Hebrews 9:3
New International Version
Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place,

New Living Translation
Then there was a curtain, and behind the curtain was the second room called the Most Holy Place.

English Standard Version
Behind the second curtain was a second section called the Most Holy Place,

Berean Standard Bible
Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place,

Berean Literal Bible
Now behind the second veil was a tabernacle, being called the Holy of Holies,

King James Bible
And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all;

New King James Version
and behind the second veil, the part of the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of All,

New American Standard Bible
Behind the second veil there was a tabernacle which is called the Most Holy Place,

NASB 1995
Behind the second veil there was a tabernacle which is called the Holy of Holies,

NASB 1977
And behind the second veil, there was a tabernacle which is called the Holy of Holies,

Legacy Standard Bible
And behind the second veil there was a tabernacle which is called the Holy of Holies,

Amplified Bible
Behind the second veil there was another tabernacle [the inner one or second section] known as the Holy of Holies,

Christian Standard Bible
Behind the second curtain was a tent called the most holy place.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Behind the second curtain, the tabernacle was called the most holy place.

American Standard Version
And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holy of holies;

Contemporary English Version
Behind the curtain was the most holy place.

English Revised Version
And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holy of holies;

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Behind the second curtain was the part of the tent called the most holy place.

Good News Translation
Behind the second curtain was the tent called the Most Holy Place.

International Standard Version
Behind the second curtain was the part of the tent called the Most Holy Place,

Majority Standard Bible
Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place,

NET Bible
And after the second curtain there was a tent called the holy of holies.

New Heart English Bible
After the second curtain was the tabernacle which is called the Holy of Holies,

Webster's Bible Translation
And after the second vail, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all;

Weymouth New Testament
And behind the second veil was a sacred tent called the Holy of holies.

World English Bible
After the second veil was the tabernacle which is called the Holy of Holies,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and after the second veil a dwelling place that is called “Holy of Holies,”

Berean Literal Bible
Now behind the second veil was a tabernacle, being called the Holy of Holies,

Young's Literal Translation
and after the second vail a tabernacle that is called 'Holy of holies,'

Smith's Literal Translation
And after the second veil, the tent called Holy of Holies;
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And after the second veil, the tabernacle, which is called the holy of holies:

Catholic Public Domain Version
Then, beyond the second veil, was the tabernacle, which is called the Holy of Holies,

New American Bible
Behind the second veil was the tabernacle called the Holy of Holies,

New Revised Standard Version
Behind the second curtain was a tent called the Holy of Holies.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
But the inner tabernacle, which is within the veil of the second door, was called the Holy of Holies.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
But the inner Tabernacle from within the second veil was called The Holy of Holies.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
But after the second vail, the tabernacle which is called the holy of holies;

Godbey New Testament
And after the second veil, was the tabernacle called Holy of holies;

Haweis New Testament
But behind the second vail was the tabernacle, called the holy of holies:

Mace New Testament
and beyond the veil, was the second part of the tabernacle which is called the holy of holys;

Weymouth New Testament
And behind the second veil was a sacred tent called the Holy of holies.

Worrell New Testament
and, after the second veil, a tabernacle which is called the "Holy of Holies:"

Worsley New Testament
And beyond the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holy of holies, having the golden censer,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Earthly Tabernacle
2A tabernacle was prepared. In its first room were the lampstand, the table, and the consecrated bread. This was called the Holy Place. 3 Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place, 4containing the golden altar of incense and the gold-covered ark of the covenant. Inside the ark were the gold jar of manna, Aaron’s staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant.…

Cross References
Exodus 26:33
And hang the veil from the clasps and place the ark of the Testimony behind the veil. So the veil will separate the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place.

Leviticus 16:2
And the LORD said to Moses: “Tell your brother Aaron not to enter freely into the Most Holy Place behind the veil in front of the mercy seat on the ark, or else he will die, because I appear in the cloud above the mercy seat.

1 Kings 6:16
He partitioned off the twenty cubits at the rear of the temple with cedar boards from floor to ceiling to form within the temple an inner sanctuary, the Most Holy Place.

1 Kings 8:6
Then the priests brought the ark of the covenant of the LORD to its place in the inner sanctuary of the temple, the Most Holy Place, beneath the wings of the cherubim.

2 Chronicles 3:8
Then he made the Most Holy Place; its length corresponded to the width of the temple—twenty cubits long and twenty cubits wide. And he overlaid the inside with six hundred talents of fine gold.

2 Chronicles 5:7
Then the priests brought the ark of the covenant of the LORD to its place in the inner sanctuary of the temple, the Most Holy Place, beneath the wings of the cherubim.

Exodus 40:3
Put the ark of the Testimony in it and screen off the ark with the veil.

Exodus 25:10-22
And they are to construct an ark of acacia wood, two and a half cubits long, a cubit and a half wide, and a cubit and a half high. / Overlay it with pure gold both inside and out, and make a gold molding around it. / Cast four gold rings for it and fasten them to its four feet, two rings on one side and two on the other. ...

