New King James Version
Hebrews 8:5
5who serve the copy and shadow of the heavenly things, as Moses was divinely instructed when he was about to make the tabernacle. For He said, “See that you make all things according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.”
Hebrews 8:5 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount.
- New International Version (NIV)They serve at a sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: “See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)They serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things. For when Moses was about to erect the tent, he was instructed by God, saying, "See that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown you on the mountain."
- New Living Translation (NLT)They serve in a system of worship that is only a copy, a shadow of the real one in heaven. For when Moses was getting ready to build the Tabernacle, God gave him this warning: “Be sure that you make everything according to the pattern I have shown you here on the mountain.”
Context of Hebrews 8:5
3For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices. Therefore it is necessary that this One also have something to offer. 4For if He were on earth, He would not be a priest, since there are priests who offer the gifts according to the law; who serve the copy and shadow of the heavenly things, as Moses was divinely instructed when he was about to make the tabernacle. For He said, “See that you make all things according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.” 6But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises. 7For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second.
Read all of Hebrews 8Hebrews 8:5 word by word
οἵτινες ὑποδείγματι καὶ σκιᾷ λατρεύουσιν τῶν ἐπουρανίων, καθὼς κεχρημάτισται Μωϋσῆς μέλλων ἐπιτελεῖν τὴν σκηνήν· ὅρα γάρ φησιν ποιήσεις πάντα κατὰ τὸν τύπον τὸν δειχθέντα σοι ἐν τῷ ὄρει·Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Whoὅστιςhostis hētis ho6ti · who/whichG3748
- serveλατρεύωlatreuō · to ministerG3000
- unto the exampleὑπόδειγμαhupodeigma · exampleG5262
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- shadowσκιάskia · shadowG4639
- of heavenly thingsἐπουράνιοςepouranios · heavenlyG2032
- asκαθώςkathōs · as/just asG2531
- MosesΜωϋσῆς, ΜωσῆςMōseus Mōsēs Mōusēs · MosesG3475
- was admonished of Godχρηματίζωchrēmatizō · to announceG5537
- when he was aboutμέλλωmellō · to ensueG3195
- to makeἐπιτελέωepiteleō · to completeG2005
- the tabernacleὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- the tabernacleσκηνήskēnē · tentG4633
- forγάρgar · forG1063
- Seeὁράωhoraō · to see: seeG3708
- saith heφημίphēmi · to assertG5346
- thou makeποιέωpoieō · to do/make: doG4160
- all thingsπᾶςpas · allG3956
- according toκατάkata · according toG2596
- the patternτύποςtupos · mark/exampleG5179
- shewedδεικνύωdeiknuō · to showG1166
- to theeσύsu · youG4771
- inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- the mountὄροςoros · mountainG3735
Cross-references for Hebrews 8:5
- Hebrews 9:9It was symbolic for the present time in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make him who performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience—
- Hebrews 10:1For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect.
- Colossians 2:17which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.
- Exodus 25:40And see to it that you make them according to the pattern which was shown you on the mountain.
- Exodus 26:30And you shall raise up the tabernacle according to its pattern which you were shown on the mountain.
- Exodus 27:8You shall make it hollow with boards; as it was shown you on the mountain, so shall they make it.
- Numbers 8:4Now this workmanship of the lampstand was hammered gold; from its shaft to its flowers it was hammered work. According to the pattern which the Lord had shown Moses, so he made the lampstand.
- 1 Chronicles 28:12and the plans for all that he had by the Spirit, of the courts of the house of the Lord, of all the chambers all around, of the treasuries of the house of God, and of the treasuries for the dedicated things;
- Acts 7:44“Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as He appointed, instructing Moses to make it according to the pattern that he had seen,
Commentaries on Hebrews 8:5
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 5Who serve - ̔ · Who perform Divine worship. Unto the example and shadow - ͅ, With the representation and shadow; this is Dr. Macknight's translation, and probably the true one. The whole Levitical service was a representation and shadow of heavenly things; it appears, therefore, absurd to say that the priests served Unto an example or representation of heavenly things; they served rather unto the substance of those things, With appropriate representations…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 5Who serve unto the example - Who perform their service by the mere example and shadow of the heavenly things; or in a tabernacle, and in a mode, that is the mere emblem of the reality which exists in heaven. The reference is to the tabernacle, which was a mere “example” or “copy” of heaven. The word rendered here “example” - ̔́ hupodeigma- means a “copy, likeness, or imitation.” The tabernacle was made after a pattern which was shown to Moses; it was made…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 5a copy and shadow: The earthly place of worship was a copy of the real one in heaven. This is why God told Moses to follow the pattern (see Exodus 25:40; 26:30; compare Acts 7:44). Both Judaism and early Christianity talked about a heavenly temple in a heavenly Jerusalem, which would come to earth at the end of time (see Revelation 21:2). Hebrews suggests that God showed Moses this heavenly place so he could build the earthly tabernacle. However, Jesus…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 55. Who--namely, the priests. serve unto the example--not "after the example," as Bengel explains. But as in He 13:10, "serve the tabernacle," that is, do it service: so "serve (the tabernacle which is but) the outline and shadow." The Greek for "example" is here taken for the sketch, copy, or suggestive representation of the heavenly sanctuary, which is the antitypical reality and primary archetype. "The mount" answers to heaven, He 12:22. admonished--The…Read the comment
Topics related to Hebrews 8:5
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Hebrews 8
- 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
- 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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries