Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Hebrews 9:1

"Now even a first [covenant] had ordinances of divine service, and its sanctuary, [a sanctuary] of this world." — Hebrews 9:1 (ASV)

The writer has no noun with his adjective “first,” but NIV is certainly correct in inserting “covenant.” The author is contrasting two whole ways of approach to God—the old covenant that has been superseded and the new one that Jesus has now established. The old one had been set up with a full set of regulations for worship, prescribed directly by God. Thus the new covenant, also established by God, is its fulfillment, not its contradiction.

The old way not only had regulations but also a sanctuary described as “earthly” (GK 3176). This sanctuary belonged to this world in contrast to the heavenly sanctuary where Jesus ministers (v.11). The first covenant, then, was established with its due regulations for worship and its holy place of this earth where worship could be carried on. The author will go on to stress the “earthly” nature of it all.