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New Living Translation

Hebrews 9:1

That first covenant between God and Israel had regulations for worship and a place of worship here on earth.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Church;   Offerings;   Ordinance;   Symbols and Similitudes;   Tabernacle;   Types;   Works;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Church of Israel;   Jews, the;   Law of Moses, the;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Expiation;   Law;   Sanctuary;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Tabernacle;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Offerings and Sacrifices;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Altar;   Baptism ;   Knowledge of God (1);   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Altar;   Hebrews, the Epistle to the;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Ark of the Covenant;   Hebrews;   Mercy Seat;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Element;   Hebrews, Epistle to;   Law;   Priest;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Covenant;   Hebrews Epistle to the;   Minister Ministry;   Old Testament;   Ordinance;   Religion (2);   Sacrifice;   Sanctuary;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Divine;   Ordinance;   Sanctuary;   13 To Worship, Serve;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Mercy-seat;   Sanctuary;   Veil;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Elements;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Tabernacle, the;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Hebrews, Epistle to the;   Ordinance;   Service;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Now the first covenant also had regulations for ministry and an earthly sanctuary.
King James Version (1611)
Then verily the first Couenant had also ordinances of diuine Seruice, and a worldly Sanctuary.
King James Version
Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary.
English Standard Version
Now even the first covenant had regulations for worship and an earthly place of holiness.
New American Standard Bible
Now even the first covenant had regulations for divine worship and the earthly sanctuary.
New Century Version
The first agreement had rules for worship and a place on earth for worship.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Now even the first covenant had regulations of divine worship and the earthly sanctuary.
Legacy Standard Bible
Now even the first covenant had requirements of divine worship and the earthly sanctuary.
Berean Standard Bible
Now the first covenant had regulations for worship and also an earthly sanctuary.
Contemporary English Version
The first promise that was made included rules for worship and a tent for worship here on earth.
Complete Jewish Bible
Now the first covenant had both regulations for worship and a Holy Place here on earth.
Darby Translation
The first therefore also indeed had ordinances of service, and the sanctuary, a worldly one.
Easy-to-Read Version
The first agreement had rules for worship and a place for worship here on earth.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Then the first Testament had also ordinances of religion, and a worldly Sanctuarie.
George Lamsa Translation
THEN verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service and a worldly sanctuary.
Good News Translation
The first covenant had rules for worship and a place made for worship as well.
Lexham English Bible
Now the first covenant had regulations for worship and the earthly sanctuary.
Literal Translation
Truly, then, the first covenant also had ordinances of service, and the earthly holy place.
Amplified Bible
Now even the first covenant had regulations for divine worship and for the earthly sanctuary.
American Standard Version
Now even the first covenant had ordinances of divine service, and its sanctuary, a sanctuary of this world.
Bible in Basic English
Now the first agreement had its rules of worship, and a holy order.
Hebrew Names Version
Now indeed even the first covenant had ordinances of divine service, and an earthly sanctuary.
International Standard Version
Now even first covenantcovenant
">[fn] had regulations for worship and an earthly sanctuary.Exodus 25:8;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
But in the first there were ordinances of ministry, and a worldly [fn] sanctuary.
Murdock Translation
Now, under the first [fn] , there were ordinances of ministration, and a worldly sanctuary.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
The first couenaunt then had verylye iustifiyng ordinaunces, seruinges of God, and worldlye holynesse.
English Revised Version
Now even the first covenant had ordinances of divine service, and its sanctuary, a sanctuary of this world.
World English Bible
Now indeed even the first covenant had ordinances of divine service, and an earthly sanctuary.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
And verily the first covenant also had ordinances of worship and a worldly sanctuary.
Weymouth's New Testament
Now even the first Covenant had regulations for divine worship, and had also its sanctuary--a sanctuary belonging to this world.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And the former testament hadde iustefiyngis of worschip, and hooli thing duringe for a tyme.
Update Bible Version
Now even a first [covenant] had also ordinances of divine service, and its sanctuary, [a sanctuary] of this world.
Webster's Bible Translation
Then verily the first [covenant] had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary.
New English Translation
Now the first covenant, in fact, had regulations for worship and its earthly sanctuary.
New King James Version
Exodus 25:10-40">[xr] Then indeed, even the first covenant had ordinances of divine service and the earthly sanctuary.
New Life Bible
There were special ways of worship and a special holy place made by man for the Old Way of Worship.
New Revised Standard
Now even the first covenant had regulations for worship and an earthly sanctuary.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Even the first, indeed, therefore, used to have righteous appointments of divine service, even the holy ritual well arranged.
Douay-Rheims Bible
The former indeed had also justifications of divine service and a sanctuary.
Revised Standard Version
Now even the first covenant had regulations for worship and an earthly sanctuary.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
That fyrst tabernacle verely had ordinaunces and servynges of god and wordly holynes.
Young's Literal Translation
It had, indeed, then (even the first tabernacle) ordinances of service, also a worldly sanctuary,
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
That first Tabernacle verely had ordinaunces, and seruynges off God and outwarde holynes.
Mace New Testament (1729)
The first alliance then had rites of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary.
THE MESSAGE
That first plan contained directions for worship, and a specially designed place of worship. A large outer tent was set up. The lampstand, the table, and "the bread of presence" were placed in it. This was called "the Holy Place." Then a curtain was stretched, and behind it a smaller, inside tent set up. This was called "the Holy of Holies." In it were placed the gold incense altar and the gold-covered ark of the covenant containing the gold urn of manna, Aaron's rod that budded, the covenant tablets, and the angel-wing-shadowed mercy seat. But we don't have time to comment on these now.
Simplified Cowboy Version
The first agreement was full of rules and regulations on how to do things in the holiest place on earth at the time.

