Hebrews 9:5 - Forerunner Commentary

Hebrews 9:5

3 ^aand behind the second veil, the part of the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of All,

4 which had the ^agolden censer and ^bthe ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which were ^cthe golden pot that had the manna, ^dAaron’s rod that budded, and ^ethe tablets of the covenant;

5 and ^aabove it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail.

Limitations of the Earthly Service

6 Now when these things had been thus prepared, ^athe priests always went into the first part of the tabernacle, performing the services.

7 But into the second part the high priest went alone ^aonce a year, not without blood, which he offered for ^bhimself and for the people’s sins committed in ignorance;

8 the Holy Spirit indicating this, that ^athe way into the Holiest of All was not yet made manifest while the first tabernacle was still standing.

9 It was symbolic for the present time in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered ^awhich cannot make him who performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience—

10 concerned only with ^afoods and drinks, ^bvarious washings, ^cand fleshly ordinances imposed until the time of reformation.

The Heavenly Sanctuary

11 But Christ came as High Priest of ^athe good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation.

12 Not ^awith the blood of goats and calves, but ^bwith His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place ^conce for all, ^dhaving obtained eternal redemption.

13 For if ^athe blood of bulls and goats and ^bthe ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean,¹ sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh,

Verse Comparison: Hebrews 9:5

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American Standard Version
and above it cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy-seat; of which things we cannot now speak severally.

Amplified® Bible
Above [the ark] and overshadowing the mercy seat were the representations of the cherubim [winged creatures which were the symbols] of glory. We cannot now go into detail about these things.

Contemporary English Version
On top of the chest were the glorious creatures with wings opened out above the place of mercy. Now isn't the time to go into detail about these things.

Darby English Version
and above over it the cherubim of glory shadowing the mercy-seat; concerning which it is not now [the time] to speak in detail.

Good News Bible
Above the Box were the winged creatures representing God's presence, with their wings spread over the place where sins were forgiven. But now is not the time to explain everything in detail.

International Standard Version
Above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the place of atonement. (We cannot discuss these things in detail now.)

King James Version
And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly.

New American Standard Bible
and above it {were} the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat; but of these things we cannot now speak in detail.

New International Version
Above the ark were the cherubim of the Glory, overshadowing the atonement cover. But we cannot discuss these things in detail now.

New King James Version
and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail.

N.A.S.B. in E-Prime
and above it appeared the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat; but of these things we cannot now speak in detail.

Young's Literal Translation
and over it cherubim of the glory, overshadowing the mercy-seat, concerning which we are not now to speak particularly.

New English Translation
And above the ark¹ were the cherubim² of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Now is not the time to speak of these things in detail.

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