Now the first covenant had regulations for worship and also an earthly sanctuary.
Parallel translations
- WEB Now indeed even the first covenant had ordinances of divine service, and an earthly sanctuary.
- KJV Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary.
- NKJV Then indeed, even the first covenant had ordinances of divine service and the earthly sanctuary.
- NASB Now even the first covenant had regulations for divine worship and the earthly sanctuary.
- NLT That first covenant between God and Israel had regulations for worship and a place of worship here on earth.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The first covenant did have genuine, God-given regulations for worship and an earthly sanctuary. These were real but provisional.
Overview
The author begins describing the tabernacle to show that even the old covenant's worship was divinely ordained yet earthbound. Its 'ordinances of divine service' and 'earthly sanctuary' were legitimate but pointed beyond themselves. This sets up the contrast with Christ's heavenly and superior ministry developed in the rest of the chapter.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- Exod 25:8And they are to make a sanctuary for Me, so that I may dwell among them.
- Heb 9:10–11They consist only in food and drink and special washings—external regulations imposed until the time of reform.
- Lev 18:30You must keep My charge not to practice any of the abominable customs that were practiced before you, so that you do not defile yourselves by them. I am the LORD your God.”
- Heb 8:2and who ministers in the sanctuary and true tabernacle set up by the Lord, not by man.
- Lev 18:3–4You must not follow the practices of the land of Egypt, where you used to live, and you must not follow the practices of the land of Canaan, into which I am bringing you. You must not walk in their customs.
- Lev 22:9The priests must keep My charge, lest they bear the guilt and die because they profane it. I am the LORD who sanctifies them.
- Col 2:8See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, which are based on human tradition and the spiritual forces of the world rather than on Christ.
- Num 9:12they may not leave any of it until morning or break any of its bones. They must observe the Passover according to all its statutes.
- Heb 8:7For if that first covenant had been without fault, no place would have been sought for a second.
- Ezek 43:11and if they are ashamed of all they have done, then make known to them the design of the temple—its arrangement and its exits and entrances—its whole design along with all its statutes, forms, and laws. Write it down in their sight, so that they may keep its complete design and all its statutes and may carry them out.
- Luke 1:6Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and decrees of the Lord.
- Heb 8:13By speaking of a new covenant, He has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and aging will soon disappear.
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Christ at the center
Hebrews is sustained worship of Christ: better than angels, Moses, and the priests; the great High Priest after Melchizedek who by one sacrifice perfects forever those he saves.
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