Hebrews 9:3
Greek (Tischendorf 8th ed.) Hebrews 9:3 appears in the Greek New Testament. The text above is from the Tischendorf 8th edition. Each word links to its Strong’s number and a concise gloss. Click any word for its full Thayer’s Greek Lexicon entry.After the second veil was the tabernacle which is called the Holy of Holies,
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Compare translations 3
The same verse in 3 English versions, stacked beneath the original-language interlinear above. Click any original word for its lexicon entry.
Each is an independent rendering of the whole verse — the interlinear is not word-aligned to these translations.
Highlighted words mark where these versions differ — a whole-verse word diff, not a word-by-word alignment.
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World English Bible Public Domain
After the second veil was the tabernacle which is called the Holy of Holies,
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King James Version Public Domain
And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all;
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unfoldingWord Literal Text CC BY-SA 4.0
and behind the second curtain a tent which is called “the Holy of Holies,”
unfoldingWord Literal Text — © unfoldingWord, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Word-aligned USFM3 via Door43 (git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ult).
Show all 19 translations
Every available English version of this verse, each an independent rendering of the whole verse.
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World English Bible Public Domain
After the second veil was the tabernacle which is called the Holy of Holies,
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Berean Standard Bible Public Domain
Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place,
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Majority Standard Bible Public Domain
Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place,
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King James Version Public Domain
And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all;
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American Standard Version (1901) Public Domain
And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holy of holies;
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Revised Version (1885) Public Domain
And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holy of holies;
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Geneva Bible (1599) Public Domain
And after the seconde vaile was the Tabernacle, which is called the Holiest of all,
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Douay-Rheims (1899) Public Domain
And after the second veil, the tabernacle, which is called the holy of holies:
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Young's Literal Translation Public Domain
and after the second vail a tabernacle that is called `Holy of holies,'
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Literal Standard Version CC BY-SA 4.0
and after the second veil a dwelling place that is called “Holy of Holies,”
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Unlocked Literal Bible CC BY-SA 4.0
Behind the second curtain was another room, called the most holy place.
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unfoldingWord Literal Text CC BY-SA 4.0
and behind the second curtain a tent which is called “the Holy of Holies,”
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Darby Bible Public Domain
but after the second veil a tabernacle which is called Holy of holies,
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World Messianic Bible Public Domain
After the second veil was the tabernacle which is called the Holy of Holies,
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Webster's Bible Public Domain
And after the second vail, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all;
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Free Bible Version CC BY-SA 4.0
Past the second veil in the Tabernacle was the room called the Most Holy Place.
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Bible in Basic English Public Domain
And inside the second veil was the place which is named the Holy of holies;
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Text-Critical English NT CC BY 4.0
Behind the second veil was a room called the Holy of Holies.
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Tyndale New Testament (1534) Public Domain
But with in the seconde vayle was ther a tabernacle which is called holiest of all
Literal Standard Version (2020), Covenant Press — licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API (eBible.org). Unlocked Literal Bible (unfoldingWord) — licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API (eBible.org). unfoldingWord Literal Text — © unfoldingWord, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Word-aligned USFM3 via Door43 (git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ult). Free Bible Version, Dr. Jonathan Gallagher — licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API (eBible.org).
Word by word
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- Appears 6× in the Greek New Testament
- First appears at Matthew 27:51
- Part of Speech
- Noun
- Case
- Accusative
- Number
- Singular
- Gender
- Neuter
Full Thayer's Definition
- μετὰ metá G3326 “with” Preposition
- δὲ dé G1161 “but” Conjunction
- τὸ ho G3588 “the” Article, Accusative, Singular, Neuter
- δεύτερον deúteros G1208 “second” Adjective, Accusative, Singular, Neuter
- καταπέτασμα katapétasma G2665 “veil” Noun, Accusative, Singular, Neuter
- σκηνὴ skēnḗ G4633 “tabernacle” Noun, Nominative, Singular, Feminine
- ἡ ho G3588 “the” Article, Nominative, Singular, Feminine
- λεγομένη légō G3004 “to say” Verb, Present, Passive, Participle, Nominative, Singular, Feminine
- ἅγια hágios G40 “saint” Adjective, Nominative, Plural, Neuter
- ἁγίων hágios G40 “saint” Adjective, Genitive, Plural, Neuter
About this verse
These counts appear in no published source. They are computed here, from the morphology-tagged text and Lemma’s own curated glosses. What Lemma adds →
- 10
- words
- 8
- distinct lemmas
- General Epistles
- section
Cross-references
11Topical passages linked to Hebrews 9:3 in the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — connected by theme and wording, ordered by reader-vote popularity; previews shown in the World English Bible.
