Hebrews 9:4 net — It contained the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered entirely with gold. In this ark were the g…

NET Bible

"It contained the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered entirely with gold. In this ark were the golden urn containing the manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant."

— Hebrews 9:4, NET Bible

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Hebrews 9:4 in Other Translations

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Hebrews 9 — Context

1

The Arrangement and Ritual of the Earthly Sanctuary Now the first covenant, in fact, had regulations for worship and its earthly sanctuary.

2

For a tent was prepared, the outer one, which contained the lampstand, the table, and the presentation of the loaves; this is called the holy place.

3

And after the second curtain there was a tent called the holy of holies.

4

It contained the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered entirely with gold. In this ark were the golden urn containing the manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant.

5

And above the ark were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Now is not the time to speak of these things in detail.

6

So with these things prepared like this, the priests enter continually into the outer tent as they perform their duties.

7

But only the high priest enters once a year into the inner tent, and not without blood that he offers for himself and for the sins of the people committed in ignorance.

Hebrews 9:4 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does Hebrews 9:4 say?
Hebrews 9:4 in the NET Bible reads: “It contained the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered entirely with gold. In this ark were the golden urn containing the manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant.”
Where is Hebrews 9:4 in the Bible?
Hebrews 9:4 is found in the New Testament, in the book of Hebrews, chapter 9, verse 4.
Who wrote Hebrews?
Hebrews is traditionally attributed to Anonymous. Authorship has been debated since the earliest centuries — candidates include Paul, Apollos, Barnabas, Luke, and Priscilla. The letter itself is anonymous and the most honest answer is that we do not know. It was written c. AD 60–70.
What is the book of Hebrews about?
Hebrews is a sermon-letter showing that everything in the Old Covenant — priests, sacrifices, the tabernacle — pointed to Jesus, who is "better" in every way. It calls a tired church to draw near with confidence, hold fast their hope, and run the race set before them.
What are the major themes of Hebrews?
Hebrews explores themes including Supremacy of Christ, New Covenant, Priesthood, Faith, Perseverance. These themes shape the meaning and context of Hebrews 9:4.
What translation should I read Hebrews 9:4 in?
Hebrews 9:4 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize Hebrews 9:4?
Hebrews 9:4 reads (NET): “It contained the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered entirely with gold. In this ark were the golden urn containing the manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant.” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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