Behind the second veil there was a tabernacle which is called the Most Holy Place,
Parallel translations
- WEB After the second veil was the tabernacle which is called the Holy of Holies,
- KJV And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all;
- BSB Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place,
- NKJV and behind the second veil, the part of the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of All,
- NLT Then there was a curtain, and behind the curtain was the second room called the Most Holy Place.
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
Behind the second curtain lay the inner room, the Holy of Holies. It was the most sacred space, where God's presence was specially manifested.
Overview
The author notes the second veil separating the Most Holy Place from the Holy Place. This innermost room held the ark and symbolized God's dwelling among his people. Its restricted access foreshadows the great theme that Christ has opened the way into God's presence, tearing down the barrier the veil represented.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- Exod 26:31–33“You shall make a veil of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, with cherubim. The work of the skillful workman shall it be made.
- Exod 40:21He brought the ark into the tabernacle, and set up the veil of the screen, and screened the ark of the testimony, as Yahweh commanded Moses.
- Matt 27:51Behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from the top to the bottom. The earth quaked and the rocks were split.
- Exod 40:3You shall put the ark of the testimony in it, and you shall screen the ark with the veil.
- 1 Kgs 8:6The 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 the cherubim’s wings.
- Heb 9:8The Holy Spirit is indicating this, that the way into the Holy Place wasn’t yet revealed while the first tabernacle was still standing;
- 2 Chr 3:14He made the veil of blue, purple, crimson, and fine linen, and ornamented it with cherubim.
- Heb 10:19–20Having therefore, brothers, boldness to enter into the holy place by the blood of Jesus,
- Isa 25:7He will destroy in this mountain the surface of the covering that covers all peoples, and the veil that is spread over all nations.
- Heb 6:19This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and entering into that which is within the veil;
- Exod 36:35–38He made the veil of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen: with cherubim. He made it the work of a skillful workman.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
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.
How Hebrews 9:3 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.