| New King James Version | Berean Study Bible |
| 1Then indeed, even the first covenant had ordinances of divine service and the earthly sanctuary. | 1Now the first covenant had regulations for worship and also an earthly sanctuary. |
| 2For a tabernacle was prepared: the first part, in which was the lampstand, the table, and the showbread, which is called the sanctuary; | 2A tabernacle was prepared. In its first room were the lampstand, the table, and the consecrated bread. This was called the Holy Place. |
| 3and behind the second veil, the part of the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of All, | 3Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place, |
| 4which had the golden censer and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which were the golden pot that had the manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant; | 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. |
| 5and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail. | 5Above the ark were the cherubim of glory, overshadowing the mercy seat. But we cannot discuss these things in detail now. |
| 6Now when these things had been thus prepared, the priests always went into the first part of the tabernacle, performing the services. | 6When everything had been prepared in this way, the priests entered regularly into the first room to perform their sacred duties. |
| 7But into the second part the high priest went alone once a year, not without blood, which he offered for himself and for the people’s sins committed in ignorance; | 7But only the high priest entered the second room, and then only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance. |
| 8the Holy Spirit indicating this, that the way into the Holiest of All was not yet made manifest while the first tabernacle was still standing. | 8By this arrangement the Holy Spirit was showing that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still standing. |
| 9It was symbolic for the present time in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make him who performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience— | 9It is an illustration for the present time, because the gifts and sacrifices being offered were unable to cleanse the conscience of the worshiper. |
| 10concerned only with foods and drinks, various washings, and fleshly ordinances imposed until the time of reformation. | 10They consist only in food and drink and special washings—external regulations imposed until the time of reform. |
| 11But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. | 11But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that have come, He went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made by hands and is not a part of this creation. |
| 12Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. | 12He did not enter by the blood of goats and calves, but He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by His own blood, thus securing eternal redemption. |
| 13For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, | 13For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that their bodies are clean, |
| 14how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? | 14how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God, purify our consciences from works of death, so that we may serve the living God! |
| 15And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. | 15Therefore Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, now that He has died to redeem them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant. |
| 16For where there is a testament, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. | 16In the case of a will, it is necessary to establish the death of the one who made it, |
| 17For a testament is in force after men are dead, since it has no power at all while the testator lives. | 17because a will does not take effect until the one who made it has died; it cannot be executed while he is still alive. |
| 18Therefore not even the first covenant was dedicated without blood. | 18That is why even the first covenant was not put into effect without blood. |
| 19For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, | 19For when Moses had proclaimed every commandment of the law to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats, along with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll and all the people, |
| 20saying, “This is the blood of the covenant which God has commanded you.” | 20saying, “This is the blood of the covenant, which God has commanded you to keep.” |
| 21Then likewise he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry. | 21In the same way, he sprinkled with blood the tabernacle and all the vessels used in worship. |
| 22And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission. | 22According to the law, in fact, nearly everything must be purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. |
| 23Therefore it was necessary that the copies of the things in the heavens should be purified with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. | 23So it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. |
| 24For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; | 24For Christ did not enter a man-made copy of the true sanctuary, but He entered heaven itself, now to appear on our behalf in the presence of God. |
| 25not that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood of another— | 25Nor did He enter heaven to offer Himself again and again, as the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. |
| 26He then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. | 26Otherwise, Christ would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But now He has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of Himself. |
| 27And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, | 27Just as man is appointed to die once, and after that to face judgment, |
| 28so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation. | 28so also Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many; and He will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who eagerly await Him. |
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