independentparticipialrelativepurposecausecomparativecontentconditionalphrase modifierdashed = verbless / suspended
Flush-left = a main (independent) clause. Each dependent line begins directly beneath the word it attaches to in the line above — the anchor word is dotted-underlined, and lights up when you hover its dependent clause; each tag also names the attachment. A dashed border marks verbless, elliptical, or suspended lines. Where a long sentence's staircase runs wider than the page, the diagram scrolls sideways. (In print, or without JavaScript, lines fall back to stepped indent columns.)
The earthly sanctuary and its furnishings 9:1–5
vv. 1–2 — the first covenant's tent: the outer room and its furniture
1
Εἶχε μὲν οὖν καὶ ἡ πρώτη δικαιώματα λατρείας τό τε ἅγιον κοσμικόν.independent — μὲν οὖν — the concession that opens the section; the answering δέ waits until v. 11
2
σκηνὴ γὰρ κατεσκευάσθη ἡ πρώτηcause — γάρ unpacks the 'earthly sanctuary' of v. 1
ἐν ᾗ ἥ τε λυχνία καὶ ἡ τράπεζα καὶ ἡ πρόθεσις τῶν ἄρτων,relative — the outer room's furniture — a verbless inventory (Exod 25)
ἥτις λέγεται Ἅγια·relative — the qualitative ἥτις names the compartment
vv. 3–5 — past the second veil: the ark, its relics, the cherubim
3
μετὰ δὲ τὸ δεύτερον καταπέτασμα σκηνὴ ἡ λεγομένη Ἅγια Ἁγίων,cause — δέ moves the description inward — verbless, coordinate with v. 2
4
χρυσοῦν ἔχουσα θυμιατήριον καὶ τὴν κιβωτὸν τῆς διαθήκης περικεκαλυμμένην πάντοθεν χρυσίῳ,participial — the inner room's contents — θυμιατήριον assigned within, the tension with Exod 30:6 left unpressed
ἐν ᾗ στάμνος χρυσῆ ἔχουσα τὸ μάννα καὶ ἡ ῥάβδος Ἀαρὼν ἡ βλαστήσασα καὶ αἱ πλάκες τῆς διαθήκης,relative — the ark's three relics — another verbless column (Exod 16; Num 17; Deut 10)
5
ὑπεράνω δὲ αὐτῆς Χερουβὶν δόξης κατασκιάζοντα τὸ ἱλαστήριον·phrase modifier — αὐτῆς = the ark; the Shekinah figures over the ἱλαστήριον (Exod 25:18–22)
περὶ ὧν οὐκ ἔστιν νῦν λέγειν κατὰ μέρος.relative — praeteritio — plural ὧν sweeps up the whole inventory; the point lies elsewhere
The limited access of the old order 9:6–10
vv. 6–7 — the routine: priests daily into the first tent, the high priest once a year into the second
6
Τούτων δὲ οὕτως κατεσκευασμένων,participial — genitive absolute — stage-setting, leaning forward on the main clause below
εἰς μὲν τὴν πρώτην σκηνὴν διὰ παντὸς εἰσίασιν οἱ ἱερεῖςindependent — μέν — the outer tent's daily traffic (answered by δέ, v. 7)
τὰς λατρείας ἐπιτελοῦντες,participial — manner — the prescribed rites of lamps, incense, bread
7
εἰς δὲ τὴν δευτέραν ἅπαξ τοῦ ἐνιαυτοῦ μόνος ὁ ἀρχιερεύς, οὐ χωρὶς αἵματος,independent — the answering δέ — one man, once a year, never bloodless; εἰσέρχεται supplied (Lev 16)
ὃ προσφέρει ὑπὲρ ἑαυτοῦ καὶ τῶν τοῦ λαοῦ ἀγνοημάτων,relative — the blood specified — for his own sins too, and only for ἀγνοήματα
