Hebrews 9:23-24
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While the earthly copies of heavenly things needed cleansing from ritual impurity, the "heavenly things themselves" – the realities Christ mediates – weren't defiled by sin. Rather, the language of cleansing is used to highlight that we need cleansing to access these heavenly realities, and Christ's sacrifice is the infinitely superior means by which that purification is accomplished.
Thus it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these rites, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The writer of Hebrews is explaining why the old covenant, with its sacrifices and rituals, was a temporary system. He's just detailed how blood was essential for dedicating the first covenant, cleansing everything from the tabernacle to the people themselves. This verse draws a conclusion: while those earthly "copies" of heavenly realities needed purification with animal blood, the actual heavenly realities require something far greater.
The text says even the 'heavenly things' needed purification. How can the perfect realm of God be 'defiled'?
It's a brilliant turn of phrase! The 'heavenly things' themselves weren't defiled by sin, but humanity's sin created a barrier. Think of it like this: a priceless, perfect artifact in a museum is untouched by a visitor's dirty hands, but those dirty hands can't touch the artifact without making the interaction unclean.
The Heavenly Sanctuary and Our Access
The verse mentions 'better sacrifices.' What makes Christ's sacrifice so superior to all the animal offerings of the Old Covenant?
The contrast here is stark and beautiful. The Old Covenant used repeated, earthly animal sacrifices – 'these' – to handle the shadows and copies of heavenly realities.
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Understand the original words
antitypon · Greek Noun
An earthly or symbolic representation that mirrors a greater, eternal reality found in the spiritual or heavenly realm.
thysia · Greek Noun
A religious act or ritual established by God, particularly those relating to atonement and service in the sanctuary.
Christos · Greek Noun
The Anointed One, the Messiah, who fulfills the Old Testament prophecies as the eternal High Priest and the ultimate sacrifice for the sins of the world.
hagia · Greek Noun
The inner sanctuary of the tabernacle or temple, where God's presence dwelt between the cherubim and where the high priest entered to make atonement.
This verse draws a sharp contrast between the temporary, earthly sanctuary and its purification by animal blood and the eternal, heavenly reality inaugurated by Christ's perfect sacrifice. The necessity of purifying the 'patterns' with 'these' (animal blood) highlights the inadequacy of the old system, setting the stage for the superior efficacy of Christ's 'better sacrifices' for the 'heavenly things themselves.'
c. 1446 BC
Tabernacle Construction and Dedication
Following their exodus from Egypt, the Israelites constructed the Tabernacle, a portable sanctuary, according to God's detailed instructions. Its dedication involved specific purification rites and sacrifices using the blood of animals.
c. 1446 BC - 586 BC
Levitical Priesthood and Atonement Rituals
For over a thousand years, the Levitical priests performed daily and annual sacrifices in the Tabernacle and later the Temple. These rituals, especially the Day of Atonement, involved the ceremonial purification of the sanctuary and its vessels with animal blood, emphasizing the need for atonement due to Israel's uncleanness.
c. 586 BC
Destruction of the First Temple
The Babylonians destroyed Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem, marking the end of continuous Temple worship and a pivotal moment in Israel's history, leading into the period of exile.
c. 538 BC
Return from Exile and Second Temple Reconstruction
Following the Babylonian exile, some Jews returned to Jerusalem and began rebuilding the Temple. This new structure, while significant, was a less glorious replica of the original, and the old sacrificial system continued.
1st Century AD— this verse
Jesus' Ministry and Sacrifice
During this period, Jesus Christ lived, ministered, and ultimately offered himself as a sacrifice on the cross. This singular, perfect sacrifice is presented as the ultimate atonement, surpassing all previous Levitical offerings.
c. AD 70
Destruction of the Second Temple
The Romans destroyed the Second Temple in Jerusalem, permanently ending the sacrificial system prescribed by the Mosaic Law and further emphasizing the shift to a new covenant.
This passage details the Day of Atonement, where the High Priest made atonement for the sanctuary itself because of the uncleanness of the Israelites, showing how even the earthly holy places needed purification due to sin.
Exodus 24:6-8This describes the initial dedication of the Mosaic covenant with blood, illustrating the principle that covenants and their associated rituals required blood to be ratified and consecrated.
Hebrews 8:5This verse directly introduces the concept of the earthly tabernacle being a 'copy and shadow of the heavenly things,' providing the foundational understanding for Hebrews 9:23's comparison.
1 Peter 1:18-19This passage contrasts the 'perishable things' like silver and gold used for redemption with the 'precious blood of Christ,' highlighting Christ's sacrifice as a superior means of redemption, echoing the 'better sacrifices' theme.
Revelation 21:22While not explicitly mentioning sacrifices, this vision of the New Jerusalem, where there is no temple, points to a future reality where the presence of God is direct and all-encompassing, implying the ultimate fulfillment of the purification and access that Christ's sacrifice provides.
ellicottHebrews 9:23: "It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these."
(23) The patterns of things in the heavens. —Rather, the tokens ( Hebrews 8:5 ) of the things in the heavens. In the first part of the verse a conclusion is drawn from the sacred history, which related the accomplishment of the divine will, and showed therefore what was “necessary.” But the real stress lies on…
vincentHebrews 9:23: "It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these."
The heavenly sanctuary required a better purification than the Levitical.The patterns of things in the heavensThe earthly tabernacle and its furniture. See on Hebrews 8:5.With these (τούτοις)Things specified in Hebrews 9:19.With better sacrifices (κρείττοσι θυσίαις)How can it be said that the heavenly things…
While the earthly copies of heavenly things needed cleansing from ritual impurity, the "heavenly things themselves" – the realities Christ mediates – weren't defiled by sin. Rather, the language of cleansing is used to highlight that we need cleansing to access these heavenly realities, and Christ's sacrifice is the infinitely superior means by which that purification is accomplished.
The writer of Hebrews is explaining why the old covenant, with its sacrifices and rituals, was a temporary system. He's just detailed how blood was essential for dedicating the first covenant, cleansing everything from the tabernacle to the people themselves. This verse draws a conclusion: while those earthly "copies" of heavenly realities needed purification with animal blood, the actual heavenly realities require something far greater.
The writer of Hebrews is explaining why the old covenant, with its sacrifices and rituals, was a temporary system. He's just detailed how blood was essential for dedicating the first covenant, cleansing everything from the tabernacle to the people themselves. This verse draws a conclusion: while those earthly "copies" of heavenly realities needed purification with animal blood, the actual heavenly realities require something far greater.
"Thus it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these rites, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copi…" — While the earthly copies of heavenly things needed cleansing from ritual impurity, the "heavenly things themselves" – the realities Christ mediates – weren't defiled by sin. Rather, the language of c…
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Last reviewed October 2026
