Hebrews 9:9

Which (hti). "Which very thing," the first tent (th prwth skhnh, division of the tabernacle), a parenthesis and explanation. A parable (parabolh). Only in the Synoptic Gospels in the N.T. and Hebrews 9:9 ; Hebrews 11:19 . See on "Mt 13:3" for the word (from paraballw, to place alongside). Here like tupo (type or shadow of "the heavenly reality," Moffatt). For the time now present (ei ton kairon ton enesthkota). "For the present crisis " (kairon, not aiwna, age, not cronon, time). Perfect active articular (repeated article) participle of enisthmi (intransitive), the age in which they lived, not the past, not the future. See 1 Corinthians 3:22 ; Romans 8:38 for contrast between enestwta and mellonta. This age of crisis, foreshadowed by the old tabernacle, pointed on to the richer fulfilment still to come. According to which (kaq hn). Here the relative refers to parabolh just mentioned, not to skhnh. See Romans 5:1 ; Romans 8:3 . As touching the conscience (kata suneidhsin). For suneidhsi see 1 Corinthians 8:10 ; 1 Corinthians 10:17 ; Romans 2:15 . This was the real failure of animal sacrifice ( Hebrews 10:1-4 ). Make the worshipper perfect (teleiwsai ton latreuonta). First aorist active infinitive ( Hebrews 2:10 ). At best it was only ritual or ceremonial purification ( Hebrews 7:11 ), that called for endless repetition ( Hebrews 10:1-4 ).