vv. 8–10 — the Spirit's lesson: the way not yet open, the tent a parable
8
τοῦτο δηλοῦντος τοῦ πνεύματος τοῦ ἁγίου,participial — genitive absolute on the whole arrangement — the restriction itself is the Spirit's sign
μήπω πεφανερῶσθαι τὴν τῶν ἁγίων ὁδὸνcontent — indirect statement — the content of the sign (cf. 10:20)
ἔτι τῆς πρώτης σκηνῆς ἐχούσης στάσιν,participial — second genitive absolute — the temporal limit of the non-disclosure
9
ἥτις παραβολὴ εἰς τὸν καιρὸν τὸν ἐνεστηκότα,relative — on σκηνῆς — the tent read as παραβολή; verbless
καθ' ἣν δῶρά τε καὶ θυσίαι προσφέρονταιrelative — the figure's terms — the offerings still going on
μὴ δυνάμεναι κατὰ συνείδησιν τελειῶσαι τὸν λατρεύοντα,participial — the deficiency — the conscience out of reach (answered in v. 14)
10
μόνον ἐπὶ βρώμασιν καὶ πόμασιν καὶ διαφόροις βαπτισμοῖς,phrase modifier — the offerings' actual scope — externals of diet and ablution
δικαιώματα σαρκὸς μέχρι καιροῦ διορθώσεως ἐπικείμενα.phrase modifier — loose nominative apposition — fleshly rules with a built-in expiry
Christ entered the greater tent with his own blood 9:11–14
vv. 11–12 — the great δέ: through the greater tent, with his own blood, once for all
11
Χριστὸς δὲ παραγενόμενος ἀρχιερεὺς τῶν γενομένων ἀγαθῶνindependent — the δέ answering v. 1 — subject suspended until εἰσῆλθεν (v. 12); reading γενομένων, not μελλόντων
διὰ τῆς μείζονος καὶ τελειοτέρας σκηνῆς οὐ χειροποιήτου,phrase modifier — construes with εἰσῆλθεν below — the heavenly tent traversed (cf. 8:2)
τοῦτ' ἔστιν οὐ ταύτης τῆς κτίσεως,phrase modifier — the explanatory formula — a higher order than the created world
12
οὐδὲ δι' αἵματος τράγων καὶ μόσχωνphrase modifier — the rejected means — also with εἰσῆλθεν below (Lev 16:3, 11)
διὰ δὲ τοῦ ἰδίου αἵματος εἰσῆλθεν ἐφάπαξ εἰς τὰ ἅγια,independent — the main verb at last — ἐφάπαξ against the yearly ἅπαξ of v. 7
αἰωνίαν λύτρωσιν εὑράμενος.participial — coincident result — the entry secures a redemption that lasts
vv. 13–14 — the a fortiori: if animal blood cleanses the flesh, how much more Christ's the conscience
13
εἰ γὰρ τὸ αἷμα τράγων καὶ ταύρων καὶ σποδὸς δαμάλεως ῥαντίζουσα τοὺς κεκοινωμένους ἁγιάζει πρὸς τὴν τῆς σαρκὸς καθαρότητα,conditional — protasis — the old rites' real but outward efficacy conceded (Lev 16; Num 19); leans on the apodosis below
14
πόσῳ μᾶλλον τὸ αἷμα τοῦ Χριστοῦ,independent — apodosis opens — subject suspended across the relative
ὃς διὰ πνεύματος αἰωνίου ἑαυτὸν προσήνεγκεν ἄμωμον τῷ θεῷ,relative — διὰ πνεύματος αἰωνίου read of the (Holy) eternal Spirit — priest and unblemished victim in one
καθαριεῖ τὴν συνείδησιν ἡμῶν ἀπὸ νεκρῶν ἔργωνindependent — the verb arrives — the conscience v. 9 left untouched
εἰς τὸ λατρεύειν θεῷ ζῶντι.purpose — εἰς τό + infinitive — cleansing issues in worship, dead works giving way to the living God
The new covenant ratified by death 9:15–22
