Amplified Bible
Hebrews 9:4
4having the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered entirely with gold. This contained a golden jar which held the manna, and the rod of Aaron that sprouted, and the [two stone] tablets of the covenant [inscribed with the Ten Commandments];
Hebrews 9:4 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Which 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;
- New International Version (NIV)which had the golden altar of incense and the gold-covered ark of the covenant. This ark contained the gold jar of manna, Aaron’s staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant.
- English Standard Version (ESV)having 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.
- New King James Version (NKJV)which 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;
Context of Hebrews 9:4
2A tabernacle (sacred tent) was put up, the outer one or first section, in which were the lampstand and the table with [its loaves of] the sacred showbread; this is called the Holy Place. 3Behind the second veil there was another tabernacle [the inner one or second section] known as the Holy of Holies, having the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered entirely with gold. This contained a golden jar which held the manna, and the rod of Aaron that sprouted, and the [two stone] tablets of the covenant [inscribed with the Ten Commandments]; 5and above the ark were the [golden] cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat; but we cannot now go into detail about these things. 6Now when these things have been prepared in this way, the priests continually enter the outer [or first section of the] tabernacle [that is, the Holy Place] performing [their ritual acts of] the divine worship,
Read all of Hebrews 9Hebrews 9:4 word by word
χρυσοῦν ἔχουσα θυμιατήριον καὶ τὴν κιβωτὸν τῆς διαθήκης περικεκαλυμμένην πάντοθεν χρυσίῳ, ἐν ᾗ στάμνος χρυσῆ ἔχουσα τὸ μάννα καὶ ἡ ῥάβδος Ἀαρὼν ἡ βλαστήσασα καὶ αἱ πλάκες τῆς διαθήκης·Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Which hadἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
- theθυμιατήριονthumiastērion · incense altarG2369
- goldenχρύσεοςchruseos · goldenG5552
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- the arkὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- the arkκιβωτόςkibōtos · ark: covenantG2787
- of the covenantδιαθήκηdiathēkē · covenantG1242
- overlaidπερικαλύπτωperikaluptō · to coverG4028
- round aboutπάντοθενpantothen · from all sidesG3840
- with goldχρυσίονchrusion · goldG5553
- whereinἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- whereinὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
- theστάμνοςstamnos · jarG4713
- mannaμάνναmanna · mannaG3131
- Aaron’sἈαρώνAarōn · AaronG2
- rodῥάβδοςrhabdos · rodG4464
- that buddedβλαστάνωblastanō · to sproutG985
- the tablesπλάξplax · tabletG4109
Cross-references for Hebrews 9:4
- Leviticus 16:12He shall take a censer full of burning coals from the [bronze] altar before the Lord, and two handfuls of finely ground sweet incense, and bring it inside the veil [into the Most Holy Place],
- 1 Kings 7:50the cups, snuffers, bowls, spoons, firepans—of pure gold; and the hinges of gold [both] for the doors of the inner house, the Holy of Holies, and for the doors of the house, the main room [the Holy Place].
- Revelation 8:3Another angel came and stood at the altar. He had a golden censer, and much incense was given to him, so that he might add it to the prayers of all the saints (God’s people) on the golden altar in front of the throne.
- Exodus 25:10“They shall make an ark of acacia wood two and a half cubits long, one and a half cubits wide, and one and a half cubits high.
- Exodus 26:33You shall hang the veil from the hooks [that connect the curtains together], and you shall bring the ark of the Testimony there within the veil. The veil shall separate for you the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies.
- Exodus 37:1Bezalel made the ark [of the covenant] of acacia wood—it was two and a half cubits long, and one and a half cubits wide, and one and a half cubits high.
- Exodus 39:35the ark of the Testimony, its carrying poles and the mercy seat;
- Exodus 40:3You shall place the ark of the Testimony there, and you shall screen off the ark [from the Holy Place of God’s Presence] with the veil (partition curtain).
- Exodus 16:33So Moses said to Aaron, “Take a pot and put an omer of manna in it, and place it before the Lord to be kept throughout your generations.”
- Numbers 17:5It shall be that the rod of the man whom I choose will bud, and I will no longer hear the constant grumblings of the Israelites, who are grumbling against you.”
- Psalms 110:2The Lord will send the scepter of Your strength from Zion, saying, “Rule in the midst of Your enemies.”
- Exodus 25:16You shall put into the ark the Testimony (Ten Commandments) which I will give you.
- Exodus 34:29When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hand, he did not know that the skin of his face was shining [with a unique radiance] because he had been speaking with God.
- Deuteronomy 10:2I will write on the tablets the words that were on the first tablets which you shattered, and you shall put them in the ark.’
- 1 Kings 8:9There was nothing in the ark except the two tablets of stone which Moses put there at Horeb (Sinai), where the Lord made a covenant with the Israelites when they came out of the land of Egypt.
- 2 Chronicles 5:10There was nothing in the ark except the two tablets [of the Ten Commandments] which Moses put there at Mount Horeb, when the Lord made a covenant with the Israelites, when they came out of Egypt.
Commentaries on Hebrews 9:4
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4Which had the golden censer - It is evident that the apostle speaks here of the tabernacle built by Moses, and of the state and contents of that tabernacle as they were during the lifetime of Moses. For, as Calmet remarks, in the temple which was afterwards built there were many things added which were not in the tabernacle, and several things left out. The ark of the covenant and the two tables of the law were never found after the return from the…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4Which had the golden censer - The censer was a “fire-pan,” made for the purpose of carrying fire, in order to burn incense on it in the place of worship. The forms of the censer were various. Some difficulty has been felt respecting the statement of Paul here that the “golden censer” was in the most holy place, from the fact that no such utensil is mentioned by Moses as pertaining to the tabernacle, nor in the description of Solomon‘s temple, which was…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4The gold incense altar likely stood just outside the inner curtain (Exodus 30:1–10). Its exact location is unclear in the Old Testament, but it was closely linked to the Most Holy Place (Exodus 30:6; Leviticus 16:13; 1 Kings 6:22). The ark of the covenant, representing God's presence, was the most important item in the tabernacle (see Exodus 25:10–22). The gold jar with manna reminded people of God's provision in the wilderness (Exodus 16:32–34). Aaron’s…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. golden censer--The Greek, must not be translated "altar of incense," for it was not in "the holiest" place "after the second veil," but in "the holy place"; but as in 2Ch 26:19, and Eze 8:11, "censer": so Vulgate and Syriac. This GOLDEN censer was only used on the day of atonement (other kinds of censers on other days), and is therefore associated with the holiest place, as being taken into it on that anniversary by the high priest. The expression…Read the comment
Topics related to Hebrews 9:4
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Hebrews 9
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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