Hebrews 9:6

KJV

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

KJV (with Strong's)

Now {G1161} when these things {G5130} were {G2680} thus {G3779} ordained {G2680}, the priests {G2409} went {G1524} always {G1275} into {G1519}{G3303} the first {G4413} tabernacle {G4633}, accomplishing {G2005} the service {G2999} of God.

Complete Jewish Bible

With things so arranged, the cohanim go into the outer tent all the time to discharge their duties;

Berean Standard Bible

When everything had been prepared in this way, the priests entered regularly into the first room to perform their sacred duties.

American Standard Version

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

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Hebrews 9:6 describes the routine and repetitive duties of the priests in the Old Testament Tabernacle's "first tabernacle," also known as the Holy Place. This verse highlights the constant, yet ultimately insufficient, nature of the Old Covenant rituals, which required continuous service to maintain ceremonial purity and a relationship with God. It sets the stage for the author's subsequent argument regarding the limitations of the Mosaic Law and the absolute superiority of Christ's once-for-all sacrifice and perfect, eternal ministry in the heavenly sanctuary.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Hebrews 9:6 follows a detailed description of the earthly Tabernacle's structure and furnishings in [Hebrews 9:1-5](/hebrews/9-1-5 "Hebrews 9:1-5 - Description of the Tabernacle"). The author meticulously outlines the two main compartments—the Holy Place (the "first tabernacle") and the Most Holy Place (the "second tabernacle" or Holy of Holies)—and the sacred items within each. This precise enumeration serves to establish the physical setting for the priestly ministry, laying the groundwork for the stark contrast between the Old Covenant's limited access to God and the New Covenant's full and permanent access through Christ, which is developed in the verses immediately following, particularly [Hebrews 9:7-10](/hebrews/9-7-10 "Hebrews 9:7-10 - Limitations of the Old Covenant").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Tabernacle, and later the Temple, served as the central place of worship for ancient Israel, symbolizing God's dwelling among His people. Priests, descending from the tribe of Levi and the lineage of Aaron, were divinely appointed to mediate between God and humanity through prescribed rituals and sacrifices. Their daily duties in the Holy Place, such as tending the lampstand, offering incense on the altar of incense, and replacing the showbread, were essential for maintaining the covenant relationship and ceremonial purity. These practices were not merely symbolic but were believed to be necessary for the nation's spiritual well-being, underscoring a system built on continuous, prescribed acts of service to atone for sin and maintain fellowship with a holy God.
* **Key Themes:** This verse contributes to several key themes woven throughout the book of Hebrews. It underscores the **regularity and repetition** of Old Covenant worship, emphasizing that its rituals were ongoing and never brought perfect cleansing or full access to God, as highlighted in [Hebrews 10:1-4](/hebrews/10-1-4 "Hebrews 10:1-4 - The Law's Inability to Perfect"). It also highlights the **limited access to God's presence** under the Old Covenant, where only priests could enter the Holy Place daily, and only the High Priest could enter the Most Holy Place, and that only once a year ([Hebrews 9:7](/hebrews/9-7 "Hebrews 9:7 - The High Priest's Annual Entry")). This limitation ultimately points to the **foreshadowing of a greater reality**, where the earthly Tabernacle and its services were but a "copy and shadow of the heavenly things" ([Hebrews 8:5](/hebrews/8-5 "The Earthly Tabernacle as a Copy")), preparing the way for the superior, once-for-all ministry of Jesus Christ.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **ordained (Greek, _kataskeuázō'_):** This word, derived from a combination meaning "down" and "to prepare," signifies to prepare thoroughly, to construct, or to create. In this context, it refers to the meticulous and divinely mandated preparation and establishment of the Tabernacle and its ordinances. It emphasizes that the entire system, including the priestly duties, was not arbitrary but was carefully designed and set in place by God.
* **priests (Greek, _hiereús'_):** This term refers to those consecrated for sacred duties, specifically the Levitical priests in the Old Testament. Their role was to mediate between God and the people, performing sacrifices and rituals according to the Law. The use of the plural "priests" highlights the collective and continuous nature of their service, distinguishing their regular access to the Holy Place from the High Priest's singular annual entry into the Most Holy Place.
* **service (Greek, _latreía'_):** This word denotes ministration of God, worship, or divine service. It encompasses the prescribed religious duties and cultic rituals performed by the priests within the Tabernacle. This "service" was not merely human activity but was specifically ordered by God for the maintenance of the covenant, underscoring the sacred and obligatory nature of their work.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Now when these things were thus ordained,"**: This introductory clause connects the verse to the preceding description of the Tabernacle's structure and furnishings ([Hebrews 9:1-5](/hebrews/9-1-5 "Hebrews 9:1-5 - Description of the Tabernacle")). "Ordained" emphasizes that the entire system, including the Tabernacle's design and the priestly functions, was divinely established and meticulously prepared according to God's specific instructions. This highlights the foundational authority behind the Old Covenant rituals.
* **"the priests went always into the first tabernacle,"**: This phrase describes the regular, continuous, and unrestricted access of the ordinary priests into the Holy Place (the "first tabernacle"). Unlike the Most Holy Place, which was strictly off-limits to all but the High Priest once a year, the Holy Place was the site of daily priestly duties. The word "always" (G1275, _diapantós_) underscores the repetitive nature of these rituals, which were a constant feature of Israelite worship.
* **"accomplishing the service [of God]."**: This final clause specifies the purpose of the priests' entry: to perform the divinely mandated "service" or worship. This "service" included tasks such as tending the golden lampstand, offering incense on the golden altar of incense, and replacing the showbread on the table of showbread. These acts were not merely ceremonial but were considered essential for maintaining the covenant relationship and for the spiritual well-being of the people, though they could not ultimately perfect or fully cleanse.

