Now even the first covenant had regulations for worship and an earthly place of holiness.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse highlights that the "first covenant" wasn't just a set of rules, but also included "ordinances of divine service" and a "worldly sanctuary." This means the ancient worship wasn't just about abstract beliefs but involved very tangible, earthly structures and prescribed actions, all pointing beyond themselves.
Now even the first covenant had regulations for worship and an earthly place of holiness.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The author is continuing the argument from the previous chapter about the superiority of Christ's ministry. To do this, he now shifts to describe the earthly sanctuary and the worship practices of the first covenant, highlighting that they were merely earthly and preparatory, contrasting with the heavenly reality Christ now mediates. This sets the stage for explaining how these earthly elements point to Christ and why they are ultimately superseded.
Ever felt overwhelmed by rules? The Bible talks about 'ordinances for worship' in the first covenant. What did that really mean?
The phrase 'regulations for worship' (or 'ordinances of divine service' in some translations) in Hebrews 9:1 points to more than just a list of 'dos and don'ts.' It refers to the specific, divinely-appointed instructions and rituals that governed how people were to approach God in the Old Testament.
Divine Authority
These weren't human suggestions; they were laws given by God, intended to guide His people in their relationship with Him. They were precise and detailed, covering everything from sacrifices to the duties of priests.
Typological Significance
Crucially, these regulations weren't meant to be an end in themselves. The author of Hebrews emphasizes that they were 'carnal ordinances' (Hebrews 9:10) or 'earthly things' that served as shadows or patterns pointing to something greater – the perfect, heavenly realities fulfilled in Christ.
The Bible mentions an 'earthly place of holiness.' What made it 'earthly,' and how does that contrast with what we know today?
Hebrews 9:1 introduces the concept of 'an earthly place of holiness,' referring to the Tabernacle and later the Temple. This wasn't just a building; it was the designated spot where God's presence was to dwell among His people.
'Worldly' Distinction
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The key here is 'earthly' (or 'worldly' in some translations). This descriptor is vital because it immediately sets this sanctuary apart from the true, heavenly sanctuary where Christ ministers.
A Shadow, Not the Substance
This earthly sanctuary served as a powerful symbol, a tangible representation of God's dwelling place. However, it was a shadow, a mere 'pattern and shadow of heavenly things' (Hebrews 8:5). It was holy because God met His people there, but its earthly nature underscored its limitations and foreshadowed the ultimate dwelling of God with humanity in Christ.
Understand the original words
diathēkē · Greek Noun
An agreement or formal bond established between God and His people, often involving specific promises, duties, and signs. In this context, it refers to the Mosaic covenant.
dikaiōma · Greek Noun
A structure or order imposed by authority; in a religious context, it refers to the requirements or ordinances for worship prescribed by God.
hagiastērion · Greek Noun
A place set apart for sacred use, dedicated specifically to God. In the Old Testament, it refers to the sanctuary where God's presence dwelt among Israel.
The verse highlights the 'earthly sanctuary' of the first covenant, which at the time of the writing of Hebrews, was the magnificent Temple expanded by Herod. This physical structure, along with its prescribed rituals, served as a 'shadow' and 'pattern' pointing towards the heavenly realities that Christ, the mediator of the new covenant, would fulfill.
c. 1446 BC
The Mosaic Covenant is Established
At Mount Sinai, God establishes the covenant with Israel, giving them the Law, including detailed instructions for the Tabernacle and its worship. This forms the basis of the 'first covenant'.
c. 1000 BC
Solomon's Temple is Built
King Solomon constructs the First Temple in Jerusalem, a more permanent and elaborate sanctuary than the portable Tabernacle, replacing it as the central place of worship.
586 BC
Destruction of the First Temple
The Babylonians under Nebuchadnezzar conquer Jerusalem and destroy Solomon's Temple, ending the earthly sanctuary of the first covenant for a time.
c. 516 BC
The Second Temple is Completed
After the return from Babylonian exile, the Second Temple is dedicated in Jerusalem, a reconstruction that, while significant, was less grand than Solomon's original.
c. 20 BC - AD 63— this verse
Herod's Temple is Expanded
King Herod the Great undertakes a massive renovation and expansion of the Second Temple, making it a magnificent structure that stood in Jesus' time.
This passage describes God's direct command for the construction of the tabernacle, establishing the 'earthly place of holiness' mentioned in Hebrews, and detailing its 'ordinances for worship'.
Isaiah 66:1This prophetic passage contrasts the earthly temple with God's heavenly dwelling, echoing the 'worldly sanctuary' of Hebrews 9:1 and hinting at a greater, spiritual reality beyond the physical.
Jeremiah 31:31-34This prophecy foretells a 'new covenant' that will be internal, unlike the 'first covenant' with its external 'ordinances and sanctuary,' highlighting the transition from the old system to a new spiritual reality.
Matthew 27:50-51The tearing of the temple curtain at Jesus' death signifies the obsolescence of the earthly sanctuary and its ordinances, directly fulfilling the implied contrast between the 'worldly sanctuary' and divine access foreshadowed in Hebrews 9:1.
1 Corinthians 3:16-17This passage redefines the concept of a 'sanctuary,' stating that believers themselves are now the temple of God, moving beyond the 'worldly sanctuary' of the Old Covenant to a spiritual dwelling place.
vincentHebrews 9:1: "Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary."
Ordinances of divine service (δικαιώματα λατρείας)For δικαίωμα ordinance, see on Romans 5:16. For λατρεία service, see on Luke 1:74; see on Revelation 22:3; see on Philippians 3:3; see on 2 Timothy 1:3. The meaning is ordinances directed to or adapted for divine service.A worldly sanctuary (τὸ ἅγιον κοσμικόν)The A.V. misses the force of the article. Rend. and its sanctuary a san…
meyerHebrews 9:1: "Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary."
Hebrews 9:1 . Εἰχεν μὲν οὖν καὶ ἡ πρώτη ] sc . διαθήκη . Against the supplementing of σκηνή (Cameron, Peirce, Whitby, Wetstein, Semler), see the critical remark. εἶχεν ] had . ἔχει is not written by the author, although the cultus of the Old Covenant was still continuing at the time when he wrote, not so much because—as is shown by Hebrews 9:2 —it was his intention to describe the primi…
The verse highlights that the "first covenant" wasn't just a set of rules, but also included "ordinances of divine service" and a "worldly sanctuary." This means the ancient worship wasn't just about abstract beliefs but involved very tangible, earthly structures and prescribed actions, all pointing beyond themselves.
The author is continuing the argument from the previous chapter about the superiority of Christ's ministry. To do this, he now shifts to describe the earthly sanctuary and the worship practices of the first covenant, highlighting that they were merely earthly and preparatory, contrasting with the heavenly reality Christ now mediates. This sets the stage for explaining how these earthly elements point to Christ and why they are ultimately superseded.
The author is continuing the argument from the previous chapter about the superiority of Christ's ministry. To do this, he now shifts to describe the earthly sanctuary and the worship practices of the first covenant, highlighting that they were merely earthly and preparatory, contrasting with the heavenly reality Christ now mediates. This sets the stage for explaining how these earthly elements point to Christ and why they are ultimately superseded.
"Now even the first covenant had regulations for worship and an earthly place of holiness." — The verse highlights that the "first covenant" wasn't just a set of rules, but also included "ordinances of divine service" and a "worldly sanctuary." This means the ancient worship wasn't just about…
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Last reviewed October 2026