The Meaning of Hebrews 9:6 Explained

Hebrews 9:6

KJV: Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God.

YLT: And these things having been thus prepared, into the first tabernacle, indeed, at all times the priests do go in, performing the services,

Darby: Now these things being thus ordered, into the first tabernacle the priests enter at all times, accomplishing the services;

ASV: Now these things having been thus prepared, the priests go in continually into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the services;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Now  when these things  were  thus  ordained,  the priests  went  always  into  the first  tabernacle,  accomplishing  the service  [of God]. 

What does Hebrews 9:6 Mean?

Context Summary

Hebrews 9:1-10 - The Imperfect Way Of Approach To God
With careful enumeration each item of the Tabernacle furniture is specified, because of each there is a spiritual equivalent in the unseen, spiritual Temple to which we belong. The veil that screened the Most Holy Place and forbade entrance, save once a year, taught that fellowship with God was not fully open. Ignorance, unbelief, unpreparedness of heart still weave a heavy veil which screens God from the soul's gaze.
The altar of incense is here associated with the inner shrine, because it stood so near the veil. Its analogue is Revelation 8:4. The Ark was an emblem of Christ: the wood, of His humanity; the gold, of His deity. He holds the manna of the world, and is the ever-budding plant of renown, beautiful and fruit-bearing through death. There is one gateway in St. Peter's, Rome, through which the Pope passes only once a year; how glad we may be that our gates for prayer stand open day and night! Contrast the sadness of such passages as Psalms 51:3-4 and Micah 6:6 with the joy of Ephesians 1:3-10. [source]

Chapter Summary: Hebrews 9

1  The description of the rites and sacrifices of the law;
11  which are far inferior to the dignity and perfection of the sacrifice of Christ

Greek Commentary for Hebrews 9:6

These things having been thus prepared [τουτων ουτως κατεσκευασμενων]
Genitive absolute with the perfect passive participle of κατασκευαζω — kataskeuazō for which verb see Hebrews 9:2. A mere summary has been made of the furniture. Go in Present active indicative of εισειμι — eiseimi to go in, old verb, in N.T. only here, Acts 3:3; Acts 21:18, Acts 21:26. Accomplishing Present active participle of επιτελεω — epiteleō for which see Hebrews 8:5. [source]
[]
d The inferiority of the ancient system was proved by the old tabernacle itself: by its division into two parts, both of which were inaccessible to the people. [source]
Always [διὰ παντὸς]
Rend. continually. The phrase is usually found in connection with matters involving relations to God - worship, sacrifice, etc. See Matthew 18:10; Luke 24:53; Acts 2:25; Acts 10:2; 2 Thessalonians 3:16; Hebrews 13:5. [source]
Accomplishing [ἐπιτελοῦντες]
See on Hebrews 8:5, and see on Galatians 3:3. The verb is used of performing religious services by Herodotus. See i. 167; ii. 63,122; iv. 186. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Hebrews 9:6

