Hebrews 8:2

New Testament Epistle (General) ASV (1901)

What does Hebrews 8:2 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “a minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, not man.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

a minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, not man.
Hebrews 8:2 — American Standard Version

Context — Hebrews 8

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
2a minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, not man.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“A minister of the sanctuary, etc..] The heavenly one, so called, in allusion to the holy of holies, the type of it; and because it is truly an holy place; and which Christ sanctifies and prepares for his people by his presence and intercession: or “of the Holy Ones”, or “saints”; who are sanctified or set apart by God, the Father, to whom Christ is made sanctification, and who are made holy by the Spirit of God; to these Christ is a minister; he was so in his prophetic office, to the lost sheep of the house of Israel; and in his priestly office, to all the chosen ones, when on earth, offering himself a sacrifice for them, and now he is a minister to them in heaven, interceding for them; and…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“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 (Heb 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-- (Heb 9:11). His body. Through His glorified body as the tabernacle, Christ passes into the…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“A minister of the sanctuary - Margin, “or holy things.” Greek τῶν ἁγίων tōn hagiōn. The Greek may either mean “the sanctuary” - denoting the Holy of Holies; or “holy things.” The word “sanctuary” - קדשׁ qodesh - was given to the tabernacle or temple as a “holy place,” and the plural form which is used here - τὰ ἅγια ta hagia - was given to the most holy place by way of eminence - the full form of the name being - קדשׁ qodesh קדשׁ קדּשׁים qodesh qodâshiym, or, ἅγια ἅγιων hagia hagiōn - “hagia hagion,” (Jahn’s Arche. section 328), or as it is used here simply as τὰ ἅγια ta hagia. The connection seems to require us to understand it of the “most holy place,” and not of holy…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“A minister - Who represents his own sacrifice, as the high priest did the blood of those sacrifices once a year. Of the sanctuary - Heaven, typified by the holy of holies. And of the true tabernacle - Perhaps his human nature, of which the old tabernacle was a type. Which the Lord hath fixed - Forever. Not man - As Moses fixed the tabernacle. Hebrews 8:4”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“minister: Heb 9:8-12, Heb 10:21; Exo 28:1, Exo 28:35; Luk 24:44; Rom 15:8 the sanctuary: or, holy things the true: Heb 9:11, Heb 9:23, Heb 9:24 which: Heb 11:10; Co2 5:1; Col 2:11 Hebrews 8:3”
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Sources and verification