| New King James Version | English Standard Version |
| 1Then indeed, even the first covenant had ordinances of divine service and the earthly sanctuary. | 1Now even the first covenant had regulations for worship and an earthly place of holiness. |
| 2For a tabernacle was prepared: the first part, in which was the lampstand, the table, and the showbread, which is called the sanctuary; | 2For a tent was prepared, the first section, in which were the lampstand and the table and the bread of the Presence. It is 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 second section 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; | 4having the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was a golden urn holding the manna, and Aaron’s staff that budded, and the 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 it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail. |
| 6Now when these things had been thus prepared, the priests always went into the first part of the tabernacle, performing the services. | 6These preparations having thus been made, the priests go regularly into the first section, performing their ritual 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 into the second only the high priest goes, and he but once a year, and not without taking blood, which he offers for himself and for the unintentional sins of the people. |
| 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 the Holy Spirit indicates that the way into the holy places is not yet opened as long as the first section is 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— | 9(which is symbolic for the present age). According to this arrangement, gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper, |
| 10concerned only with foods and drinks, various washings, and fleshly ordinances imposed until the time of reformation. | 10but deal only with food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until the time of reformation. |
| 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 appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not 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 entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an 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 sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, |
| 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 without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to 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 he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems 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. | 16For where a will is involved, the death of the one who made it must be established. |
| 17For a testament is in force after men are dead, since it has no power at all while the testator lives. | 17For a will takes effect only at death, since it is not in force as long as the one who made it is alive. |
| 18Therefore not even the first covenant was dedicated without blood. | 18Therefore not even the first covenant was inaugurated 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 every commandment of the law had been declared by Moses to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself 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 that God commanded for you.” |
| 21Then likewise he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry. | 21And in the same way he sprinkled with the blood both the tent 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. | 22Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. |
| 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. | 23Thus it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these rites, 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 has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. |
| 25not that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood of another— | 25Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood 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. | 26for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. |
| 27And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, | 27And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes 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 Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him. |
| The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. | ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved. |
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