New Living Translation
Hebrews 8:5
5They 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.”
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 King James Version (NKJV)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.”
Context of Hebrews 8:5
3And since every high priest is required to offer gifts and sacrifices, our High Priest must make an offering, too. 4If he were here on earth, he would not even be a priest, since there already are priests who offer the gifts required by the law. 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.” 6But now Jesus, our High Priest, has been given a ministry that is far superior to the old priesthood, for he is the one who mediates for us a far better covenant with God, based on better promises. 7If the first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no need for a second covenant to replace it.
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 9:9This is an illustration pointing to the present time. For the gifts and sacrifices that the priests offer are not able to cleanse the consciences of the people who bring them.
- Hebrews 10:1The old system under the law of Moses was only a shadow, a dim preview of the good things to come, not the good things themselves. The sacrifices under that system were repeated again and again, year after year, but they were never able to provide perfect cleansing for those who came to worship.
- Colossians 2:17For these rules are only shadows of the reality yet to come. And Christ himself is that reality.
- Exodus 25:40“Be sure that you make everything according to the pattern I have shown you here on the mountain.
- Exodus 26:30“Set up this Tabernacle according to the pattern you were shown on the mountain.
- Exodus 27:8The altar must be hollow, made from planks. Build it just as you were shown on the mountain.
- Numbers 8:4The entire lampstand, from its base to its decorative blossoms, was made of beaten gold. It was built according to the exact design the Lord had shown Moses.
- 1 Chronicles 28:12David also gave Solomon all the plans he had in mind for the courtyards of the Lord’s Temple, the outside rooms, the treasuries, and the rooms for the gifts dedicated to the Lord.
- Acts 7:44“Our ancestors carried the Tabernacle with them through the wilderness. It was constructed according to the plan God had shown to Moses.
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
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