Hebrews 9 3

Hebrews 9:3 kjv

And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all;

Hebrews 9:3 nkjv

and behind the second veil, the part of the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of All,

Hebrews 9:3 niv

Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place,

Hebrews 9:3 esv

Behind the second curtain was a second section called the Most Holy Place,

Hebrews 9:3 nlt

Then there was a curtain, and behind the curtain was the second room called the Most Holy Place.

Hebrews 9 verses

Hebrews 9 3 Meaning

Hebrews 9:3 describes the innermost chamber of the earthly tabernacle, known as the Most Holy Place, which was separated from the Holy Place by a second, thick veil. This architectural detail served as a tangible representation of the old covenant's limited access to God's immediate presence due to sin.

Hebrews 9 3 Context

Hebrews chapter 9 serves as a detailed exposition of the Old Covenant's sanctuary and its sacrificial system, contrasting them sharply with the superior efficacy of Christ's New Covenant and His once-for-all sacrifice. The author's primary goal is to demonstrate the inadequacy and temporal nature of the Mosaic law in achieving true redemption and direct access to God. Verse 3 is a descriptive element within this larger argument, detailing the layout of the tabernacle. It highlights the restrictive nature of the Old Covenant's physical structure, specifically the ultimate barrier (the second veil) that separated sinful humanity from the divine presence in the Most Holy Place. This setup sets the stage for the dramatic revelation of Christ's work in tearing down that barrier, fulfilling and superseding the Old Covenant's limitations. Historically, the tabernacle was Israel's movable sanctuary, a place where God symbolically dwelt among His people. Its design, with distinct courts and chambers, rigidly enforced the concept of God's holiness and the necessary separation from human sin. The veil underscored this inaccessibility, making the Most Holy Place the epitome of God's sacred dwelling, only enterable by the High Priest on the annual Day of Atonement.

Hebrews 9 3 Word analysis

• Behind (ὀπίσω - opisō): Indicates physical location and spatial separation. In this context, it signifies an ultimate barrier, implying restricted access and divine exclusivity to what lay beyond. It immediately signals a boundary that could not be easily crossed.
• the second veil (τοῦ δευτέρου καταπετάσματος - tou deuterou katapetasmatos):
  • second (deuterou): Distinguishes it from the "first veil" or "screen" that guarded the entrance to the Holy Place from the outer court (Heb 9:2). This second veil was the most significant barrier within the sanctuary, signifying ultimate separation from God's immediate presence.
  • veil (katapetasmatos): Not merely a decorative curtain, but a heavy, thick partition that physically barred entry. It served a profound theological purpose: to highlight the insurmountable divide between a holy God and sinful humanity, underscoring the limited access permitted under the Old Covenant.
• was (ἐν ᾗ - en hē): A descriptive verb indicating existence within that space.
• a second section (σκηνὴ ἡ λεγομένη Ἅγια Ἁγίων - skēnē hē legomenē Hagia Hagion):
  • The Greek literally translates as "the tent called Holy of Holies." This reinforces the internal division of the tabernacle into two main compartments.
  • "Second section" here refers to the innermost part, contrasted with the "first section" (the Holy Place mentioned in v.2).
• called the Most Holy Place (Ἅγια Ἁγίων - Hagia Hagion):
  • Most Holy Place (Hagia Hagion): A direct transliteration of the Hebrew Qodesh HaKodashim, meaning "Holy of Holies" or "Holiest of All." This name itself emphasizes the supreme sanctity and untouchable nature of this innermost chamber. It was the earthly dwelling place of God's manifested presence, represented by the Ark of the Covenant, and was strictly off-limits to all but the High Priest, who could only enter once a year on the Day of Atonement. This name encapsulates the profound reverence and limited access characteristic of the Old Covenant's relationship with God.

Words-group analysis:

• "Behind the second veil": This phrase succinctly conveys the rigid boundary and profound separation between human beings and the direct, unveiled presence of God. It points to a deep theological reality where sin precluded unmediated fellowship, emphasizing the human predicament before God.
• "the Most Holy Place": This specific designation denotes the pinnacle of sacred space under the Old Covenant, representing the dwelling of God's immanent glory. Its name and strict access laws underscore the divine holiness and the profound inaccessibility of God, necessitating ritual purity and atonement to approach Him.

Hebrews 9 3 Bonus section

• Symbolic Function of the Veil: The second veil was more than a mere curtain; it was a potent symbol of separation between a sinful people and a holy God. Its very presence conveyed God's transcendence and the unbridgeable gulf created by sin, illustrating that full and free access to God's presence was not possible under the Old Covenant.
• The Tearing of the Temple Veil: The profound significance of the second veil is fully revealed in the New Testament when it was supernaturally torn from top to bottom at Christ's death (Matt 27:51; Mark 15:38; Luke 23:45). This dramatic event symbolized the abolition of the old barrier and the opening of a new, living way for all believers to directly access God's presence through Christ's shed blood and sacrificed body. Christ Himself became the new "curtain" through which we approach (Heb 10:19-20).
• Foreshadowing Christ's High Priesthood: The High Priest's sole annual entry into the Most Holy Place, laden with blood for atonement, foreshadowed Jesus Christ, the ultimate High Priest, who entered the true, heavenly Most Holy Place once for all, not with animal blood, but with His own blood, securing eternal redemption and perpetual access for His people (Heb 9:11-12, 24).

Hebrews 9 3 Commentary

Hebrews 9:3 provides a concise architectural description of the innermost sanctuary, the Most Holy Place, noting its separation by the "second veil." This verse is foundational for the author's argument. It establishes the physical reality of the Old Covenant's limited access to God's presence, preparing the reader for the later revelation of Christ's superior work. The veil itself served as a powerful visual aid, symbolizing the insurmountable barrier that sin placed between humanity and a holy God. Only the high priest, acting as a mediator and strictly adhering to divine mandates, could pass through this veil once a year with sacrificial blood, prefiguring the ultimate mediator, Jesus Christ, who would break down this wall of separation through His own blood. The very name, "Most Holy Place," underscored its absolute sacredness and the prohibitive nature of approach for the unatoned, unpurified individual.