Heb 9:8-9 | Clarke | e4.org | Verse 8. The Holy Ghost this signifying ] These services were divinely appointed, and by each of them the Holy Spirit of God is supposed to speak. The way into the holiest ] That full access to God was not the common privilege of the people, while the Mosaic economy subsisted. That the apostle means that it is only by Christ that any man and every man can approach God, is evident from , and it is about this, and not about the tabernacle of this world, that he is here discoursing. I have already observed that the apostle appears to use the word σκηνη, or tabernacle , in the general sense of a dwelling place ; and therefore applies it to the temple , which was reputed the house or dwelling place of God, as well as the ancient tabernacle. Therefore, what he speaks here concerning the first tabernacle , may be understood as applying with propriety to the then Jewish temple , as well as to the ancient tabernacle, which, even with all their sacrifices and ceremonies, could not make the way of holiness plain, nor the way to God's favour possible.

‏ Hebrews 9:8-9

Verse 8. The Holy Ghost this signifying] These services were divinely appointed, and by each of them the Holy Spirit of God is supposed to speak.

The way into the holiest] That full access to God was not the common privilege of the people, while the Mosaic economy subsisted. That the apostle means that it is only by Christ that any man and every man can approach God, is evident from Heb 10:19-22, and it is about this, and not about the tabernacle of this world, that he is here discoursing.

I have already observed that the apostle appears to use the word σκηνη, or tabernacle, in the general sense of a dwelling place; and therefore applies it to the temple, which was reputed the house or dwelling place of God, as well as the ancient tabernacle. Therefore, what he speaks here concerning the first tabernacle, may be understood as applying with propriety to the then Jewish temple, as well as to the ancient tabernacle, which, even with all their sacrifices and ceremonies, could not make the way of holiness plain, nor the way to God's favour possible.

Verse 9. Which] Tabernacle and its services, was a figure, παραβολη, a dark enigmatical representation, for the time then present-for that age and dispensation, and for all those who lived under it.

In which, καθον, during which, time or dispensation were offered both gifts and sacrifices-eucharistic offerings and victims for sin, that could not make him that did the service, whether the priest who made the offering, or the person who brought it in the behalf of his soul, perfect as pertaining to the conscience-could not take away guilt from the mind, nor purify the conscience from dead works. The whole was a figure, or dark representation, of a spiritual and more glorious system: and although a sinner, who made these offerings and sacrifices according to the law, might be considered as having done his duty, and thus he would be exempted from many ecclesiastical and legal disabilities and punishments; yet his conscience would ever tell him that the guilt of sin was still remaining, and that it was impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take it away. Thus even he that did the service best continued to be imperfect-had a guilty conscience, and an unholy heart.

The words καθον, in which, referred in the above paraphrase to τονκαιρον, the time, are read καθην by ABD, and several others, one copy of the Slavonic, the Vulgate, and some of the fathers, and thus refer to τηνσκηνην, the tabernacle; and this is the reading which our translators appear to have followed. Griesbach places it in his margin, as a very probable reading; but I prefer the other.