1 T hen verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary.

Now even the first covenant had its own rules and regulations for divine worship, and it had a sanctuary of this world.

2 F or there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary.

For a tabernacle (tent) was erected, in the outer division or compartment of which were the lampstand and the table with the showbread set forth. is called the Holy Place.

3 A nd after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all;

But beyond the second curtain or veil, tabernacle known as the Holy of Holies.

4 W hich had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant;

It had the golden altar of incense and the ark (chest) of the covenant, covered over with wrought gold. This contained a golden jar which held the manna and the rod of Aaron that sprouted and the slabs of the covenant.

5 A nd over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly.

Above and overshadowing the mercy seat were the representations of the cherubim of glory. We cannot now go into detail about these things.

6 N ow when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God.

These arrangements having thus been made, the priests enter into the outer division of the tabernacle in performance of their ritual acts of worship.

7 B ut into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people:

But into the second none but the high priest goes, and he only once a year, and never without taking a sacrifice of blood with him, which he offers for himself and for the errors and sins of ignorance and thoughtlessness which the people have committed.

8 T he 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:

By this the Holy Spirit points out that the way into the Holies is not yet thrown open as long as the former tabernacle remains a recognized institution and is still standing,

9 W hich was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;

Seeing that that first tabernacle was a parable (a visible symbol or type or picture of the present age). In it gifts and sacrifices are offered, and yet are incapable of perfecting the conscience or of cleansing and renewing the inner man of the worshiper.

10 W hich stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.

For deal only with clean and unclean meats and drinks and different washings, external rules and regulations for the body imposed to tide the worshipers over until the time of setting things straight.

11 B ut Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;

But when Christ (the Messiah) appeared as a High Priest of the better things that have come and are to come. through the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not a part of this material creation,

12 N either by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

He went once for all into the Holies, not by virtue of the blood of goats and calves, but His own blood, having found and secured a complete redemption (an everlasting release for us).

13 F or if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:

For if sprinkling of unholy and defiled persons with blood of goats and bulls and with the ashes of a burnt heifer is sufficient for the purification of the body,

14 H ow much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

How much more surely shall the blood of Christ, Who by virtue of eternal Spirit '> divine personality] has offered Himself as an unblemished sacrifice to God, purify our consciences from dead works and lifeless observances to serve the living God?

15 A nd for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

is therefore the Negotiator and Mediator of an new agreement (testament, covenant), so that those who are called and offered it may receive the fulfillment of the promised everlasting inheritance—since a death has taken place which rescues and delivers and redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first agreement.

16 F or where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.

For where there is a will and testament involved, the death of the one who made it must be established,

17 F or a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.

For a will and testament is valid and takes effect only at death, since it has no force or legal power as long as the one who made it is alive.

18 W hereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood.

So even the first covenant (God’s will) was not inaugurated and ratified and put in force without the shedding of blood.

19 F or when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people,

For when every command of the Law had been read out by Moses to all the people, he took the blood of slain calves and goats, together with water and scarlet wool and with a bunch of hyssop, and sprinkled both the Book (the roll of the Law and covenant) itself and all the people,

20 S aying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you.

Saying these words: This is the blood that seals and ratifies the agreement (the testament, the covenant) which God commanded you.

21 M oreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry.

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

22 A nd almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

under the Law almost everything is purified by means of blood, and without the shedding of blood there is neither release from sin and its guilt nor the remission of the due and merited punishment for sins.

23 I t was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.

By such means, therefore, it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified, but the actual heavenly things themselves better and nobler sacrifices than these.

24 F or Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:

For Christ (the Messiah) has not entered into a sanctuary made with hands, only a copy and pattern and type of the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf.

25 N or yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others;

Nor did He offer Himself regularly again and again, as the high priest enters the Holies every year with blood not his own.

26 F or then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

For then would He often have had to suffer since the foundation of the world. But as it now is, He has once for all at the consummation and close of the ages appeared to put away and abolish sin by His sacrifice.

27 A nd as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

And just as it is appointed for men once to die, and after that the judgment,

28 S o Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

Even so it is that Christ, having been offered to take upon Himself and bear as a burden the sins of many once and once for all, will appear a second time, not to carry any burden of sin nor to deal with sin, but to bring to full salvation those who are waiting for and expecting Him.