International Standard Version

English Standard Version

1Now even the first covenant had regulations for worship and an earthly sanctuary.

1Now even the first covenant had regulations for worship and an earthly place of holiness.

2For a tent was set up, and in the first part were the lamp stand, the table, and the bread of the Presence. This was called the Holy Place.

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.

3Behind the second curtain was the part of the tent called the Most Holy Place,

3Behind the second curtain was a second section called the Most Holy Place,

4which had the gold altar for incense and the Ark of the Covenant completely covered with gold. In it were the gold jar holding the manna, Aaron's staff that had 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.

5Above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the place of atonement. (We cannot discuss these things in detail now.)

5Above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail.

6When everything had been arranged like this, the priests always went into the first part of the tent to perform their duties.

6These preparations having thus been made, the priests go regularly into the first section, performing their ritual duties,

7But only the high priest went into the second part, and then only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins committed by the people 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 was indicating by this that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first part of the tent 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

9This illustration for today indicates that the gifts and sacrifices being offered could not clear the conscience of a worshiper,

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,

10since they deal only with food, drink, and various washings, which are required for the body until the time when things would be set right.

10but deal only with food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until the time of reformation.

11But when the Messiah came as a high priest of the good things that have come, he went through the greater and more perfect tent that was not made by human hands and that is not a part 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 went into the Most Holy Place once for all and secured our 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 goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are unclean purifies them physically,

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 will the blood of the Messiah, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from dead actions so that we may 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.

15This is why the Messiah is the mediator of a new covenant; so that those who are called may receive the eternal inheritance promised them, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the offenses committed under the first covenant.

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 will, the death of the one who made it must be established.

16For where a will is involved, the death of the one who made it must be established.

17For a will is in force only when somebody has died, since it never takes effect as long as the one who made it is alive.

17For a will takes effect only at death, since it is not in force as long as the one who made it is alive.

18This is why even the first covenant was not put into effect without blood.

18Therefore not even the first covenant was inaugurated without blood.

19For after every commandment in the Law had been spoken to all the people by Moses, he took the blood of calves and goats, together with some water, scarlet wool, and branches of hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll 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 that God ordained for you."

20saying, “This is the blood of the covenant that God commanded for you.”

21In the same way, he sprinkled with the blood both the tent and everything used in worship.

21And in the same way he sprinkled with the blood both the tent and all the vessels used in worship.

22In fact, under the Law almost everything is cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of the blood there is no forgiveness.

22Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.

23Thus it was necessary for these earthly copies of the things in heaven to be cleansed by these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves are made clean 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 the Messiah did not go into a sanctuary made by human hands that is merely a copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, to appear now in God's presence on our behalf.

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.

25Nor did he go into heaven to sacrifice himself again and again, the way the high priest goes into the Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own.

25Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own,

26Then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the creation of the world. But now, at the end of the ages, he has appeared once for all to remove sin by his sacrifice.

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.

27Indeed, just as people are destined to die once and after that to be judged,

27And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,

28so the Messiah was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people. And he will appear a second time, not to deal with sin, but to bring salvation to those who eagerly wait for him.

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: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.

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.