Leviticus 16:12-15
Then he must take a censer full of burning coals from the altar before the LORD, and two handfuls of finely ground fragrant incense, and take them inside the veil. / He is to put the incense on the fire before the LORD, and the cloud of incense will cover the mercy seat above the Testimony, so that he will not die. / And he is to take some of the bull’s blood and sprinkle it with his finger on the east side of the mercy seat; then he shall sprinkle some of it with his finger seven times before the mercy seat. ...

1 Samuel 3:3
Before the lamp of God had gone out, Samuel was lying down in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was located.

2 Samuel 6:17
So they brought the ark of the LORD and set it in its place inside the tent that David had pitched for it. Then David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.

Matthew 27:51
At that moment the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth quaked, and the rocks were split.

Mark 15:38
And the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.

Luke 23:45
The sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn down the middle.

Hebrews 6:19
We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain,


Treasury of Scripture

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

the second.

Hebrews 6:19
Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;

Hebrews 10:20
By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;

Exodus 26:31-33
And thou shalt make a vail of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen of cunning work: with cherubims shall it be made: …

the Holiest.

Hebrews 9:8
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:

Hebrews 10:19
Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,

1 Kings 8:6
And the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of the LORD unto his place, into the oracle of the house, to the most holy place, even under the wings of the cherubims.

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Hebrews 9
1. The description of the rites and sacrifices of the law;
11. which are far inferior to the dignity and perfection of the sacrifice of Christ.














Behind the second curtain
The phrase "behind the second curtain" refers to the inner veil of the tabernacle, which separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place, also known as the Holy of Holies. In the Greek, the word for "curtain" is "katapetasma," which signifies a veil or a screen. This curtain was a significant part of the tabernacle's design, as described in Exodus 26:31-33. It was made of fine linen and blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, with cherubim woven into it, symbolizing the separation between God and man due to sin. Theologically, this curtain represents the barrier that sin creates between humanity and the divine presence of God. In the New Testament context, the tearing of the temple veil at Christ's crucifixion (Matthew 27:51) symbolizes the removal of this barrier, granting believers direct access to God through Jesus Christ.

was a room
The "room" mentioned here is the innermost part of the tabernacle, the Most Holy Place. In the original Greek, the term used is "skēnē," which can mean tent or tabernacle. This room was not just a physical space but a sacred area that held profound spiritual significance. It was the earthly dwelling place of God's presence, where the high priest would enter once a year on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) to offer sacrifices for the sins of the people (Leviticus 16). This annual event foreshadowed the ultimate atonement made by Christ, who entered the heavenly sanctuary once for all, securing eternal redemption for believers (Hebrews 9:12).

called the Most Holy Place
The "Most Holy Place," or "Hagia Hagion" in Greek, literally means "Holy of Holies." This was the most sacred area within the tabernacle and later the temple, signifying the utmost holiness and the presence of God Himself. It housed the Ark of the Covenant, which contained the stone tablets of the Ten Commandments, Aaron's rod that budded, and a jar of manna (Hebrews 9:4). The Most Holy Place was a type and shadow of the heavenly reality, pointing to the ultimate fulfillment in Christ, who is our High Priest and Mediator. Theologically, it represents the intimate fellowship and communion with God that is now available to believers through the new covenant established by Jesus' sacrificial death and resurrection. This access to the Most Holy Place is a profound privilege, emphasizing the transformative power of Christ's atonement and the believer's call to live a life of holiness and devotion.

(3) The tabernacle.--Rather, a tabernacle which is called the Holy of Holies. This literal translation of a Hebrew expression for "most holy" does not occur in the Bible, but has become familiar through the Latin sanctum sanctorum. The inner chamber of the Tabernacle is in a few passages only mentioned separately in the Pentateuch as the "Most Holy Place"

(Exodus 26:33-34), or "the Holy Place" (Leviticus 16:2, et al.). In the description of the Temple a different word is employed, always rendered "oracle" (1Kings 6:16, et al.). The veil separating the two divisions (described in Exodus 26:31; Exodus 36:35) is here called the second veil, by way of distinction from the "hanging for the door" of the Tabernacle (Exodus 26:36; Exodus 36:37). . . .

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
Behind
μετὰ (meta)
Preposition
Strong's 3326: (a) gen: with, in company with, (b) acc: (1) behind, beyond, after, of place, (2) after, of time, with nouns, neut. of adjectives.

the
τὸ (to)
Article - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

second
δεύτερον (deuteron)
Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 1208: Second; with the article: in the second place, for the second time. As the compare of duo; second.

curtain
καταπέτασμα (katapetasma)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 2665: From a compound of kata and a congener of petomai; something spread thoroughly, i.e. the door screen in the Jewish Temple.

[was] a room
σκηνὴ (skēnē)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 4633: A tent, booth, tabernacle, abode, dwelling, mansion, habitation. Apparently akin to skeuos and skia; a tent or cloth hut.

called
λεγομένη (legomenē)
Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3004: (a) I say, speak; I mean, mention, tell, (b) I call, name, especially in the pass., (c) I tell, command.

[the] Most Holy Place,
Ἅγια (Hagia)
Adjective - Nominative Neuter Plural
Strong's 40: Set apart by (or for) God, holy, sacred. From hagos; sacred.


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NT Letters: Hebrews 9:3 After the second veil was the tabernacle (Heb. He. Hb)
Hebrews 9:2
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