Contextual Overview

1 That first covenant between God and Israel had regulations for worship and a place of worship here on earth. 2 There were two rooms in that Tabernacle. In the first room were a lampstand, a table, and sacred loaves of bread on the table. This room was called the Holy Place. 3 Then there was a curtain, and behind the curtain was the second room called the Most Holy Place. 4 In that room were a gold incense altar and a wooden chest called the Ark of the Covenant, which was covered with gold on all sides. Inside the Ark were a gold jar containing manna, Aaron's staff that sprouted leaves, and the stone tablets of the covenant. 5 Above the Ark were the cherubim of divine glory, whose wings stretched out over the Ark's cover, the place of atonement. But we cannot explain these things in detail now. 6 When these things were all in place, the priests regularly entered the first room as they performed their religious duties. 7 But only the high priest ever entered the Most Holy Place, and only once a year. And he always offered blood for his own sins and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

the first: Hebrews 8:7, Hebrews 8:13

had: Hebrews 9:10, Leviticus 18:3, Leviticus 18:4, Leviticus 18:30, Leviticus 22:9, Numbers 9:12, Ezekiel 43:11, Luke 1:6

ordinances: or, ceremonies

and: Hebrews 9:10, Hebrews 9:11, Hebrews 8:2, Exodus 25:8, Colossians 2:8

Reciprocal: Exodus 12:22 - a bunch Isaiah 24:5 - changed John 3:31 - he that is Hebrews 9:15 - the first Revelation 21:22 - the Lamb

Cross-References

Genesis 1:22
Then God blessed them, saying, "Be fruitful and multiply. Let the fish fill the seas, and let the birds multiply on the earth."
Genesis 2:3
And God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, because it was the day when he rested from all his work of creation.
Genesis 8:17
Release all the animals—the birds, the livestock, and the small animals that scurry along the ground—so they can be fruitful and multiply throughout the earth."
Genesis 9:3
I have given them to you for food, just as I have given you grain and vegetables.
Genesis 9:4
But you must never eat any meat that still has the lifeblood in it.
Genesis 9:7
Now be fruitful and multiply, and repopulate the earth."
Genesis 9:19
From these three sons of Noah came all the people who now populate the earth.
Genesis 10:32
These are the clans that descended from Noah's sons, arranged by nation according to their lines of descent. All the nations of the earth descended from these clans after the great flood.
Genesis 24:60
They gave her this blessing as she parted: "Our sister, may you become the mother of many millions! May your descendants be strong and conquer the cities of their enemies."
Psalms 112:1
Praise the Lord ! How joyful are those who fear the Lord and delight in obeying his commands.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Then verily the first covenant had ordinances of divine service,.... The design of the apostle in this chapter, as it stands in connection with what goes before, is to show the pre-eminence of Christ, from the tabernacle, and the things in it; as well as from the priesthood and covenant; and as also the abrogation of the Levitical ceremonies in particular, as well as the first covenant in general; and that they were all types and figures of Christ, and had their fulfilment in him: the word "first", here used, designs not the tabernacle, but the covenant; therefore it is rightly thus supplied in our version, as it is in the Arabic and Ethiopic versions: which is said to have "ordinances of divine service"; belonging to the service of God, which was performed both by the priests, and by the people; and these ordinances were no other than the carnal ordinances, or rites of the ceremonial law: the word used signifies "righteousnesses"; and they are so called, because they were appointed by a righteous God; and were imposed on the people of the Jews in a righteous way; and by them men became externally and typically righteous; for they were figures and types of justification by the righteousness of Christ, though no complete, perfect, real righteousness, came by them.

And a worldly sanctuary. Philo the Jew says l, it was a type of the world, and of the various things in it; though it was rather either a type of the church, or of heaven, or of Christ's human nature: the better reason of its being so called is, because it consisted of earthly matter, and worldly things; it was in the world, and only had its use in the world, and so is opposed to the heavenly sanctuary; for the Jews often speak of מקדש שלמעלה, "a sanctuary above", and מקדש שלמטה, "a sanctuary below" m, and of משכנא דלעילא, "a tabernacle above", and משכנא דלתתא, "a tabernacle below" n; which answered to one another: the words may be rendered "a beautiful sanctuary", a well adorned one; and such especially was the temple, or sanctuary built by Solomon, rebuilt by Zerubbabel, and repaired and adorned by Herod, Luke 21:5. And the Jews say, that he that never saw Herod's building, meaning the temple, never saw a beautiful building; see Luke 21:5.

l De Vita Mosis, p. 667. m Jarchi in Gen. xxviii. 17. n Zohar in Exod. fol. 65. 4. & 94. 4. & 96. 2. & in Lev. fol. 1. 3.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Then verily - Or, moreover. The object is to describe the tabernacle in which the service of God was celebrated under the former dispensation, and to show that it had a reference to what was future, and was only an imperfect representation of the reality. It was important to show this, as the Jews regarded the ordinances of the tabernacle and of the whole Levitical service as of divine appointment, and of perpetual obligation. The object of Paul is to prove that they were to give place to a more perfect system, and hence, it was necessary to discuss their real nature.

