Hebrews 9:9

Hebrews 9:9 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;
• New International Version (NIV)This is an illustration for the present time, indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshiper.
• English Standard Version (ESV)(which is symbolic for the present age). According to this arrangement, gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper,
• New King James Version (NKJV)It 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—

Context of Hebrews 9:9

7But only the high priest ever entered the Most Holy Place, and only once a year. And he always offered blood for his own sins and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance. 8By these regulations the Holy Spirit revealed that the entrance to the Most Holy Place was not freely open as long as the Tabernacle and the system it represented were still in use. This 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. 10For that old system deals only with food and drink and various cleansing ceremonies—physical regulations that were in effect only until a better system could be established. 11So Christ has now become the High Priest over all the good things that have come. He has entered that greater, more perfect Tabernacle in heaven, which was not made by human hands and is not part of this created world.

Hebrews 9:9 word by word

ἥτις παραβολὴ εἰς τὸν καιρὸν τὸν ἐνεστηκότα, καθ᾽ ἣν δῶρά τε καὶ θυσίαι προσφέρονται μὴ δυνάμεναι κατὰ συνείδησιν τελειῶσαι τὸν λατρεύοντα,Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Whichὅστιςhostis hētis ho6ti · who/whichG3748
• a figureπαραβολήparabolē · parableG3850
• forεἰςeis · towardG1519
• the timeὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the timeκαιρόςkairos · time/right timeG2540
• then presentἐνίστημιenistēmi · be presentG1764
• inκατάkata · according toG2596
• whichὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• were offeredπροσφέρωprospherō · to bring toG4374
• bothτεte · and/bothG5037
• giftsδῶρονdōron · giftG1435
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• sacrificesθυσίαthusia · sacrificeG2378
• thatμήmē · notG3361
• couldδύναμαιdunamai · be ableG1410
• makeτελειόωteleioō · to perfectG5048
• him that did the serviceλατρεύωlatreuō · to ministerG3000
• the conscienceσυνείδησιςsuneidēsis · conscienceG4893

Cross-references for Hebrews 9:9

• Hebrews 9:24For Christ did not enter into a holy place made with human hands, which was only a copy of the true one in heaven. He entered into heaven itself to appear now before God on our behalf.
• Hebrews 11:19Abraham reasoned that if Isaac died, God was able to bring him back to life again. And in a sense, Abraham did receive his son back from the dead.
• Romans 5:14Still, everyone died—from the time of Adam to the time of Moses—even those who did not disobey an explicit commandment of God, as Adam did. Now Adam is a symbol, a representation of Christ, who was yet to come.
• 1 Peter 3:21And that water is a picture of baptism, which now saves you, not by removing dirt from your body, but as a response to God from a clean conscience. It is effective because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
• Hebrews 7:11So if the priesthood of Levi, on which the law was based, could have achieved the perfection God intended, why did God need to establish a different priesthood, with a priest in the order of Melchizedek instead of the order of Levi and Aaron?
• Hebrews 11:39All these people earned a good reputation because of their faith, yet none of them received all that God had promised.
• 1 Peter 1:11They wondered what time or situation the Spirit of Christ within them was talking about when he told them in advance about Christ’s suffering and his great glory afterward.
• Hebrews 5:1Every high priest is a man chosen to represent other people in their dealings with God. He presents their gifts to God and offers sacrifices for their sins.
• Hebrews 9:13Under the old system, the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer could cleanse people’s bodies from ceremonial impurity.
• Hebrews 7:18Yes, the old requirement about the priesthood was set aside because it was weak and useless.
• 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.
• Psalms 40:6You take no delight in sacrifices or offerings. Now that you have made me listen, I finally understand— you don’t require burnt offerings or sin offerings.
• Galatians 3:21Is there a conflict, then, between God’s law and God’s promises? Absolutely not! If the law could give us new life, we could be made right with God by obeying it.
• Psalms 51:16You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one. You do not want a burnt offering.

Commentaries on Hebrews 9:9

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 9Which - Tabernacle and its services, was a figure, , a dark enigmatical representation, for the time then present - for that age and dispensation, and for all those who lived under it. In which, '̔, during which, time or dispensation were offered both gifts and sacrifices - eucharistic offerings and victims for sin, that could not make him that did the service, whether the priest who made the offering, or the person who brought it in the behalf of his…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 9Which was a figure for the time then present - That is, as long as the tabernacle stood. The word rendered “figure” - ̀ parabolē- is not the same as type - ́ tupos- (Romans 5:14; Acts 7:13, Acts 7:44; John 20:25; 1 Corinthians 10:6, 1 Corinthians 10:11; Philemon 3:17, et al.) - but is the word commonly rendered “parable;” Matthew 13:3, Matthew 13:10, Matthew 13:13, Matthew 13:18, Matthew 13:24, Matthew 13:31, Matthew 13:33-36, Matthew 13:53; Matthew…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. 9This example shows that the gifts and sacrifices of the old covenant could not clear people's consciences. They could not remove guilt before a holy God (see 9:14; 10:2, 22; 13:18).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 99. Which--"The which," namely, anterior tabernacle: "as being that which was" [Alford]. figure--Greek, "parable": a parabolic setting forth of the character of the Old Testament. for--"in reference to the existing time." The time of the temple-worship really belonged to the Old Testament, but continued still in Paul's time and that of his Hebrew readers. "The time of reformation" (He 9:10) stands in contrast to this, "the existing time"; though, in…Read the comment

Topics related to Hebrews 9:9

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

In the dictionaries

• Altar
• Bear
• Clean
• High priest
• Ordinance
• Parable
• Remission
• Sanctuary
• Stand
• Tabernacle

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