SEV Biblia, Chapter 9:9
Lo cual era figura de aquel tiempo presente, en el cual se ofrecían presentes y sacrificios que no podían hacer perfecto al que servía con ellos , en cuanto a la conciencia,
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Hebrew 9:9
Verse 9. Which] Tabernacle and its services, was a figure, parabolh, a dark enigmatical representation, for the time then present - for that age and dispensation, and for all those who lived under it. In which, kaq on, during which, time or dispensation were offered both gifts and sacrifices-eucharistic offerings and victims for sin, that could not make him that did the service, whether the priest who made the offering, or the person who brought it in the behalf of his soul, perfect as pertaining to the conscience - could not take away guilt from the mind, nor purify the conscience from dead works. The whole was a figure, or dark representation, of a spiritual and more glorious system: and although a sinner, who made these offerings and sacrifices according to the law, might be considered as having done his duty, and thus he would be exempted from many ecclesiastical and legal disabilities and punishments; yet his conscience would ever tell him that the guilt of sin was still remaining, and that it was impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take it away.
Thus even he that did the service best continued to be imperfect - had a guilty conscience, and an unholy heart.
The words kaq on, in which, referred in the above paraphrase to ton kairon, the time, are read kaq hn by ABD, and several others, one copy of the Slavonic, the Vulgate, and some of the fathers, and thus refer to thn skhnhn, the tabernacle; and this is the reading which our translators appear to have followed. Griesbach places it in his margin, as a very probable reading; but I prefer the other.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 9. Which was a figure for the time then present , etc..] The tabernacle in general was a figure of Christ's human nature, ( Hebrews 8:2) and the most holy part of it was a figure of heaven itself, ( Hebrews 9:24) the whole service of it was typical and shadowy; but it was but a temporary figure; it was for that present time only; the things of it were suited to that dispensation, and are now abolished, and ought not to be revived, the ordinances of the Gospel being greatly preferable to them; and while it did continue, it was only a parable, as the word here used signifies; it was like a dark saying; it had much obscurity and darkness in it; or as the Vulgate Latin version renders it, it was a figure of the present time; that is, of the Gospel dispensation; it was a shadow of good things to come under that; it prefigured what is now accomplished; or rather it was a figure unto, or until the present time; till Christ came, when all figures, types, and shadows fled away, and were of no more real use and service: in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices ; that is, in which tabernacle, or at which then present time, or kay' hn , according to which figure or parable, as the Alexandrian copy and Vulgate Latin version read, gifts and sacrifices were offered by the priests; (see Hebrews 5:1 8:3), that could not make him that did the service perfect ; neither the priest that offered them, nor the people whom he represented, and for whom he did the service; they could not make real and perfect expiation for sin, nor justify from it, nor cleanse and sanctify; the spiritual worshippers had their sins expiated by the sacrifice of Christ; and their persons were justified by his righteousness, and they were cleansed by his blood: the particular instance in which, legal sacrifices did not make perfect is, pertaining to the conscience; there is in every man a conscience, and when sin is charged home upon it, that is filled with a sense of divine wrath; nor can it be pacified with anything short of what will answer the law and justice of God, and which is only done by the blood and righteousness of Christ.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 6-10 - The apostle goes on to speak of the Old Testament services. Christ having undertaken to be our High Priest, could not enter into heave till he had shed his blood for us; and none of us can enter, eithe into God's gracious presence here, or his glorious presence hereafter but by the blood of Jesus. Sins are errors, great errors, both in judgment and practice; and who can understand all his errors? The leave guilt upon the conscience, not to be washed away but by the bloo of Christ. We must plead this blood on earth, while he is pleading it for us in heaven. A few believers, under the Divine teaching, saw something of the way of access to God, of communion with him, and of admission into heaven through the promised Redeemer, but the Israelite in general looked no further than the outward forms. These could no take away the defilement or dominion of sin. They could neithe discharge the debts, nor resolve the doubts, of him who did the service. Gospel times are, and should be, times of reformation, or clearer light as to all things needful to be known, and of greate love, causing us to bear ill-will to none, but good-will to all. We have greater freedom, both of spirit and speech, in the gospel, an greater obligations to a more holy living.
Greek Textus Receptus
ητις 3748 παραβολη 3850 εις 1519 τον 3588 καιρον 2540 τον 3588 ενεστηκοτα 1764 5761 καθ 2596 ον 3739 δωρα 1435 τε 5037 και 2532 θυσιαι 2378 προσφερονται 4374 5743 μη 3361 δυναμεναι 1410 5740 κατα 2596 συνειδησιν 4893 τελειωσαι 5048 5658 τον 3588 λατρευοντα 3000 5723
Vincent's NT Word Studies
9. Which (htiv). The first division of the tabernacle. The double relative directs attention to the emphasis which belongs to the first tabernacle. The way into the holiest was not yet manifest while the first tabernacle continued to be a recognized institution, seeing that the first tabernacle was a parable, etc.
A figure (parabolh). Outside of the Synoptic Gospels, only here and ch. xi. 19. Here of a visible symbol or type. See on Matt. xiii. 3. For the time then present (eikv ton kairon ton enesthkota). Rend. now present, as contrasted with the "time of reformation," ver. 10. See on these last days, ch. i. 2. jEiv for; with reference to; applying to. Kairov season is used instead of aijwn age, because "the time" is conceived by the writer as a critical point, - a turning-point, at which the old system is to take its departure. For ejnesthkota present, see on Gal. i. 4, and comp. Rom. viii. 38; 1 Cor. iii. 22.
In which (kaq hn). The A.V. wrongly assumes a reference to the tabernacle; whereas the reference is to the parable. Rend. according to which.
Were offered - could not (prosferontai mh dunamenai). Rend. "are offered" or "are being offered"; and for "could not," "cannot." Make him that did the service perfect (teleiwsai ton latreuonta). Rend. as Rev. "make the worshipper perfect." See ch. vii. 11.
As pertaining to the conscience (kata suneidhsin). Having shown that the division of the tabernacle proved the imperfection of the worship, the writer will now show that the Levitical ritual did not accomplish the true end of religion. The radical defect of the Levitical system was its inability to deal with the conscience, and thus bring about the "perfection" which is the ideal of true religion. That ideal contemplated the cleansing and renewal of the inner man; not merely the removal of ceremonial uncleanness, or the formal expiation of sins. Comp. Matt. xxiii. 25, 26. For suneidhsiv conscience, see on 1 Pet. iii. 16.
