Hebrews 9:4 (WEB)
having a golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which was a golden pot holding the manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant;
As quoted in the map (KJV)
Hebrews 9:4 (KJV)
Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant;
Key words
- κιβωτὸς τῆς διαθήκηςkibōtos tēs diathēkēs · Greek
- 'the ark of the covenant' — the same phrase as 'the ark of his testament' in Revelation 11:19.
- στάμνος χρυσῆ ἔχουσα τὸ μάνναstamnos chrysē echousa to manna · Greek
- 'the golden pot that had manna' — the bread from heaven.
- ἡ ῥάβδος Ἀαρὼν ἡ βλαστήσασαhē rhabdos Aarōn hē blastēsasa · Greek
- 'Aaron's rod that budded' — the sign of the priesthood.
- αἱ πλάκες τῆς διαθήκηςhai plakes tēs diathēkēs · Greek
- 'the tables of the covenant' — the word of God on stone.
Why it matters
Hebrews lists the three treasures kept in the ark: the manna, Aaron's rod and the tablets of the law — bread, priesthood and word. Pitre shows that Mary carried the reality of all three in one person: Jesus the Word made flesh, the Bread of Life, and the great High Priest. If the gold-covered ark had to be holy because of what it held, so must the woman who held Christ.
Fathers and councils · 5
John Cassian
- John Cassian, Conferences XI–XVII XIV.10Conference XIV
“…reading, until continual meditation fills your heart, and fashions you so to speak after its own likeness, making of it, in a way, an ark of the testimony, which has within it two tables of stone, i.e., the constant assurance of the two testaments; and a golden pot, i.e., a pure and undefiled memory which…” — editor's note: Cf. Heb. ix. 4, 5.
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Gregory of Nyssa
“In it was the rod of the priesthood, which budded in the hands of our Saint; and whatever else we have heard the Ark contained was all held in the soul of that man.” — editor's note: The above description enumerates the whole furniture of the Tabernacle. According to Heb. ix. 4, all that was actually in the Ark was, the pot of manna,…
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John Chrysostom
“Hebrews ix. 1–5” — the author cites it
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Jerome
“The Jews of old reverenced the Holy of Holies, because of the things contained in it—the cherubim, the mercy-seat, the ark of the covenant, the manna, Aaron’s rod, and the golden altar.” — editor's note: Heb. ix. 3–5.
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Gregory the Great
“Which thing, according to the words of Paul (Heb. ix. 4), is well signified by that ark of the tabernacle, in which, together with the tables, there as a rod and manna; because, if with knowledge of sacred Scripture in the good ruler’s breast there is the rod of constraint, there should be also the manna of sweetness.” — the author cites it
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Cross-references · 2
Cited together in Conferences XI–XVII XIV.10.
Cited together in Conferences XI–XVII XIV.10.