Devine Scripture

Hebrews 9:24

What does Hebrews 9:24 mean?

A plain-English look at Hebrews 9:24 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Hebrews 9:24 means

Christ did not enter a holy place made with hands, a mere likeness of the true. He entered heaven itself, now to appear before the face of God for us. This is priestly representation at the highest level: the risen Christ stands in the immediate presence of God on behalf of His people. His entrance is the reality to which the high priest’s annual approach only pointed. Our acceptance is anchored not in an earthly ritual but in the living presence of Christ before God. His advocacy is personal, present, and effective. The focus shifts from furniture and tents to a Person in heaven whose completed sacrifice secures ongoing favor for those He represents.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

For Christ entered not into a holy place made with hands, like in pattern to the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear before the face of God for us:

KJV

King James Version · 1611

For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

For Christ entered not into a holy place made with hands, like in pattern to the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear before the face of God for us:

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

For Christ did not go into a holy place which had been made by men's hands as the copy of the true one; but he went into heaven itself, and now takes his place before the face of God for us.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

for not into holy places made with hands did the Christ enter--figures of the true--but into the heaven itself, now to be manifested in the presence of God for us;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

For Jesus is not entered into the Holies made with hands, the patterns of the true: but into Heaven itself, that he may appear now in the presence of God for us.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

For the Christ is not entered into holy places made with hand, figures of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear before the face ofGod for us:

Context

Verse 24 names the greater reality implied in verse 23’s “better sacrifices”: Christ’s entry into heaven itself to appear for us. The following verses (25–26) will deny any notion of repeated self-offering, contrasting Christ’s once-for-all sacrifice with the high priest’s annual rite. Verses 27–28 will then draw a parallel between the finality of human death and judgment and the finality of Christ’s once-for-all offering and future appearing for salvation. The argument is drawing to its theological climax: a single, decisive sacrifice with enduring, heavenly effect.

v.23It 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.

v.24This passage

v.25nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place year by year with blood not his own;

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • John 2:19

    Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.

  • 1 John 2:1

    My little children, these things write I unto you that ye may not sin. And if any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

  • Hebrews 8:2

    a minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, not man.

  • Mark 16:19

    So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken unto them, was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God.

  • Acts 3:21

    whom the heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, whereof God spake by the mouth of his holy prophets that have been from of old.

  • Acts 1:9

    And when he had said these things, as they were looking, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.

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