Hebrews 8 · Verse 2

Hebrews 8:2

A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.
Hebrews 8:2, King James Version

Hebrews 8:2 in other translations

BSBand who ministers in the sanctuary and true tabernacle set up by the Lord, not by man.
WEBa servant of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Lord pitched, not man.
ASVa minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, not man.
YLTof the holy places a servant, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord did set up, and not man,
DARBYminister of the holy places and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord has pitched, and not man.
BBEAs a servant of the holy things and of the true Tent, which was put up by God, not by man.
WebsterA minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.

What does Hebrews 8:2 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
2. minister--The Greek term implies priestly ministry in the temple. the sanctuary--Greek, "the holy places"; the Holy of Holies. Here the heavenly sanctuary is meant. the true--the archetypal and antitypical, as contrasted with the typical and symbolical (He 9:24). Greek "alethinos" (used here) is opposed to that which does not fulfil its idea, as for instance, a type; "alethes," to that which is untrue and unreal, as a lie. The measure of alethes is reality; that of alethinos, ideality. In alethes the idea corresponds to the thing; in alethinos, the thing to the idea [Kalmis in Alford]. tabernacle--(He 9:11). His body. Through His glorified body as the tabernacle, Christ passes into the heavenly "Holy of Holies," the immediate immaterial presence of God, where He intercedes for us. This tabernacle in which God dwells, is where God in Christ meets us who are "members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones." This tabernacle answers to the heavenly Jerusalem, where God's visible presence is to be manifested to His perfected saints and angels, who are united in Christ the Head; in contradistinction to His personal invisible presence in the Holy of Holies unapproachable save to Christ. Joh 1:14, "Word ... dwelt among us," Greek, "tabernacled." pitched--Greek, "fixed" firmly. not man--as Moses (He 8:5).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 2. A minister of the sanctuary. Marg. "or holy things." Gr. τωναγιων. The Greek may either mean the sanctuary--denoting the Holy of Holies--or holy things. The word sanctuary kodesh--was given to the tabernacle or temple as a holy place, and the plural form which is here used-- τααγια--was given to the most holy place by way of eminence --the full form of the name being-- --kodesh kodushim, or, αγιααγιων hagia hagion, (Jahn's Arche. & 328,) or, as it is here used, simply as τααγια. The connexion seems to require us to understand it of the most holy place, and not of holy things. The idea is, that the Lord Jesus, the great High Priest, has entered into the Holy of Holies in heaven, of which that in the tabernacle was an emblem. For a description of the most holy place in the temple, Mt 21:12.

And of the true tabernacle. The real tabernacle in heaven, of which that among the Hebrews was but this type. The word tabernacle σκηνη means, properly, a booth, hut, or tent, and was applied to the tent which Moses was directed to build as the place for the worship of God. That tabernacle, as the temple was afterwards, was regarded as the peculiar abode of God on earth. Here the reference is to heaven, as the dwelling place of God, of which that tabernacle was the emblem or symbol. It is called the "true tabernacle," as it is the real dwelling of God, of which the one made by Moses was but the emblem. It is not moveable and perishable like that made by man, but is unchanging and eternal.

Which the Lord pitched, and not man. The word pitched is adapted to express the setting up of a tent. When it is said that "the Lord pitched the true tabernacle"--that is, the permanent dwelling in heaven--the meaning is, that heaven has been fitted up by God himself, and that whatever is necessary to constitute that an appropriate abode for the Divine majesty has been done by him. To that glorious dwelling the Redeemer has been received, and there he performs the office of High Priest in behalf of man. In what way he does this the apostle specifies in the remainder of this chapter, and in chapters 9 and 10.

