

15 For this reason (AX)He is the (AY)mediator of a (AZ)new covenant, so that, since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been (BA)called may (BB)receive the promise of (BC)the eternal inheritance.

15 Therefore, He is the mediator(O) of a new covenant,(c)(P) so that those who are called might receive the promise(Q) of the eternal inheritance, because a death has taken place for redemption from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.(R)

15 This is why the Messiah is the mediator of a new covenant; so that those who are called may receive the eternal inheritance promised them, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the offenses committed under the first covenant.

16 For where a will exists, it is necessary to prove the death of the person who made it [i.e., in order to benefit by its provisions].

16 For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.

16 For where a (q)covenant is, there must of necessity (r)be the death of the one who made it.

16 Where a will exists, the death of the one who made it must be established.

16 For where there is a will, the death of the one who made it must be established.

17 For a will is in force [only] when there has been a death; for it is not in effect as long as the one who made it is [still] alive.

17 For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.

17 For a (s)covenant is valid only when (t)men are dead, (u)for it is never in force while the one who made it lives.

17 For a will is valid only when people die, since it is never in force while the one who made it is living.

17 For a will is in force only when somebody has died, since it never takes effect as long as the one who made it is alive.

18 Therefore, even the first Agreement was not ratified without blood [i.e., without a death taking place].

18 Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood.

18 Therefore even the first covenant was not inaugurated without blood.

18 That is why even the first covenant was inaugurated with blood.

18 This is why even the first covenant was not put into effect without blood.

19 For after Moses had declared every commandment of the law to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats and [mixed it] with water, then sprinkled both the scroll [of the Agreement] and all the people with a hyssop branch covered by red wool [dipped in the mixture].

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,

19 For when every commandment had been (BD)spoken by Moses to all the people according to the Law, (BE)he took the (BF)blood of the calves and the goats, with (BG)water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both (BH)the book itself and all the people,

19 For when every command had been proclaimed by Moses to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and goats, along with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll itself and all the people,(S)

19 For after every commandment in the Law had been spoken to all the people by Moses, he took the blood of calves and goats, together with some water, scarlet wool, and branches of hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll and all the people,

20 He said [Ex. 29:8], "This is the blood of the Agreement, which God commanded you [to observe]."

20 Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you.

20 saying, “(BI)This is the blood of the covenant which God commanded you.”

20 saying, This is the blood of the covenant that God has commanded for you.(T)(d)

20 saying, "This is the blood of the covenant that God ordained for you."

21 In the same way he also sprinkled blood on the Tabernacle and all of the utensils used in its ministry.

21 Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry.

21 And in the same way he (BJ)sprinkled both the (v)tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry with the blood.

21 In the same way, he sprinkled the tabernacle and all the articles of worship with blood.(U)

21 In the same way, he sprinkled with the blood both the tent and everything used in worship.

22 And, according to the law of Moses, almost everything is [ceremonially] cleansed by blood, for there is no forgiveness [of sins] apart from the shedding of blood.

22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

22 And according to the (w)Law, one may (BK)almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and (BL)without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

22 According to the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.(V)

22 In fact, under the Law almost everything is cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of the blood there is no forgiveness.

Christ's Death Takes Away Sins

23 Therefore, it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things [i.e., the Tabernacle, its furniture and utensils, etc.] to be [ceremonially] cleansed by these things [i.e., the blood of animal sacrifices], but the heavenly things themselves [i.e., the church, both on earth and in heaven] require better sacrifices than these [i.e., the sacrifice of Christ].

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.

23 Therefore it was necessary for the (BM)copies of the things in the heavens to be cleansed with these, but (BN)the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.

23 Therefore it was necessary for the copies of the things in the heavens to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves to be purified with better sacrifices than these.(W)

23 Thus it was necessary for these earthly copies of the things in heaven to be cleansed by these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves are made clean with better sacrifices than these.

24 For Christ did not enter the Holy of Holies made by hand, which is [only] a counterpart of the true one, but into heaven itself, where He now appears in God's presence for us. [See verse 12].

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:

24 For Christ (BO)did not enter a holy place made with hands, a mere copy of (BP)the true one, but into (BQ)heaven itself, now (BR)to appear in the presence of God for us;

24 For the Messiah did not enter a sanctuary made with hands (only a model(e) of the true one) but into heaven itself, so that He might now appear in the presence of God for us.(X)

24 For the Messiah did not go into a sanctuary made by human hands that is merely a copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, to appear now in God's presence on our behalf.

25 Nor was it necessary for Him to offer Himself [to God] often, like the head priest does, who enters the Holy of Holies year after year with blood that belongs to others [i.e., the blood of animal sacrifices].

25 Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others;

25 nor was it that He would offer Himself often, as (BS)the high priest enters (BT)the holy place (BU)year by year with blood that is not his own.

25 He did not do this to offer Himself many times, as the high priest enters the sanctuary yearly with the blood of another.(Y)

25 Nor did he go into heaven to sacrifice himself again and again, the way the high priest goes into the Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own.

26 For then He would have had to suffer often since the creation of the world; but now at the end of the ages [i.e., the final period of world history] He has been revealed once [for all] to remove sin by sacrificing Himself.

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.

26 Otherwise, He would have needed to suffer often since (BV)the foundation of the world; but now (BW)once at (BX)the consummation of the ages He has been (BY)manifested to put away sin (x)(BZ)by the sacrifice of Himself.

26 Otherwise, He would have had to suffer many times since the foundation of the world. But now He has appeared one time, at the end of the ages,(Z) for the removal of sin by the sacrifice of Himself.(AA)

26 Then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the creation of the world. But now, at the end of the ages, he has appeared once for all to remove sin by his sacrifice.

27 And just as it is destined for people to die one time, and [then] after that to be judged,

27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

27 And inasmuch as (CA)it is (y)appointed for men to die once and after this (CB)comes judgment,

27 And just as it is appointed for people to die once—and after this, judgment(AB)

27 Indeed, just as people are destined to die once and after that to be judged,

28 so Christ also, who was once [for all] offered [as a sacrifice] to take away the sins of many people, will come back a second time, not to take away sin, [but] to provide salvation to those who are waiting for Him.

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.

28 so Christ also, having been (CC)offered once to (CD)bear the sins of many, will appear (CE)a second time for (CF)salvation (CG)without reference to sin, to those who (CH)eagerly await Him.

28 so also the Messiah, having been offered once to bear the sins of many,(AC) will appear a second time,(AD) not to bear sin, but(f) to bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him.(AE)

28 so the Messiah was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people. And he will appear a second time, not to deal with sin, but to bring salvation to those who eagerly wait for him.

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