• Hebrews 9:23
    The Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures

    • 23 ᾿Ανάγκη Necessity οὖν therefore τὰ the μὲν indeed ὑποδείγματα examples τῶν of the (things) ἐν in τοῖς the οὐρανοῖς heavens τούτοις to these καθαρίζεσθαι, to be being cleansed, αὐτὰ very δὲ but τὰ the ἐπουράνια heavenly (things) κρείττοσι to better θυσίαις sacrifices παρὰ beside ταύτας. these.

  • Hebrews 9:23
    American Standard Version

    • 23 It was necessary therefore that the copies of the things in the heavens should be cleansed with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.

  • Hebrews 9:23
    The Emphasized Bible

    • 23 It was indeed therefore necessary for the glimpses of the things in the heavens with these to be purified; But the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.

  • Hebrews 9:23
    King James Version

    • 23 It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.

  • Hebrews Study Notes—Chapter 9
    New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (Study Edition)

    • 9:23

      the typical representations: See study note on Heb 8:5.

      to be cleansed by these means: For the physical things in the earthly tabernacle to serve as symbols of heavenly things, they needed “to be cleansed” by means of the blood of animal sacrifices. For example, in order for the altar to be used for sin-atoning sacrifices, it needed to be cleansed and sanctified. Moses performed the initial sanctification of the altar during the inauguration of the Law covenant and the priesthood. (Ex 29:36; Le 8:15) Thereafter, during the yearly symbolic cleansing on the Day of Atonement, the high priest spattered blood on the altar. (Le 16:18-20) Still, this literal altar could provide for atonement of sins in a limited way only.

      but the heavenly things require far better sacrifices: Paul shifts his focus from the earthly to “the heavenly things.” These things include the great reality represented by the man-made altar of burnt offering, namely, Jehovah’s will to provide something infinitely better than animal sacrifices. (Ga 1:4; Heb 10:5-10; see study note on verse 10.) That heavenly altar called for something that no animal sacrifice could offer​—the precious blood of a perfect human, which would provide the basis for full and permanent forgiveness of sins.​—Eph 1:7; Col 1:13, 14.