#### Literary Devices
The author of Hebrews employs several literary devices in this verse. **Description** is primary, as the verse meticulously details the routine of the Old Covenant priests within the Tabernacle. This precise **Exposition** of the Tabernacle's functions serves as a foundation for the overarching **Contrast** that the author builds throughout the epistle, pitting the limitations of the Old Covenant against the perfections of the New. The "first tabernacle" itself functions as **Symbolism**, representing the earthly, temporary, and incomplete nature of the Mosaic Law's access to God's presence. The repetitive action of the priests going "always" into the tabernacle, "accomplishing the service," also subtly employs **Repetition** to underscore the ongoing, never-ending cycle of rituals required under the Old Covenant, which implicitly highlights their inability to provide a final solution for sin.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Hebrews 9:6 establishes a critical theological foundation for understanding the limitations of the Old Covenant and the ultimate supremacy of Christ's ministry. The constant, repetitive "service" performed by the priests in the "first tabernacle" underscores that the Mosaic Law, while divinely ordained, could not provide a once-for-all solution for sin or perfect access to God's presence. These rituals were a shadow, a temporary arrangement designed to point to a greater reality. The daily duties of the priests highlight the ongoing need for atonement and mediation, a need that only Christ's single, perfect sacrifice could definitively meet, thereby inaugurating a new and superior covenant.

* [Hebrews 9:7](/hebrews/9-7 "The High Priest's Annual Entry")
* [Hebrews 10:1](/hebrews/10-1 "The Law as a Shadow")
* [Hebrews 10:19-22](/hebrews/10-19-22 "Boldness to Enter the Holiest")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Hebrews 9:6, though describing ancient priestly duties, carries profound implications for contemporary believers. It reminds us of the profound privilege we possess under the New Covenant. Unlike the priests who could only enter the outer chamber of the earthly tabernacle, and then only through continuous ritual, we have been granted direct, unhindered, and permanent access to God's very presence through the finished work of Jesus Christ. This means our relationship with God is not based on our daily performance of rituals or the perfection of our own "service," but on Christ's perfect sacrifice. This truth should inspire immense gratitude, confidence, and boldness in our approach to God. We are called to live in light of this access, not merely performing religious duties, but engaging in genuine worship and heartfelt communion, knowing that the veil has been torn and the way to the Holy of Holies is eternally open.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does understanding the "always" and "limited access" of the Old Covenant priests deepen your appreciation for your current access to God through Christ?**
* **In what ways might we, in our modern Christian practice, inadvertently fall back into a "priestly service" mindset, relying on our own works or rituals rather than Christ's finished work?**
* **What does it mean practically to "draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith" ([Hebrews 10:22](/hebrews/10-22 "Drawing Near in Faith")) given the contrast presented in Hebrews 9:6?**

### FAQ
**What was the "first tabernacle" and what activities took place there?**

Answer: The "first tabernacle" refers to the Holy Place, the outer chamber of the Tabernacle (and later the Temple). It was separated from the Most Holy Place (the Holy of Holies) by a veil. In the Holy Place, priests performed daily duties, including tending the golden lampstand (ensuring its light never went out), offering incense on the golden altar of incense (symbolizing prayers ascending to God), and replacing the showbread on the table of showbread (representing God's provision and covenant fellowship). These activities were continuous and essential for the daily worship and maintenance of the covenant relationship with God, as described in [Exodus 25-30](/exodus/25 "Exodus 25 - Instructions for the Tabernacle").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Hebrews 9:6, in its description of the Old Covenant priestly service, serves as a vital backdrop against which the unparalleled superiority of Christ's ministry is illuminated. The repetitive, never-ending "service" performed by the priests in the "first tabernacle" underscores the inherent inadequacy of the Old Covenant to fully cleanse sin or provide lasting access to God. This constant activity, though divinely ordained, was a shadow pointing to the substance that was to come. Jesus Christ fulfills this shadow by entering not an earthly "first tabernacle," but the true, heavenly sanctuary, not "with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood" ([Hebrews 9:12](/hebrews/9-12 "Christ's Entrance into the Heavenly Sanctuary")). His "service" was not a daily ritual but a singular, decisive act of self-sacrifice, "once for all" ([Hebrews 9:26](/hebrews/9-26 "Christ's Once-for-All Sacrifice")), securing eternal redemption. Thus, the limited access and continuous work of the Old Covenant priests in [Hebrews 9:6](/hebrews/9-6 "Priestly Service in the First Tabernacle") powerfully foreshadow the perfect, complete, and permanent access to God that believers now enjoy through Christ, who is our great High Priest, having passed "through the heavens" ([Hebrews 4:14](/hebrews/4-14 "Jesus, Our Great High Priest")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Numbers 28:3

And thou shalt say unto them, This [is] the offering made by fire which ye shall offer unto the LORD; two lambs of the first year without spot day by day, [for] a continual burnt offering.

Exodus 27:21

In the tabernacle of the congregation without the vail, which [is] before the testimony, Aaron and his sons shall order it from evening to morning before the LORD: [it shall be] a statute for ever unto their generations on the behalf of the children of Israel.

Luke 1:8

And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course,

Luke 1:11

And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.

Daniel 8:11

Yea, he magnified [himself] even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily [sacrifice] was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down.

Exodus 30:7

And Aaron shall burn thereon sweet incense every morning: when he dresseth the lamps, he shall burn incense upon it.

Exodus 30:8

And when Aaron lighteth the lamps at even, he shall burn incense upon it, a perpetual incense before the LORD throughout your generations.