Hebrews 9:8

Iver Larsen iver_larsen at sil.org
Sat Jun 8 15:35:23 EDT 2002


> I am puzzled by this phrase in Hebrews 9:8 and particularly the ESV
> translation.
> THN TWN hAGIWN hODON
> is rendered
> ASV, NASB, New Jerusalem Bible the holy place
> KJV, NKJV the holiest of all
> New American Bible, NRSV, RSV the sanctuary
> NIV the Most Holy Place
>
> Is this a plural of majesty [of holiness]?
>
> Has anyone encountered any other translation which renders "holy places?"
> David McKay

Ex 26:33 in the NRSV reads  "the curtain shall separate for you the holy
place from the most holy"
The LXX has ANA MESON TOU hAGIOU KAI ANA MESON TOU hAGIOU TWN hAGIWN.
There is an implied "place" so that TO hAGION refers to "The Holy Place" and
TO hAGION TWN hAGIWN refers to "the Most Holy Place", the inner room in the
Temple.

Heb 9:3 refers to that innermost holy room behind the curtain as hAGIA
hAGIWN and Heb 10:19 has EIS THN EISODON TWN hAGIWN.

So, the plural TWN hAGIWN is an abbreviation and simply refers to the Most
Holy Place, the inner room of the Temple sanctuary. I suppose it is a kind
of superlative: The most holy place of all holy places, or "the holy of
holies". As far as translation goes, I would opt for the NIV as the
clearest.

Iver Larsen




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