Hebrews Chapter 9 verse 4 Holy Bible

Hebrews 9 : 4 Bible Verse Songs

• What a Mighty God We Serve by Hezekiah Walker

Ellicott's Commentary

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(4) Having a golden censer.--Or, having a golden altar of incense. Hardly any passage in the Epistle has given rise to more controversy than this; and even now opinions are greatly divided. The question raised does not merely concern the interpretation of a single verse, but has been brought into prominence in all recent discussions as to the authorship of the Epistle. It will be possible to notice all important points in the controversy without entering into any discussion of the Greek, for it is allowed on both sides that the word here used--thumiaterion (which simply means an instrument or a place connected with the offering of incense)--will admit of either rendering. The usage of the LXX., in most cases peculiarly helpful in this Epistle, throws little light on the matter; for this word is entirely absent from the descriptions in the Pentateuch, and occurs twice only in later books (Ezekiel 8:11; 2Chronicles 26:19--both times for "censer"). The Pentateuch, indeed, makes no mention of a special censer for the use of the high priest on the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16:12); but, as we learn from the Mishna, the later law not only prescribed a censer of gold, but laid stress on the particular kind of gold. On the other hand, in Philo and Josephus the word here used is the regular designation of the altar of incense. That altar, it is true, was not of gold, only overlaid with gold; but as one of its names in common use was "the golden altar" (Exodus 40:5, et al.) this point is of no moment. If we look at internal probabilities, it is hard to decide which would be more surprising--the special mention of the censer (by the side of the ark and the cherubim) in this description of the Most Holy Place, or the absence of all notice of the incense-altar, which held so important a place in connection with the ceremonies of the Day of Atonement. Hence, though "censer" has (mainly through the influence of the Vulgate) been the more familiar rendering, the most eminent modern commentators have, with some marked exceptions, adopted the other view. Probably there would be little difference of opinion on the question, were it not that the words here used seem to assign to the altar of incense a place within the veil. As, however, there are the strongest reasons for believing that the golden censer was not kept in the Holiest Place, this difficulty applies almost equally to both interpretations. At first sight the difficulty is very great. The incense-altar and the ark are coupled together, and the word which describes their relation to the Holiest Place is that which, a little later in this verse, distinctly signifies "containing." So weighty is this consideration that many have been unable to avoid the conclusion that the writer has erred in this matter of detail; and various suppositions have been resorted to in explanation of his mistake. (See Introduction.) But, to take the lowest ground, surely ignorance on such a point is inconceivable. Not only are the notices in Exodus perfectly plain, but passages in Philo and Josephus show how customary in the writer's own age it was to speak of the three sacred objects in the Holy Place--the candlestick, the table, and the golden altar. There must exist some special reason for this connection of the altar with the Most Holy Place--a connection which (we may well believe) would have been otherwise expressed had the writer held it possible that readers, familiar with the facts, could regard his language as even ambiguous. Such a reason will be found to be suggested by the language of the Pentateuch, and by the ceremonial of the Day of Atonement. In Exodus 30:6, Moses receives special injunction to place the altar of incense "before the veil that is by the ark of the testimony, before the mercy seat that is over the testimony;" similarly in Exodus 40:5. The purification of this altar is most expressly associated with the purification of the Holiest Place on the Day of Atonement: this stands out in strong relief both in the Pentateuch (see Exodus 30:10; Leviticus 16:18) and in the Mishna. The typical significance of the altar of incense (comp. Revelation 8:3-4; Revelation 9:13) we might also show to be in full harmony with the thought here presented. There is, however, one passage in the Old Testament (1Kings 6:22) which appears to give direct expression to what these other passages imply; for there the true translation must be, "also the whole altar that belongeth to the oracle he overlaid with gold."[10] . . . Parallel Commentaries ...Greekcontainingἔχουσα (echousa)Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Feminine SingularStrong's 2192: To have, hold, possess. Including an alternate form scheo skheh'-o; a primary verb; to hold.[the] goldenχρυσοῦν (chrysoun)Adjective - Accusative Neuter SingularStrong's 5552: Golden, made of gold, adorned with gold. From chrusos; made of gold.altar of incenseθυμιατήριον (thymiatērion)Noun - Accusative Neuter SingularStrong's 2369: From a derivative of thumiao; a place of fumigation, i.e. The alter of incense.andκαὶ (kai)ConjunctionStrong's 2532: And, even, also, namely. theτὴν (tēn)Article - Accusative Feminine SingularStrong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.gold-coveredχρυσίῳ (chrysiō)Noun - Dative Neuter SingularStrong's 5553: A piece of gold, golden ornament. Diminutive of chrusos; a golden article, i.e. Gold plating, ornament, or coin.arkκιβωτὸν (kibōton)Noun - Accusative Feminine SingularStrong's 2787: A box, i.e. The sacred ark and that of Noah.of theτῆς (tēs)Article - Genitive Feminine SingularStrong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.covenant.διαθήκης (diathēkēs)Noun - Genitive Feminine SingularStrong's 1242: From diatithemai; properly, a disposition, i.e. a contract.Insideἐν (en)PrepositionStrong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.[the ark]ᾗ (hē)Personal / Relative Pronoun - Dative Feminine SingularStrong's 3739: Who, which, what, that. [were the] goldχρυσῆ (chrysē)Adjective - Nominative Feminine SingularStrong's 5552: Golden, made of gold, adorned with gold. From chrusos; made of gold.jarστάμνος (stamnos)Noun - Nominative Feminine SingularStrong's 4713: A jar or vase. From the base of histemi; a jar or earthen tank.ofἔχουσα (echousa)Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Feminine SingularStrong's 2192: To have, hold, possess. Including an alternate form scheo skheh'-o; a primary verb; to hold.manna,μάννα (manna)Noun - Accusative Neuter SingularStrong's 3131: Of Hebrew origin; manna, an edible gum.Aaron’sἈαρὼν (Aarōn)Noun - Genitive Masculine SingularStrong's 2: Aaron, son of Amram and Jochebed, brother of Moses. Of Hebrew origin; Aaron, the brother of Moses.staffῥάβδος (rhabdos)Noun - Nominative Feminine SingularStrong's 4464: A rod, staff, staff of authority, scepter. From the base of rhapizo; a stick or wand.thatἡ (hē)Article - Nominative Feminine SingularStrong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.had budded,βλαστήσασα (blastēsasa)Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Feminine SingularStrong's 985: Intrans: I sprout; trans: I cause to sprout, make to grow up. From blastos; to germinate; by implication, to yield fruit.andκαὶ (kai)ConjunctionStrong's 2532: And, even, also, namely. theαἱ (hai)Article - Nominative Feminine PluralStrong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.stone tabletsπλάκες (plakes)Noun - Nominative Feminine PluralStrong's 4109: A tablet, flat surface. From plasso; a moulding-board, i.e. Flat surface.of theτῆς (tēs)Article - Genitive Feminine SingularStrong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.covenant.διαθήκης (diathēkēs)Noun - Genitive Feminine SingularStrong's 1242: From diatithemai; properly, a disposition, i.e. a contract.Jump to PreviousAaron Aaron's Agreement Altar Ark Budded Buds Burning Censer Completely Contained Covenant Covered Gold Golden Holding Incense Jar Lined Manna Overlaid Part Perfumes Pot Rod Round Sides Sprouted Staff Stone Stones Tables Tablets Vase Vessel Wherein Writing