The first covenant - The word “covenant” is not in the Greek, but is not improperly supplied. The meaning is, that the former arrangement or dispensation had religious rites and services connected with it.

Had also ordinances - Margin, “Ceremonies.” The Greek word means “laws, precepts, ordinances;” and the idea is, that there were laws regulating the worship of God. The Jewish institutions abounded with such laws.

And a worldly sanctuary - The word “sanctuary” means a holy place, and is applied to a house of worship, or a temple. Here it may refer either to the temple or to the tabernacle. As the temple was constructed after the same form as the tabernacle, and had the same furniture, the description of the apostle may be regarded as applicable to either of them, and it is difficult to determine which he had in his eye. The term “worldly,” applied to “sanctuary,” here means that it pertained to this world; it was contradistinguished from the heavenly sanctuary not made with hands where Christ was now gone; compare Hebrews 9:11-24. It does not mean that it was “worldly” in the sense in which that word is now used as denoting the opposite of spiritual, serious, religious; but worldly in the sense that it belonged to the earth rather than to heaven; it was made by human hands, not directly by the hands of God.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

CHAPTER IX.

Of the first covenant, and its ordinances, 1.

The tabernacle, candlestick, table, show-bread, veil, holy of

holies, censer, ark, pot of manna, Aaron's rod, tables of the

covenant, cherubim of glory, and mercy seat, 2-5.

How the priests served, 6, 7.

What was signified by the service, 8-10.

The superior excellency of Christ's ministry and sacrifice, and

the efficacy of his blood, 11-26.

As men must once die and be judged, so Christ was once offered

to bear the sins of many, and shall come without a

sin-offering, a second time, to them that expect him, 27, 28.

NOTES ON CHAP. IX.

Verse Hebrews 9:1. The first covenant had also ordinances] Our translators have introduced the word covenant, as if διαθηκη had been, if not originally in the text, yet in the apostle's mind. Several MSS., but not of good note, as well as printed editions, with the Coptic version, have σκηνη tabernacle; but this is omitted by ABDE, several others, both the Syriac, AEthiopic, Armenian, Vulgate, some copies of the Itala, and several of the Greek fathers; it is in all probability a spurious reading, the whole context showing that covenant is that to which the apostle refers, as that was the subject in the preceding chapter, and this is a continuation of the same discourse.

Ordinances — δικαιωματα. Rites and ceremonies.

A worldly sanctuary. — αγιον κοσμικον. It is supposed that the term worldly, here, is opposed to the term heavenly, Hebrews 8:5; and that the whole should be referred to the carnality or secular nature of the tabernacle service. But I think there is nothing plainer than that the apostle is speaking here in praise of this sublimely emblematic service, and hence he proceeds to enumerate the various things contained in the first tabernacle, which added vastly to its splendour and importance; such as the table of the show-bread, the golden candlestick, the golden censer, the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, in which was the golden pot that had the manna, Aaron's rod that budded, and the two tables which God had written with his own finger: hence I am led to believe that κοσμικος is here taken in its proper, natural meaning, and signifies adorned, embellished, splendid; and hence κοσμος, the world: Tota hujus universi machina, coelum et terram complectens et quicquid utroque contineter, κοσμος dicitur, quod nihil ea est mundius, pulchrius, et ornatius. "The whole machine of this universe, comprehending the heavens and the earth, and whatsoever is contained in both, is called κοσμος, because nothing is more beautiful, more fair, and more elegant." So Pliny, Hist. Nat., l. ii. c. 5: Nam quem κοσμον Graeci nomine ornamenti appellaverunt, eum nos a perfecta absolutaque elegantia, MUNDUM. "That which the Greeks call κοσμος, ornament, we, (the Latins,) from its perfect and absolute elegance call mundum, world." See on "Genesis 2:1".

The Jews believe that the tabernacle was an epitome of the world; and it is remarkable, when speaking of their city, that they express this sentiment by the same Greek word, in Hebrew letters, which the apostle uses here: so in Bereshith Rabba, s. 19, fol. 19: כל קוזמיקון שלו שם הוא col kozmikon (κοσμικον) shelo sham hu. "All his world is placed there." Philo says much to the same purpose.

If my exposition be not admitted, the next most likely is, that God has a worldly tabernacle as well as a heavenly one; that he as truly dwelt in the Jewish tabernacle as he did in the heaven of heavens; the one being his worldly house, the other his heavenly house.


 
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