Acts 21:18 Went in [εισηιει]
Imperfect active of εισειμι — eiseimi old classic verb used only four times in the N.T. (Acts 3:3; Acts 21:18, Acts 21:26; Hebrews 9:6), a mark of the literary style rather than the colloquial Koiné{[28928]}š use of εισερχομαι — eiserchomai Together with us to James So then Luke is present. The next use of “we” is in Acts 27:1 when they leave Caesarea for Rome, but it is not likely that Luke was away from Paul in Jerusalem and Caesarea. The reports of what was done and said in both places is so full and minute that it seems reasonable that Luke got first hand information here whatever his motive was for so full an account of these legal proceedings to be discussed later. There are many details that read like an eye witness‘s story (Acts 21:30, Acts 21:35, Acts 21:40; Acts 22:2, Acts 22:3; Acts 23:12, etc.). It was probably the house of James And all the elders were present (παντες τε παρεγενοντο οι πρεσβυτεροι — pantes te paregenonto hoi presbuteroi). Clearly James is the leading elder and the others are his guests in a formal reception to Paul. It is noticeable that the apostles are not mentioned, though both elders and apostles are named at the Conference in Acts chapter 15. It would seem that the apostles are away on preaching tours. The whole church was not called together probably because of the known prejudice against Paul created by the Judaizers. [source]
Romans 1:9 I serve [λατρεύω]
See on Luke 1:74. The word was used in a special sense to denote the service rendered to Jehovah by the Israelites as His peculiar people. See Romans 9:4; Acts 26:7. Compare Hebrews 9:1, Hebrews 9:6. As in his Philippian letter, Paul here appropriates the Jewish word for the spiritual Christian service. See on Philemon 3:3. [source]
Romans 9:4 Israelites [Ισραηλειται]
Covenant name of the chosen people. Whose (ων — hōn). Predicate genitive of the relative, used also again with οι πατερες — hoi pateres For “the adoption” (η υιοτεσια — hē huiothesia) see note on Romans 8:15. The glory The Shekinah Glory of God (Romans 3:23) and used of Jesus in James 2:1. The covenants (αι διατηκαι — hai diathēkai). Plural because renewed often (Genesis 6:18; Genesis 9:9; Genesis 15:18; Genesis 17:2, Genesis 17:7, Genesis 17:9; Exodus 2:24). The giving of the law Old word, here only in N.T., from νομος — nomos and τιτημι — tithēmi The service (η λατρεια — hē latreia). The temple service (Hebrews 9:1, Hebrews 9:6). The fathers The patriarchs (Acts 3:13; Acts 7:32). [source]
Romans 9:4 The glory [η δοχα]
The Shekinah Glory of God (Romans 3:23) and used of Jesus in James 2:1. The covenants (αι διατηκαι — hai diathēkai). Plural because renewed often (Genesis 6:18; Genesis 9:9; Genesis 15:18; Genesis 17:2, Genesis 17:7, Genesis 17:9; Exodus 2:24). The giving of the law Old word, here only in N.T., from νομος — nomos and τιτημι — tithēmi The service (η λατρεια — hē latreia). The temple service (Hebrews 9:1, Hebrews 9:6). The fathers The patriarchs (Acts 3:13; Acts 7:32). [source]
Romans 9:4 The giving of the law [η νομοτεσια]
Old word, here only in N.T., from νομος — nomos and τιτημι — tithēmi The service (η λατρεια — hē latreia). The temple service (Hebrews 9:1, Hebrews 9:6). The fathers The patriarchs (Acts 3:13; Acts 7:32). [source]
Romans 9:4 The service [η λατρεια]
The temple service (Hebrews 9:1, Hebrews 9:6). [source]
2 Timothy 1:3 I serve [λατρεύω]
In Pastorals only here. Comp. Romans 1:9, Romans 1:25; Philemon 3:3. Frequent in Hebrews. Originally, to serve for hire. In N.T. both of ritual service, as Hebrews 8:5; Hebrews 9:9; Hebrews 10:2; Hebrews 13:10; and of worship or service generally, as Luke 1:74; Romans 1:9. Especially of the service rendered to God by the Israelites as his peculiar people, as Acts 26:7. Comp. λατρεία service Romans 9:4; Hebrews 9:1, Hebrews 9:6. In lxx always of the service of God or of heathen deities. [source]
Hebrews 12:24 The mediator of the new covenant [διαθήκης νέας μεσίτῃ]
See Hebrews 7:22; Hebrews 8:6, Hebrews 8:8, Hebrews 8:9, Hebrews 8:10; Hebrews 9:15. For covenant, see on Hebrews 9:6ff. For the new covenant, rend. a new covenant. Νέα newonly here applied to the covenant in N.T. The word elsewhere is καινή . For the distinction, see on Matthew 26:29. It is better not to press the distinction, since νεός , in certain cases, clearly has the sense of quality rather than of time, as 1 Corinthians 5:7; Colossians 3:10, and probably here, where to confine the sense to recent would seem to limit it unduly. In the light of all that the writer has said respecting the better quality of the Christian covenant, superseding the old, outworn, insufficient covenant, he may naturally be supposed to have had in mind something besides its mere recentness. Moreover, all through the contrast from Hebrews 12:18, the thought of earlier and later is not once touched, but only that of inferior and better; repellency and invitation; terrors and delights; fear and confidence. Note that the privilege of approaching the Mediator in person is emphasized. [source]
Revelation 22:3 Shall serve [λατρεύσουσιν]
See on Luke 1:74. Rev., do Him service. The word originally means to serve for hire. In the New Testament, of the worship or service of God in the use of the rites intended for His worship. It came to be used by the Jews in a very special sense, to denote the service rendered to Jehovah by the Israelites as His peculiar people. See Romans 9:4; Acts 26:7; Hebrews 9:1, Hebrews 9:6. Hence the significant application of the term to Christian service by Paul in Philemon 3:3. [source]

What do the individual words in Hebrews 9:6 mean?

These things now thus having been prepared into indeed the first tabernacle at all times everything enter the priests the sacred services accomplishing
Τούτων δὲ οὕτως κατεσκευασμένων εἰς μὲν τὴν πρώτην σκηνὴν διὰ παντὸς εἰσίασιν οἱ ἱερεῖς τὰς λατρείας ἐπιτελοῦντες

Τούτων  These  things 
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Genitive Neuter Plural
Root: οὗτος  
Sense: this.
δὲ  now 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: δέ  
Sense: but, moreover, and, etc.
οὕτως  thus 
Parse: Adverb
Root: οὕτως  
Sense: in this manner, thus, so.
κατεσκευασμένων  having  been  prepared 
Parse: Verb, Perfect Participle Middle or Passive, Genitive Neuter Plural
Root: κατασκευάζω  
Sense: to furnish, equip, prepare, make ready.
εἰς  into 
Parse: Preposition
Root: εἰς  
Sense: into, unto, to, towards, for, among.
μὲν  indeed 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: μέν  
Sense: truly, certainly, surely, indeed.
πρώτην  first 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: πρῶτος  
Sense: first in time or place.
σκηνὴν  tabernacle 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: σκηνή  
Sense: tent, tabernacle, (made of green boughs, or skins or other materials).
διὰ  at  all  times 
Parse: Preposition
Root: διά  
Sense: through.
παντὸς  everything 
Parse: Adjective, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: πᾶς  
Sense: individually.
εἰσίασιν  enter 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: εἴσειμι  
Sense: to go into, enter.
ἱερεῖς  priests 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: ἱερεύς  
Sense: a priest, one who offers sacrifices and in general in busied with sacred rites.
λατρείας  sacred  services 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Plural
Root: λατρεία  
Sense: service rendered for hire.
ἐπιτελοῦντες  accomplishing 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: ἐπιτελέω  
Sense: to bring to an end, accomplish, perfect, execute, complete.