A.T. Robertson Commentary Hebrews 8:5

"who serve [that which is] a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, even as Moses is warned [of God] when he is about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern that was showed thee in the mount." — Hebrews 8:5 (ASV)

Serve (λατρευουσιν). Present active indicative of λατρευω for which verb see on Mt 4:10.

A copy (υποδειγματ). Dative case after λατρευουσιν. See already on Joh 13:15; Hebrews 4:11 for this interesting word.

Shadow (σκια). Dative case. Old word for which see already Mt 4:16; Mr 4:32; Colossians 2:17. See same idea in Heb 9:23. For difference between σκια and εικων see 10:1. Here "copy and shadow" form a practical hendiadys for "a shadowy outline" (Moffatt).

Is warned of God (κεχρηματιστα). Perfect passive indicative of χρηματιζω, old verb (from χρημα, business) for which see on Mt 2:12,22; Luke 2:26. The word "God" is not used, but it is implied as in Ac 10:22; Hebrews 12:25. So in LXX, Josephus, and the papyri.

For saith he (γαρ φησ). Argument from God's command (Exodus 25:40).

See that thou make (Hορα ποιησεις). Common Greek idiom with present active imperative of οραω and the volitive future of ποιεω without ινα (asyndeton, Robertson, Grammar, p. 949).

The pattern (τον τυπον). The very word used in Ex 25:40 and quoted also by Stephen in Ac 7:44. For τυπος see already Joh 20:25; Romans 6:17, etc. The tabernacle was to be patterned after the heavenly model.