New English Translation
Hebrews 9:4
4It contained the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered entirely with gold. In this ark were the golden urn containing the manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant.
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
2For a tent was prepared, the outer one, which contained the lampstand, the table, and the presentation of the loaves; this is called the holy place. 3And after the second curtain there was a tent called the holy of holies. It contained the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered entirely with gold. In this ark were the golden urn containing the manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant. 5And above the ark were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Now is not the time to speak of these things in detail. 6So with these things prepared like this, the priests enter continually into the outer tent as they perform their duties.
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 16:12and take a censer full of coals of fire from the altar before the Lord and a full double handful of finely ground fragrant incense, and bring them inside the veil-canopy.
- 1 Kings 7:50the pure gold bowls, trimming shears, basins, pans, and censers, and the gold door sockets for the inner sanctuary (the most holy place) and for the doors of the main hall of the temple.
- Revelation 8:3Another angel holding a golden censer came and was stationed at the altar. A large amount of incense was given to him to offer up, with the prayers of all the saints, on the golden altar that is before the throne.
- Exodus 25:10“They are to make an ark of acacia wood – its length is to be three feet nine inches, its width two feet three inches, and its height two feet three inches.
- Exodus 26:33You are to hang this curtain under the clasps and bring the ark of the testimony in there behind the curtain. The curtain will make a division for you between the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place.
- Exodus 37:1Bezalel made the ark of acacia wood; its length was three feet nine inches, its width two feet three inches, and its height two feet three inches.
- Exodus 39:35the ark of the testimony and its poles, and the atonement lid;
- Exodus 40:3You are to place the ark of the testimony in it and shield the ark with the special curtain.
- Exodus 16:33Moses said to Aaron, “Take a jar and put in it an omer full of manna, and place it before the Lord to be kept for generations to come.”
- Numbers 17:5And the staff of the man whom I choose will blossom; so I will rid myself of the complaints of the Israelites, which they murmur against you.”
- Psalms 110:2The Lord extends your dominion from Zion. Rule in the midst of your enemies!
- Exodus 25:16You are to put into the ark the testimony that I will give to you.
- Exodus 34:29Now when Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand – when he came down from the mountain, Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone while he talked with him.
- Deuteronomy 10:2I will write on the tablets the same words that were on the first tablets you broke, and you must put them into the ark.”
- 1 Kings 8:9There was nothing in the ark except the two stone tablets Moses had placed there in Horeb. It was there that the Lord made an agreement with the Israelites after he brought them out of the land of Egypt.
- 2 Chronicles 5:10There was nothing in the ark except the two tablets Moses had placed there in Horeb. (It was there that the Lord made an agreement with the Israelites after he brought them out of the land 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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