Hebrew 9:9

Syriac Peshitta (NT Only)

ܘܺܐܝܬ݂ܰܘܗ݈ܝ ܗ݈ܘܳܐ ܡܰܬ݂ܠܳܐ ܗܳܢܳܐ ܠܙܰܒ݂ܢܳܐ ܗܰܘ ܕ݁ܒ݂ܶܗ ܩܽܘܪܒ݁ܳܢܶܐ ܘܕ݂ܶܒ݂ܚܶܐ ܡܶܬ݂ܩܰܪܒ݂ܺܝܢ ܗ݈ܘܰܘ ܐܰܝܠܶܝܢ ܕ݁ܠܳܐ ܡܶܫܟ݁ܚܺܝܢ ܗ݈ܘܰܘ ܠܡܶܓ݂ܡܰܪ ܬ݁ܺܐܪܬ݁ܶܗ ܕ݁ܡܰܢ ܕ݁ܰܡܩܰܪܶܒ݂ ܠܗܽܘܢ ܀

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

a figure: Hebrews 9:24, Hebrews 11:19, Romans 5:14, 1 Peter 3:21

the time: Hebrews 7:11, Hebrews 11:39, Hebrews 11:40, 1 Peter 1:11, 1 Peter 1:12

gifts: Hebrews 5:1

that could: Hebrews 9:13, Hebrews 9:14, Hebrews 7:18, Hebrews 7:19, Hebrews 10:1-4, Hebrews 10:11, Psalms 40:6, Psalms 40:7, Galatians 3:21

as pertaining: Psalms 51:16-19

Reciprocal: Exodus 25:9 - the pattern of the tabernacle Exodus 26:1 - the tabernacle with ten curtains Exodus 26:35 - the table Leviticus 6:28 - General Deuteronomy 23:11 - wash himself 2 Chronicles 3:8 - the most holy Song of Solomon 2:9 - he standeth Jeremiah 3:16 - The ark John 3:31 - he that is Acts 6:14 - change Acts 10:15 - What Acts 13:38 - that Acts 13:39 - from which Acts 15:10 - which Galatians 3:3 - having Ephesians 2:15 - the law Colossians 2:14 - the handwriting Colossians 2:17 - a shadow 1 Timothy 4:8 - little Hebrews 7:16 - the law Hebrews 8:5 - the example Hebrews 8:13 - he hath Hebrews 9:23 - the patterns Hebrews 10:4 - not Hebrews 13:9 - not with

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Which was a figure for the time then present,.... The tabernacle in general was a figure of Christ's human nature, Hebrews 8:2 and the most holy part of it was a figure of heaven itself, Hebrews 9:24 the whole service of it was typical and shadowy; but it was but a temporary figure; it was for that present time only; the things of it were suited to that dispensation, and are now abolished, and ought not to be revived, the ordinances of the Gospel being greatly preferable to them; and while it did continue, it was only a parable, as the word here used signifies; it was like a dark saying; it had much obscurity and darkness in it; or as the Vulgate Latin version renders it, it was a "figure of the present time"; that is, of the Gospel dispensation; it was a shadow of good things to come under that; it prefigured what is now accomplished; or rather it was a "figure unto, or until the present time"; till Christ came, when all figures, types, and shadows fled away, and were of no more real use and service:

in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices; that is, in which tabernacle, or at which then present time, or καθ' ην, "according to which figure or parable", as the Alexandrian copy and Vulgate Latin version read, gifts and sacrifices were offered by the priests; see Hebrews 5:1,

that could not make him that did the service perfect; neither the priest that offered them, nor the people whom he represented, and for whom he did the service; they could not make real and perfect expiation for sin, nor justify from it, nor cleanse and sanctify; the spiritual worshippers had their sins expiated by the sacrifice of Christ; and their persons were justified by his righteousness, and they were cleansed by his blood: the particular instance in which, legal sacrifices did not make perfect is, "pertaining to the conscience"; there is in every man a conscience, and when sin is charged home upon it, that is filled with a sense of divine wrath; nor can it be pacified with anything short of what will answer the law and justice of God, and which is only done by the blood and righteousness of Christ.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Which was a figure for the time then present - That is, as long as the tabernacle stood. The word rendered “figure” - παραβολὴ parabolē - is not the same as type - τύπος tupos - (Romans 5:14; Acts 7:13, Acts 7:44; John 20:25; 1Co 10:6, 1 Corinthians 10:11; Philippians 3:17, et al.) - but is the word commonly rendered “parable;” Matthew 13:3, Matthew 13:10, Matthew 13:13, Matthew 13:18, Matthew 13:24, Matthew 13:31, Matthew 13:33-36, Matthew 13:53; Matthew 15:15, “et soepe,” and means properly “a placing side by side;” then a “comparison, or similitude.” Here it is used in the sense of “image, or symbol” - something to “represent” other things. The idea is, that the arrangements and services of the tabernacle were a representation of important realities, and of things which were more fully to be revealed at a future period. There can be no doubt that Paul meant to say that this service in general was symbolical or typical, though this will not authorize us to attempt to spiritualize every minute arrangement of it. Some of the things in which it was typical are specified by the apostle himself, and wisdom and safety in explaining the arrangements of the tabernacle and its services consist in adhering very closely to the explanations furnished by the inspired writers. An interpreter is on an open sea, to be driven he knows not whither, when he takes leave of these safe pilots.

Both gifts - Thank-offerings.

And sacrifices - Bloody offerings. The idea is, that all kinds of offerings to God were made there.

That could not make him that did the service perfect - That could not take away sin, and remove the stains of guilt on the soul; note, Hebrews 7:11; compare Hebrews 8:7; Hebrews 7:27; Hebrews 10:1, Hebrews 10:11.

As pertaining to the conscience - They related mainly to outward and ceremonial rites, and even when offerings were made for sin the conscience was not relieved. They could not expiate guilt; they could not make the soul pure; they could not of themselves impart peace to the soul by reconciling it to God. They could not fully accomplish what the conscience needed to have done in order to give it peace. Nothing will do this but the blood of the Redeemer.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Hebrews 9:9. Which — Tabernacle and its services, was a figure, παραβολη, a dark enigmatical representation, for the time then present - for that age and dispensation, and for all those who lived under it.

In which, καθον, during which, time or dispensation were offered both gifts and sacrifices - eucharistic offerings and victims for sin, that could not make him that did the service, whether the priest who made the offering, or the person who brought it in the behalf of his soul, perfect as pertaining to the conscience - could not take away guilt from the mind, nor purify the conscience from dead works. The whole was a figure, or dark representation, of a spiritual and more glorious system: and although a sinner, who made these offerings and sacrifices according to the law, might be considered as having done his duty, and thus he would be exempted from many ecclesiastical and legal disabilities and punishments; yet his conscience would ever tell him that the guilt of sin was still remaining, and that it was impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take it away. Thus even he that did the service best continued to be imperfect - had a guilty conscience, and an unholy heart.

The words καθον, in which, referred in the above paraphrase to τον καιρον, the time, are read καθ' ην by ABD, and several others, one copy of the Slavonic, the Vulgate, and some of the fathers, and thus refer to την σκηνην, the tabernacle; and this is the reading which our translators appear to have followed. Griesbach places it in his margin, as a very probable reading; but I prefer the other.