Hebrews 9:8

Hebrews 9:8 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)The 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:
• New International Version (NIV)The Holy Spirit was showing by this that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still functioning.
• English Standard Version (ESV)By 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
• New King James Version (NKJV)the Holy Spirit indicating this, that the way into the Holiest of All was not yet made manifest while the first tabernacle was still standing.

Context of Hebrews 9:8

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, 7but into the second [inner tabernacle, the Holy of Holies], only the high priest enters [and then only] once a year, and never without [bringing a sacrifice of] blood, which he offers [as a substitutionary atonement] for himself and for the sins of the people committed in ignorance. By this the Holy Spirit signifies that the way into the Holy Place [the true Holy of Holies and the presence of God] has not yet been disclosed as long as the first or outer tabernacle is still standing [that is, as long as the Levitical system of worship remains a recognized institution], 9for this [first or outer tabernacle] is a symbol [that is, an archetype or paradigm] for the present time. Accordingly both gifts and sacrifices are offered which are incapable of perfecting the conscience and renewing the [inner self of the] worshiper. 10For they [the gifts, sacrifices, and ceremonies] deal only with [clean and unclean] food and drink and various ritual washings, [mere] external regulations for the body imposed [to help the worshipers] until the time of reformation [that is, the time of the new order when Christ will establish the reality of what these things foreshadow—a better covenant].

Hebrews 9:8 word by word

τοῦτο δηλοῦντος τοῦ πνεύματος τοῦ ἁγίου, μήπω πεφανερῶσθαι τὴν τῶν ἁγίων ὁδὸν ἔτι τῆς πρώτης σκηνῆς ἐχούσης στάσιν·Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• The Holyὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• The Holyἅγιοςhagios · holyG40
• Ghostπνεῦμαpneuma · spirit/breath: spiritG4151
• thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• signifyingδηλόωdēloō · to make clearG1213
• the wayὁδόςhodos · roadG3598
• into the holiest of allἅγιοςhagios · holyG40
• wasφανερόωphaneroō · to revealG5319
• not yetμήπωmēpō · not yetG3380
• while asἔτιeti · stillG2089
• theσκηνήskēnē · tentG4633
• firstπρῶτοςprōtos · firstG4413
• wasἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
• standingστάσιςstasis · uprisingG4714

Cross-references for Hebrews 9:8

• Hebrews 3:7Therefore, just as the Holy Spirit says, “Today if you hear His voice,
• Hebrews 10:15And the Holy Spirit also adds His testimony to us [in confirmation of this]; for after having said,
• Isaiah 63:11Then His people remembered the days of old, of Moses [and they said], Where is He who brought our fathers up out of the [Red] Sea, with the shepherds of His flock [Moses and Aaron]? Where is He who put His Holy Spirit in their midst,
• Acts 7:51“You stiff-necked and stubborn people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you are always actively resisting the Holy Spirit. You are doing just as your fathers did.
• Acts 28:25They disagreed among themselves and they began to leave after Paul had made one last statement: “The Holy Spirit rightly spoke through Isaiah the prophet to your fathers, saying,
• Galatians 3:8The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, proclaimed the good news [of the Savior] to Abraham in advance [with this promise], saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.”
• 2 Peter 1:21for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.
• Hebrews 9:3Behind the second veil there was another tabernacle [the inner one or second section] known as the Holy of Holies,
• Hebrews 4:15For we do not have a High Priest who is unable to sympathize and understand our weaknesses and temptations, but One who has been tempted [knowing exactly how it feels to be human] in every respect as we are, yet without [committing any] sin.
• Hebrews 10:19Therefore, believers, since we have confidence and full freedom to enter the Holy Place [the place where God dwells] by [means of] the blood of Jesus,
• John 10:7So Jesus said again, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, I am the Door for the sheep [leading to life].
• John 14:6Jesus said to him, “I am the [only] Way [to God] and the [real] Truth and the [real] Life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.
• Ephesians 2:18For it is through Him that we both have a [direct] way of approach in one Spirit to the Father.

Commentaries on Hebrews 9:8

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 8The Holy Ghost this signifying - These services were divinely appointed, and by each of them the Holy Spirit of God is supposed to speak. The way into the holiest - That full access to God was not the common privilege of the people, while the Mosaic economy subsisted. That the apostle means that it is only by Christ that any man and every man can approach God, is evident from Hebrews 10:19-22, and it is about this, and not about the tabernacle of this…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 8The Holy Ghost - Who appointed all this. The whole arrangement in the service of the tabernacle is represented as having been under the direction of the Holy Spirit, or this was one of his methods of teaching the great truths of religion, and of keeping them before the minds of people. Sometimes that Spirit taught by direct revelation; sometimes by the written word, and sometimes by symbols. The tabernacle, with its different apartments, utensils, and…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 6-10Verses 6-10 The apostle goes on to speak of the Old Testament services. Christ, having undertaken to be our High Priest, could not enter into heaven till he had shed his blood for us; and none of us can enter, either into God's gracious presence here, or his glorious presence hereafter, but by the blood of Jesus. Sins are errors, great errors, both in judgment and practice; and who can understand all his errors? They leave guilt upon the conscience, not…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 8had not yet been disclosed: Under the old covenant system, people could not freely enter God's presence. The outer room of the tabernacle, which served as a sacred barrier, kept people from entering the Most Holy Place. This barrier symbolized the entire system, which kept people away from God's presence instead of guiding them into it.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 88. The Holy Ghost--Moses himself did not comprehend the typical meaning (1Pe 1:11, 12). signifying--by the typical exclusion of all from the holiest, save the high priest once a year. the holiest of all--heaven, the antitype. the first tabernacle--the anterior tabernacle, representative of the whole Levitical system. While it (the first tabernacle, and that which represents the Levitical system) as yet "has a standing" (so the Greek, that is, "has…Read the comment

Topics related to Hebrews 9:8

• Blood
• Gospel
• Law
• Offerings
• Ordinance
• Symbols and Similitudes
• Tabernacle
• Types
• Way
• Works

In the dictionaries

• Holy Ghost
• Altar
• Bear
• High priest
• Ordinance
• Remission
• Sanctuary
• Stand
• Tabernacle
• Washing

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