vv. 15–17 — mediator of a new διαθήκη: the covenant that is also a will
15
Καὶ διὰ τοῦτο διαθήκης καινῆς μεσίτης ἐστίν,independent — διὰ τοῦτο — the inference from vv. 11–14 (cf. 8:6; 12:24)
ὅπως θανάτου γενομένου εἰς ἀπολύτρωσιν τῶν ἐπὶ τῇ πρώτῃ διαθήκῃ παραβάσεωνpurpose — the ὅπως clause opens; a genitive absolute folded in, the verb still to come
τὴν ἐπαγγελίαν λάβωσιν οἱ κεκλημένοι τῆς αἰωνίου κληρονομίας.purpose — the purpose reaches its verb — λάβωσιν; the heirs receive what the old covenant left owing
16
ὅπου γὰρ διαθήκη,conditional — ὅπου quasi-conditional — leans on the clause below; the shift to the legal sense of διαθήκη begins
θάνατον ἀνάγκη φέρεσθαι τοῦ διαθεμένου·independent — ἀνάγκη (sc. ἐστίν) — the testator's death must be adduced
17
διαθήκη γὰρ ἐπὶ νεκροῖς βεβαία,cause — the legal rule (sc. ἐστίν) — a will has force only where death has occurred
ἐπεὶ μήποτε ἰσχύειcause — ἐπεί — the clinching ground
ὅτε ζῇ ὁ διαθέμενος.phrase modifier — temporal ὅτε — the testator's continued life keeps the will inert
vv. 18–21 — hence blood at Sinai: Moses inaugurates the first covenant
18
ὅθεν οὐδὲ ἡ πρώτη χωρὶς αἵματος ἐγκεκαίνισται·independent — ὅθεν — the death-principle applied backward to Sinai
19
λαληθείσης γὰρ πάσης ἐντολῆς κατὰ τὸν νόμον ὑπὸ Μωϋσέως παντὶ τῷ λαῷ,participial — genitive absolute — Exod 24 retold; leans forward on ἐράντισεν below
λαβὼν τὸ αἷμα τῶν μόσχων καὶ τῶν τράγων μετὰ ὕδατος καὶ ἐρίου κοκκίνου καὶ ὑσσώπουparticipial — attendant circumstance — the sprinkling kit (cf. Lev 14; Num 19:6); leans forward with the absolute
αὐτό τε τὸ βιβλίον καὶ πάντα τὸν λαὸν ἐράντισεν,cause — γάρ proves v. 18 — the inaugural blood-rite reaches even the covenant document
20
λέγων·participial — the covenant declaration introduced
Τοῦτο τὸ αἷμα τῆς διαθήκηςcontent — Exod 24:8 — echoed in the words over the cup (Matt 26:28); verbless
ἧς ἐνετείλατο πρὸς ὑμᾶς ὁ θεός·relative — ἧς by attraction to διαθήκης
21
καὶ τὴν σκηνὴν δὲ καὶ πάντα τὰ σκεύη τῆς λειτουργίας τῷ αἵματι ὁμοίως ἐράντισεν.cause — καὶ ... δέ — the rite extended to the sanctuary and its implements
v. 22 — the maxim: cleansing by blood, no forgiveness without it
22
καὶ σχεδὸν ἐν αἵματι πάντα καθαρίζεται κατὰ τὸν νόμον,independent — the generalization — σχεδόν concedes the exceptions (water, fire)
καὶ χωρὶς αἱματεκχυσίας οὐ γίνεται ἄφεσις.independent — the aphorism — αἱματεκχυσία, perhaps coined here; the axiom beneath vv. 14–15
The once-for-all sacrifice that takes away sin 9:23–28
vv. 23–24 — better sacrifices: the copies and the heavenly things themselves
23
Ἀνάγκη οὖν τὰ μὲν ὑποδείγματα τῶν ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς τούτοις καθαρίζεσθαι,independent — ἀνάγκη (sc. ἦν) — the inference from v. 22; 'these' = the animal rites of vv. 19–21
