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Hebrews 9 · a question people ask

"Now indeed even the first covenant had ordinances of divine service and an earthly sanctuary." (9:1). Which covenant is the first covenant?

In the text

Later the chapter says: "Therefore even the first covenant has not been dedicated without blood. For when every commandment had been spoken by Moses to all the people according to the law" (9:18-19), and it goes on to tell what Moses did. These notes say no more of the first covenant than these words, and apply it to no law or practice today.

The verses

“Now indeed even the first covenant had ordinances of divine service and an earthly sanctuary.”
Hebrews 9:1 · World English Bible
“Therefore even the first covenant has not been dedicated without blood. For when every commandment had been spoken by Moses to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of the calves and the goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people,”
Hebrews 9:18-19 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Hebrews 9

Hebrews 9: Offered once

Hebrews 9 walks through the first covenant's "earthly sanctuary" (9:1), then turns: "But Christ having come as a high priest of the coming good things" (9:11). It closes with Christ "offered once to bear the sins of many", who "will appear a second time" (9:28).

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Last reviewed October 8, 2026. Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions