Hebrews 9:9 NIV

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 9:9

Which ( ἥτις , with its usual force) is a parable for the time present ( i.e. present as regarded from the standpoint of the old dispensation. The A.V., translating "then present," and using past tenses throughout, though departing from literalism, still gives, we conceive, the idea correctly); according to which (referring to "parable," if we adopt the best-supported reading, καθ ἥν . The Textus Receptus, followed by the A.V., has καθ ὅν , referring to "the time") are... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 9:9

The parabolic function of the tabernacle services. The tabernacle, with its contents and its institutions, was one great parable embracing and uniting many subordinate parables. A parable looking towards the time of the new covenant—the "present time," as the writer calls it; or, as we might even more closely render it, the impending season. For in God's economy the new state of things is to be ever looked at as impending. So Christ would have us, who rejoice in his first advent, to be... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Hebrews 9:9

Which was a figure for the time then present - That is, as long as the tabernacle stood. The word rendered “figure” - παραβολὴ parabolē - is not the same as type - τύπος tupos - (Romans 5:14; Acts 7:13, Acts 7:44; John 20:25; 1Co 10:6, 1 Corinthians 10:11; Philippians 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 15:15, “et soepe,” and means... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Hebrews 9:8-10

Hebrews 9:8-10. The Holy Ghost By whom the Mosaic ritual was prescribed; signifying By this difficulty of entrance, and the necessity of the incense-cloud and the atoning blood; that the way into the holiest of all Namely, into heaven, the place of God’s immediate presence, represented by the inward tabernacle; was not yet made manifest Not so clearly and fully revealed; while the first tabernacle, and its service, was yet standing Retained its station and use: or, in other words,... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Hebrews 9:1-10

Priestly work under the old covenant (9:1-10)Before discussing Christ’s priestly work further, the writer describes the tabernacle and its furniture (see introductory notes). The golden altar of incense, though kept in the Holy Place, was connected with the ark of the covenant in the ritual of the Day of Atonement (see Exodus 30:6; Leviticus 16:12-14,Leviticus 16:18-19). This may be why the writer mentions it as belonging to the Most Holy Place. He also mentions the three objects kept in the... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Hebrews 9:9

was = is. figure . Greek. parabole. Here and Hebrews 11:19 translated "figure". Elsewhere in the Gospels always "parable", save Mark 4:30 . Luke 4:23 . for . Greek. eis . App-104 . time . See App-195 . then . Omit. in = according to. Greek. kata. App-104 . were = are. The Temple ritual still continuing. make . . . perfect. Greek. teleioo. App-125 . did the service = serves. Greek. latreuo. See Hebrews 8:5 . as pertaining to . Greek. kata, as above. the . Omit. conscience .... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Hebrews 9:9

Which is a figure for the time present; according to which are offered both gifts and sacrifices that cannot, as touching the conscience, make the worshiper perfect, being only (with meats and drinks and divers washings) carnal ordinances, imposed until a time of reformation.The use of the present tense in "is a figure" and "are offered" points to the temple and its services as still operative when Hebrews was written. The great weakness of the old covenant was its carnality. To be sure, the... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Hebrews 9:9

Hebrews 9:9. Which was a figure for the time then present,— The word then is not in the original, though our translators have not distinguished it, as usual in such cases, by putting it in a different character. By the present time many eminent commentators understand the present time of the temple service: "What the Holy Ghost pointed out from the construction of the tabernacle, and only the high-priest's entrance into it, holds equally now under the temple at this present time; in which gifts... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Hebrews 9:9

9. 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" ( :-) stands in contrast to this, "the existing time"; though, in reality, "the time of reformation," the New Testament... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Hebrews 9:1-10

The heavenly sanctuary 9:1-10"In case any of the readers should think that the writer was underestimating the old, he now outlines some of the glories of the old tabernacle. He is impressed by the orderliness of the arrangements within the Levitical cultus, and aims to present this in order to demonstrate the greater glory of the new." [Note: Guthrie, p. 178.] In this pericope the writer concentrated on the tabernacle and its provisions for cultic worship. "Cultic" refers to the rituals... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 9:9

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 9:9

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Hebrews 9:9

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Hebrews 9:8-10

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Hebrews 9:1-10

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Hebrews 9:9

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Hebrews 9:9

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Hebrews 9:9

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Hebrews 9:9

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Hebrews 9:1-10

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