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Hebrews 9:3-5

After the second veil was the tabernacle which is called the Holy of Holies, having a golden altar of incense, and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which was a golden pot holding the manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant; and above it cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat, of which things we can’t speak now in detail.

World English Bible · Public Domain
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Hebrews 9:3-5 sits inside this longer paragraph.

Now indeed even the first covenant had ordinances of divine service and an earthly sanctuary. For a tabernacle was prepared. In the first part were the lamp stand, the table, and the show bread; which is called the Holy Place. After the second veil was the tabernacle which is called the Holy of Holies, having a golden altar of incense, and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which was a golden pot holding the manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant; and above it cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat, of which things we can’t speak now in detail. Now these things having been thus prepared, the priests go in continually into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the services, but into the second the high priest alone, once in the year, not without blood, which he offers for himself, and for the errors of the people. The Holy Spirit is indicating this, that the way into the Holy Place wasn’t yet revealed while the first tabernacle was still standing. This is a symbol of the present age, where gifts and sacrifices are offered that are incapable, concerning the conscience, of making the worshiper perfect, being only (with meats and drinks and various washings) fleshly ordinances, imposed until a time of reformation.

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Parallel Translations

  • WEB World English Bible

    After the second veil was the tabernacle which is called the Holy of Holies,

    having a golden altar of incense, and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which was a golden pot holding the manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant;

    and above it cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat, of which things we can’t speak now in detail.

  • TYNDALE Tyndale New Testament (1534)

    But with in the seconde vayle was ther a tabernacle which is called holiest of all

    which had the golden senser and the arcke of the testament overlayde round about with golde wherin was the golden pot with manna and Aarons rodde that spronge and the tables of the testament.

    Over the arcke were the cherubis of glory shadowynge the seate of grace. Of which thynges we wyll not now speake perticularly.

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  • GNV Geneva Bible (1599)

    And after the seconde vaile was the Tabernacle, which is called the Holiest of all,

    Which had the golden censer, and the Arke of the Testament ouerlayde rounde about with golde, wherein the golden pot, which had Manna, was, and Aarons rod that had budded, and the tables of the Testament.

    And ouer the Arke were the glorious Cherubims, shadowing the mercie seat: of which things we will not nowe speake particularly.

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Examined in Scripture Analysis

Contradictions (1)

Questions where the Bible appears to say two different things, with the passages on each side set together.

  • What was in the Ark of the Covenant?

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Cross-references (45)