- Exodus 26:31–33 "You shall make a veil of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, with cherubim. The work of the skillful workman shall it be made.
- Exodus 40:3 You shall put the ark of the testimony in it, and you shall screen the ark with the veil.
- Exodus 40:21 He brought the ark into the tent, and set up the veil of the screen, and screened the ark of the testimony, as Yahweh commanded Moses.
- Matthew 27:51 Behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from the top to the bottom. The earth quaked and the rocks were split.
- 1 Kings 8:6 The priests brought in the ark of the covenant of Yahweh to its place, into the oracle of the house, to the most holy place, even under the wings of the cherubim.
- Hebrews 9:8 The Holy Spirit is indicating this, that the way into the Holy Place wasn't yet revealed while the first tabernacle was still standing;
- 2 Chronicles 3:14 He made the veil of blue, and purple, and crimson, and fine linen, and worked cherubim thereon.
- Isaiah 25:7 He will destroy in this mountain the surface of the covering that covers all peoples, and the veil that is spread over all nations.
- Hebrews 6:19 This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and entering into that which is within the veil;
- Hebrews 10:19–20 Having therefore, brothers, boldness to enter into the holy place by the blood of Jesus,
- Exodus 36:35–38 He made the veil of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen: with cherubim. He made it the work of a skillful workman.
Cross-references courtesy of OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0).
Lesson kit
Teaching starters — assembled from the data on this page, not authored interpretation. Every prompt links to the verse data it draws on. Edit before teaching.
Hebrews, in the General Epistles, opens this verse with 10 words (8 distinct Greek lemmas). Its most distinctive word is katapétasma (“veil”). A historical commentator’s framing appears above. Read the whole chapter for the surrounding context.
Discussion questions
- How does “veil” (katapétasma) shape what this verse is saying?
- Matthew 27:51 shares the word «veil» with this verse. How do the two illuminate each other?
- “saint” occurs 2× in this one verse. What is the effect of the repetition?
- These translations render this verse differently. What is at stake in choosing one wording over another?
- Reading how Joseph Benson's Commentary and Tyndale Open Study Notes read this verse, where do the two commentators agree and where do they part?
Things to notice
- These translations choose different wording for 10 words in this verse.
- “saint” occurs 2× in this single verse.
- 8 distinct Greek lemmas span 10 words in this verse.
Commentary
Notes on Hebrews 9:3 from classic Christian and Jewish commentators (each source and its license shown beneath its notes). The classic Christian expositions comment on the surrounding passage and are grouped to its opening verse, so a note may address several verses; the Jewish commentaries on the Tanakh (Rashi and others) are per-verse, so they appear only where the commentator wrote on this verse.
Lemma curates 59 commentaries, every one of them public domain or Creative Commons licensed, each selected and text-cleaned for this edition rather than reprinted as found. About our sources →
Joseph Benson's Commentary
Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale Open Resources
Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Bengel's Gnomon
Johann Albrecht Bengel
Bengel's Gnomon of the New Testament — English translation (T&T Clark, Edinburgh, 1860) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Meyer's Critical & Exegetical Commentary
Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer
Meyer — Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament — English translation by Peter Christie, edited by Frederick Crombie (T&T Clark, 1880) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Expositor's Greek Testament
ed. W. Robertson Nicoll
The Expositor's Greek Testament, edited by W. Robertson Nicoll (1897–1910) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Geneva Bible (1599)
Geneva Bible translators
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Adam Clarke's Commentary
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
John Gill's Exposition
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Trapp's Complete Commentary
John Trapp
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary
George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).
Matthew Poole's English Annotations
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Whedon's Commentary on the Bible
Daniel D. Whedon
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
John Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
The People's New Testament
B. W. Johnson
B. W. Johnson's The People's New Testament with Notes (1889–1891) — public domain. Electronic text from the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (CCEL) ThML edition.
unfoldingWord translationNotes
Door43 World Missions Community
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.
Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges
Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges (Cambridge University Press, 1896; 21 vols, various authors incl. Carr, Maclear, Plummer, Farrar, Lumby, Moule, M. R. James, Simcox) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Alford’s Greek Testament
Henry Alford
Henry Alford, The Greek Testament (1849–1861) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament
Marvin R. Vincent
Marvin R. Vincent, Word Studies in the New Testament (1887–1900) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Westcott on Hebrews & the Epistles of John
Brooke Foss Westcott
Brooke Foss Westcott (1825–1901), The Epistle to the Hebrews (1889) and The Epistles of St John (1883) — public domain (pre-1929). Text recovered from Internet Archive / Google Books OCR scans. Westcott’s Gospel of John commentary is not included (its OCR lost the chapter running-heads required for reliable verse-keying). Some Greek quoted in the Hebrews volume is imperfectly rendered by the OCR.