(1) "of the sanctuary" "holy things" (b) "sanctuary" Heb 9:8,12,24

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 2 A minister of the sanctuary - Των ἁγιων λειτουργος· A public minister of the holy things or places. The word λειτουργος, from λειτος, public, and εργον, a work or office, means a person who officiated for the public, a public officer; in whom, and his work, all the people had a common right: hence our word liturgy, the public work of prayer and praise, designed for the people at large; all having a right to attend it, and each having an equal interest in it. Properly speaking, the Jewish priest was the servant of the public; he transacted the business of the people with God. Jesus Christ is also the same kind of public officer; both as Priest and Mediator he transacts the business of the whole human race with God. He performs the holy things or acts in the true tabernacle, Heaven, of which the Jewish tabernacle was the type. The tabernacle was the place among the Jews where God, by the symbol of his presence, dwelt. This could only typify heaven, where God, in his essential glory, dwells, and is manifest to angels and glorified saints; and hence heaven is called here the true tabernacle, to distinguish it from the type. Which the Lord pitched - The Jewish tabernacle was man's work, though made by God's direction; the heavens, this true tabernacle, the work of God alone, and infinitely more glorious than that of the Jews. The tabernacle was also a type of the human nature of Christ, Joh 1:14 : And the word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, και εσκηνωσεν εν ἡμιν and tabernacled among us; for, as the Divine presence dwelt in the tabernacle, so the fullness of the Godhead, bodily, dwelt in the man Christ Jesus. And this human body was the peculiar work of God, as it came not in the way of natural generation.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Hebrews 8:1-6

The substance, or summary, of what had been declared was, that Christians had such a High Priest as they needed. He took upon himself human nature, appeared on earth, and there gave himself as a sacrifice to God for the sins of his people. We must not dare to approach God, or to present any thing to him, but in and through Christ, depending upon his merits and mediation; for we are accepted only in the Beloved. In…

Read the full comment on Hebrews 8:1-6 →

Hebrews 8:2 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

τῶνtōnin theG3588
ἁγίωνhagiōnHoly [Places]G39
λειτουργὸςleitourgosa ministerG3011
καὶkaiandG2532
τῆςtēsin theG3588
σκηνῆςskēnēstabernacleG4633
τῆςtēs<the>G3588
ἀληθινῆς,alēthinēstrue,G228
ἣνhēnwhichG3739
ἔπηξενepēxenhas pitchedG4078
ὁhotheG3588
κύριος,kuriosLord,G2962
οὐκouknotG3756
ἄνθρωπος.anthrōposman.G444

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Hebrews 8:2

  • Exodus 33:7

    And Moses took the tabernacle, and pitched it without the camp, afar off from the camp, and called it the Tabernacle of the congregation. And it came to pass, that every one which sought the Lord went out unto the tabernacle of the congregation, which was without the camp.

  • 2 Corinthians 5:1

    For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

  • Romans 15:8

    Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers:

  • Hebrews 9:23-24

    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. For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:

  • Hebrews 10:21

    And having an high priest over the house of God;

  • Luke 24:44

    And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.

  • Hebrews 9:8-12

    The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation. But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; …

  • Colossians 2:11

    In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:

  • Hebrews 11:10

    For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

  • Exodus 28:35

    And it shall be upon Aaron to minister: and his sound shall be heard when he goeth in unto the holy place before the Lord, and when he cometh out, that he die not.

  • Exodus 28:1

    And take thou unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office, even Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron’s sons.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
minister.
9:8-12; 10:21; Ex 28:1,35; Lu 24:44; Ro 15:8
the sanctuary. or, holy things. the true.
9:11,23,24
which.
11:10; 2Co 5:1; Col 2:11

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Hebrews 8:1

    Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;

  • Hebrews 8:2

    A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.

  • Hebrews 8:3

    For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer.

Read all of Hebrews 8

Hebrews 8:2 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Ministro del santuario, y de aquel verdadero tabernáculo que el Señor asentó, y no hombre.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		ministre des lieux saints et du vrai tabernacle que le ✶Seigneur a dressé, non pas l’homme.
German
Elberfelder 1871		ein Diener des Heiligtums und der wahrhaftigen Hütte, welche der Herr errichtet hat, nicht der Mensch.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		sanctorum minister, et tabernaculi veri, quod fixit Dominus, et non homo.