  • Numbers 17:10 (v4) Yahweh said to Moses, “Put back the rod of Aaron before the covenant, to be kept for a token against the children of rebellion; that you…
  • Exodus 40:3 (vv3–4) You shall put the ark of the covenant in it, and you shall screen the ark with the veil.
  • Exodus 26:33 (v4) You shall hang up the veil under the clasps, and shall bring the ark of the covenant in there within the veil. The veil shall separate the…
  • Leviticus 16:2 (v5) and Yahweh said to Moses, “Tell Aaron your brother not to come at just any time into the Most Holy Place within the veil, before the mercy…
  • Leviticus 16:12 (v4) He shall take a censer full of coals of fire from off the altar before Yahweh, and two handfuls of sweet incense beaten small, and bring it…
Show all 44 cross-references
  • Numbers 7:89 (v5) When Moses went into the Tent of Meeting to speak with Yahweh, he heard his voice speaking to him from above the mercy seat that was on the…
  • 2 Chronicles 5:10 (v4) There was nothing in the ark except the two tablets which Moses put at Horeb, when Yahweh made a covenant with the children of Israel, when…
  • Exodus 25:17-22 (v5) You shall make a mercy seat of pure gold. Two and a half cubits shall be its length, and a cubit and a half its width. You shall make two…
  • Exodus 26:31-33 (v3) “You shall make a veil of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, with cherubim. It shall be the work of a skillful workman.…
  • 1 Kings 8:6-7 (v5) The priests brought in the ark of Yahweh’s covenant to its place, into the inner sanctuary of the house, to the most holy place, even under…
  • Exodus 16:32-34 (v4) Moses said, “This is the thing which Yahweh has commanded, ‘Let an omer-full of it be kept throughout your generations, that they may see…
  • Exodus 34:29 (v4) When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the covenant in Moses’ hand, when he came down from the mountain, Moses…
  • Exodus 40:20-21 (v4) He took and put the covenant into the ark, and set the poles on the ark, and put the mercy seat above on the ark. He brought the ark into…
  • Exodus 40:21 (v3) He brought the ark into the tabernacle, and set up the veil of the screen, and screened the ark of the covenant, as Yahweh commanded Moses.
  • Leviticus 16:13 (v5) He shall put the incense on the fire before Yahweh, that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy seat that is on the covenant, so that…
  • Numbers 17:5 (v4) It shall happen that the rod of the man whom I shall choose shall bud. I will make the murmurings of the children of Israel, which they…
  • Psalms 80:1 (v5) Hear us, Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock, you who sit above the cherubim, shine out.
  • Psalms 99:1 (v5) Yahweh reigns! Let the peoples tremble. He sits enthroned among the cherubim. Let the earth be moved.
  • Matthew 27:51 (v3) Behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from the top to the bottom. The earth quaked and the rocks were split.
  • Exodus 37:6-9 (v5) He made a mercy seat of pure gold. Its length was two and a half cubits, and a cubit and a half its width. He made two cherubim of gold. He…
  • Numbers 17:8 (v4) On the next day, Moses went into the Tent of the Testimony; and behold, Aaron’s rod for the house of Levi had sprouted, budded, produced…
  • Deuteronomy 10:2-5 (v4) I will write on the tablets the words that were on the first tablets which you broke, and you shall put them in the ark.” So I made an ark…
  • 1 Samuel 4:4 (v5) So the people sent to Shiloh, and they brought from there the ark of the covenant of Yahweh of Armies, who sits above the cherubim; and the…
  • 1 Kings 7:50 (v4) the cups, the snuffers, the basins, the spoons, and the fire pans, of pure gold; and the hinges, both for the doors of the inner house, the…
  • 1 Kings 8:6 (v3) The priests brought in the ark of Yahweh’s covenant to its place, into the inner sanctuary of the house, to the most holy place, even under…
  • 1 Kings 8:9 (v4) There was nothing in the ark except the two stone tablets which Moses put there at Horeb, when Yahweh made a covenant with the children of…
  • 1 Kings 8:21 (v4) There I have set a place for the ark, in which is Yahweh’s covenant, which he made with our fathers, when he brought them out of the land…
  • 2 Kings 19:15 (v5) Hezekiah prayed before Yahweh, and said, “Yahweh, the God of Israel, who are enthroned above the cherubim, you are the God, even you alone,…
  • 1 Chronicles 28:11 (v5) Then David gave to Solomon his son the plans for the porch of the temple, for its houses, for its treasuries, for its upper rooms, for its…
  • Hebrews 4:16 (v5) Let’s therefore draw near with boldness to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace for help in time of need.
  • Hebrews 9:8 (v3) The Holy Spirit is indicating this, that the way into the Holy Place wasn’t yet revealed while the first tabernacle was still standing.
  • 1 Peter 1:12 (v5) To them it was revealed, that they served not to themselves, but to you, in these things, which now have been announced to you through…
  • Revelation 8:3 (v4) Another angel came and stood over the altar, having a golden censer. Much incense was given to him, that he should add it to the prayers of…
  • Exodus 25:10-22 (v4) “They shall make an ark of acacia wood. Its length shall be two and a half cubits, its width a cubit and a half, and a cubit and a half its…
  • Exodus 30:1-5 (v4) “You shall make an altar to burn incense on. You shall make it of acacia wood. Its length shall be a cubit, and its width a cubit. It shall…
  • Exodus 37:1-5 (v4) Bezalel made the ark of acacia wood. Its length was two and a half cubits, and its width a cubit and a half, and a cubit and a half its…
  • Exodus 39:35 (v4) the ark of the covenant with its poles, the mercy seat,
  • 2 Chronicles 3:14 (v3) He made the veil of blue, purple, crimson, and fine linen, and ornamented it with cherubim.
  • Psalms 110:2-3 (v4) Yahweh will send out the rod of your strength out of Zion. Rule among your enemies. Your people offer themselves willingly in the day of…
  • Isaiah 25:7 (v3) He will destroy in this mountain the surface of the covering that covers all peoples, and the veil that is spread over all nations.
  • Ephesians 3:10 (v5) to the intent that now through the assembly the manifold wisdom of God might be made known to the principalities and the powers in the…
  • Hebrews 6:19 (v3) This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and entering into that which is within the veil;
  • Hebrews 10:19-20 (v3) Having therefore, brothers, boldness to enter into the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by the way which he dedicated for us, a new and…
  • Exodus 36:35-38 (v3) He made the veil of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen, with cherubim. He made it the work of a skillful workman. He made four…

44 distinct cross-references across this passage (45 total citations).

Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)

Explain this passage (19 sources)

Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.

John Calvin 1540 · Public Domain On v5 5. Of which we cannot now, etc. As nothing…

5. Of which we cannot now, etc. As nothing can satisfy, curious men, the apostle cuts off every occasion for refinements unsuitable to his present purpose, and lest a longer discussion of these things should break off the thread of his argument. If, therefore, any one should disregard the Apostle’s example, and dwell more minutely on the subject, he would be acting very unreasonably. There might be, indeed, an occasion for doing this elsewhere; but it is now better to attend to the subject of which he treats: it may further be said, that to philosophize beyond just limits, which some do, is not only useless, but also dangerous. There are some things which are not obscure and fitted for the edification of faith; but discretion and sobriety ought to be observed, lest we seek to be wise above what God has been pleased to reveal.

John Calvin's Commentaries (1540-1563) — public domain. Text from the Calvin Translation Society English edition (1840s-50s) via the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (ccel.org). Calvin's coverage is partial (roughly two-thirds of the Bible); uncommented books and verses are honest gaps, never fabricated. The 19th-century editor's footnotes and remarks are omitted so the notes are faithfully Calvin's own voice.

Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On vv3, 5 The holiest Sanctuary.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv3–5 3 And after the second veil, the tabernacle which…
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On vv3–5 And after the second veil: this distinguisheth the second…
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv3–5 And after the second vail,.... Were there more vails…
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On vv3–5 The second veil divided the holy place from the…
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On vv3–5 Verse 3. And after the second veil] The first…
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On vv3–4 Heb 9:3. And after the second veil — That…
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain On vv3–5 And after the second veil - There were two…
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On vv3–5 And after the second veil, or partition, was the…
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain On vv3–5 And--Greek, "But."
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On vv3–5 3. Holiest of all—Or, holy of holies, or most…
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv3–5 3. after the second vail] Rather, “behind the second…
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv3–5 (3) The tabernacle.—Rather, a tabernacle which is called the…
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On v4 HOMILIES BY W. JONES. Vers. 4, 5. The ark…
B. W. Johnson 1891 · Public Domain On vv3–5 3. After the second vail. The first vail was…
C. I. Scofield 1917 · Public Domain On v5 (Greek - ἱλαστήριον, place of propitation). (See Scofield "Rom…
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On v3 Behind the second curtain
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv3–5 9:3 At the back of the first room of…
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