This verse highlights that the "Most Holy Place" wasn't just called that, but it was literally designated as "holy of holies" in the original Hebrew, signifying an extreme level of sacredness. This wasn't merely a room, but the place where God's presence was understood to dwell, setting it apart above all else.
Behind the second curtain was a second section called the Most Holy Place, having the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was a golden urn holding the manna, and Aaron’s staff that budded, and the tablets of the covenant. Above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The writer is describing the structure of the tabernacle and its divisions, following the description of the outer tent in the previous verse. This second veil specifically separated the main sanctuary, where priests would serve, from the innermost chamber, the Most Holy Place, which was the dwelling of God's presence. This detailed layout sets the stage for understanding the profound significance of Christ's sacrifice in tearing down these barriers.
Ever wonder why there were multiple barriers in the Tabernacle? This verse highlights a specific division that held immense significance.
The Tabernacle wasn't just one room; it was divided into two distinct areas by a thick veil.
The Outer Layer:
Think of a doorway hanging for the entrance to the entire Tabernacle structure. This was the first barrier, separating the outside court where sacrifices were made from the inner Holy Place.
The Inner Sanctum:
Behind this first veil, there was a second veil – the one mentioned in our verse. This heavy curtain was the ultimate divider, separating the Holy Place (where priests ministered daily) from the Most Holy Place, also known as the Holy of Holies.
This wasn't just about physical separation; it was a dramatic, visual representation of the vast gulf between sinful humanity and a holy God.
What made the 'Most Holy Place' so special? It wasn't just an empty room; it was the heart of God's presence on earth.
The 'Most Holy Place' (or Holy of Holies) was the inner sanctuary, the most sacred space within the Tabernacle.
The Divine Presence:
This was the place where God's manifest presence, often symbolized by a radiant cloud (the Shekinah), was understood to dwell above the Ark of the Covenant, between the cherubim.
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Restricted Access:
Access to this inner chamber was extremely limited. Only the High Priest could enter, and only once a year, on the Day of Atonement, after rigorous purification rituals. This scarcity of access underscored the awe-inspiring holiness of God.
Symbol of Heaven:
Ultimately, this place served as a powerful symbol of heaven itself – God's ultimate dwelling place, a realm of perfect holiness and unending presence.
Understand the original words
hagia hagiōn · Greek Noun Phrase
The innermost sanctuary of the tabernacle/temple where the Ark of the Covenant was kept and where God's glory dwelt; it was accessible only to the High Priest once a year on the Day of Atonement.
kibōtos · Greek Noun
The wooden box overlaid with gold that contained the tablets of the Law; it served as the physical throne of God on earth and the focus of atonement rituals.
manna · Greek Noun
The supernatural food provided by God to the Israelites in the wilderness, symbolizing God's daily provision and dependence on His sustaining word.
plakes · Greek Noun
The stone tablets given to Moses at Sinai containing the Ten Commandments, which served as the fundamental moral and legal standard of the covenant.
cheroubim · Greek Noun
Angelic beings associated with the throne of God; their presence symbolizes the holiness of God and the protection of His glory.
hilastērion · Greek Noun
The cover of the Ark of the Covenant where the blood was sprinkled on the Day of Atonement; it signifies the place where God's wrath is satisfied and mercy is extended.
The description of the two veils in the Tabernacle and Temple highlights the separation between humanity and God's immediate presence, a separation that the New Testament explains Christ's sacrifice would overcome.
c. 1440 BC
Tabernacle Construction
Following their exodus from Egypt, the Israelites are instructed by God to construct a portable sanctuary, the Tabernacle, complete with an inner chamber, the Most Holy Place, separated by a special veil.
c. 1440 BC— this verse
The Two Veils
The Tabernacle is designed with two distinct veils: an outer hanging for the entrance and an inner veil separating the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place, where God's presence symbolically resided.
c. 960 BC
Solomon's Temple Built
King Solomon constructs a permanent Temple in Jerusalem, largely replicating the design of the Tabernacle, including the distinct Holy Place and the Most Holy Place separated by a veil.
586 BC
Destruction of the First Temple
The Babylonians conquer Jerusalem and destroy Solomon's Temple, resulting in the loss of the original sacred structures and the ark of the covenant.
c. 515 BC
Second Temple Completed
After the Babylonian exile, Jewish exiles return and complete the rebuilding of the Temple. Historical accounts suggest this Second Temple may have had two veils between the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place, unlike the first.
This passage describes the construction of the veil that separates the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place, directly detailing the physical barrier mentioned in Hebrews.
Leviticus 16:2This verse outlines the specific conditions under which the high priest could enter the Most Holy Place, highlighting its restricted access and sacred nature.
Hebrews 10:19This verse speaks of believers having 'confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus,' directly linking the inner sanctuary to Christ's redemptive work.
Ezekiel 10:18This passage describes the glory of the Lord departing from the Temple, indicating a separation between God's presence and His people, which the veil symbolized.
ellicottHebrews 9:3: "And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all;"
(3) The tabernacle. —Rather, a tabernacle which is called the Holy of Holies. This literal translation of a Hebrew expression for “most holy” does not occur in the Bible, but has become familiar through the Latin sanctum sanctorum. The inner chamber of the Tabernacle is in a few passages only mentioned separately in the Pentateuch as the “Most Holy Place” (Exodus 26:33-34), or “the Holy Place” (Leviticu…
meyerHebrews 9:3: "And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all;"
Hebrews 9:3 . Μετά ] after or behind . Of local succession (Thucyd. vii. 58, al .), in the N. T. only here. τὸ δεύτερον καταπέτασμα ] the second veil ( פָּרֹכֶת ). For before the Holy Place, too, there was a veil ( מָסָךְ ). On the former, comp. Exodus 26:31 ff. σκηνή ] sc. κατεσκευάσθη . ἅγια ἁγίων ] Most Holy Place. Periphrasis of the superlative (see Winer, Gramm., 7 Aufl. p. 231), and translation of…
This verse highlights that the "Most Holy Place" wasn't just called that, but it was literally designated as "holy of holies" in the original Hebrew, signifying an extreme level of sacredness. This wasn't merely a room, but the place where God's presence was understood to dwell, setting it apart above all else.
The writer is describing the structure of the tabernacle and its divisions, following the description of the outer tent in the previous verse. This second veil specifically separated the main sanctuary, where priests would serve, from the innermost chamber, the Most Holy Place, which was the dwelling of God's presence. This detailed layout sets the stage for understanding the profound significance of Christ's sacrifice in tearing down these barriers.
The writer is describing the structure of the tabernacle and its divisions, following the description of the outer tent in the previous verse. This second veil specifically separated the main sanctuary, where priests would serve, from the innermost chamber, the Most Holy Place, which was the dwelling of God's presence. This detailed layout sets the stage for understanding the profound significance of Christ's sacrifice in tearing down these barriers.
"Behind the second curtain was a second section called the Most Holy Place, having the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was a golden urn holding the manna, and Aaron’s staff that b…" — This verse highlights that the "Most Holy Place" wasn't just called that, but it was literally designated as "holy of holies" in the original Hebrew, signifying an extreme level of sacredness. This…
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Last reviewed October 2026