αὐτὰ δὲ τὰ ἐπουράνια κρείττοσιν θυσίαις παρὰ ταύτας.phrase modifier — the δέ limb — καθαρίζεσθαι supplied; the heavenly things themselves said to need cleansing, taken at full strength
24
οὐ γὰρ εἰς χειροποίητα εἰσῆλθεν ἅγια Χριστός,cause — γάρ — the better sacrifice located: not the handmade shrine (cf. v. 11)
ἀντίτυπα τῶν ἀληθινῶν,phrase modifier — apposition — ἀντίτυπα answering the heavenly pattern (cf. ὑπόδειγμα, v. 23)
ἀλλ' εἰς αὐτὸν τὸν οὐρανόν,phrase modifier — the ἀλλά — the true sanctuary is God's own presence
νῦν ἐμφανισθῆναι τῷ προσώπῳ τοῦ θεοῦ ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν·purpose — purpose infinitive — the ongoing νῦν of his appearing for us (cf. 7:25)
vv. 25–26 — not again and again: once, at the consummation of the ages
25
οὐδ' ἵνα πολλάκις προσφέρῃ ἑαυτόν,purpose — the negated purpose — πολλάκις against ἐφάπαξ (v. 12)
ὥσπερ ὁ ἀρχιερεὺς εἰσέρχεται εἰς τὰ ἅγια κατ' ἐνιαυτὸν ἐν αἵματι ἀλλοτρίῳ,comparative — the foil — annual entry, another's blood (v. 7)
26
ἐπεὶ ἔδει αὐτὸν πολλάκις παθεῖν ἀπὸ καταβολῆς κόσμου·cause — ἐπεί — the reductio: the unreal ἔδει exposes the absurdity of repetition
νῦν δὲ ἅπαξ ἐπὶ συντελείᾳ τῶν αἰώνων εἰς ἀθέτησιν τῆς ἁμαρτίας διὰ τῆς θυσίας αὐτοῦ πεφανέρωται.independent — νῦν δέ — the climax: πεφανέρωται answers the μήπω πεφανερῶσθαι of v. 8
vv. 27–28 — the correlative close: men die once, Christ offered once — and appearing a second time
27
καὶ καθ' ὅσον ἀπόκειται τοῖς ἀνθρώποις ἅπαξ ἀποθανεῖν,comparative — καθ' ὅσον — the protasis of the correlative, leaning on the οὕτως below
μετὰ δὲ τοῦτο κρίσις,phrase modifier — still inside the comparison — verbless: death, then judgment
28
οὕτως καὶ ὁ Χριστός,independent — the οὕτως apodosis — subject suspended until ὀφθήσεται
ἅπαξ προσενεχθεὶςparticipial — the passive — offered (by God, by himself); ἅπαξ matching man's one death
εἰς τὸ πολλῶν ἀνενεγκεῖν ἁμαρτίας,purpose — εἰς τό + infinitive — Isa 53:12: the sins of many borne
ἐκ δευτέρου χωρὶς ἁμαρτίας ὀφθήσεται τοῖς αὐτὸν ἀπεκδεχομένοις εἰς σωτηρίαν.independent — the main verb — ὀφθήσεται: the second appearing, not to bear sin but to save
Analysis. The chapter's shape is a single long μέν/δέ arch with a legal excursus inside it. The μέν of v. 1 opens a descending inventory — the first covenant's tent drawn as verbless columns (the lampstand-table-bread room, then past the veil the ark and its relics), broken off by the praeteritio περὶ ὧν οὐκ ἔστιν νῦν λέγειν — and vv. 6–10 read that architecture as liturgy and lesson: forward-leaning genitive absolutes frame the routine (priests daily, the high priest ἅπαξ τοῦ ἐνιαυτοῦ), and the chapter's deepest chain hangs the Spirit's own exegesis beneath it — the way not yet disclosed, the tent a παραβολή, its gifts unable to reach the conscience. The answering δέ arrives at v. 11 with Χριστὸς suspended over two διά-phrases until the main verb εἰσῆλθεν ἐφάπαξ (v. 12), and the a-fortiori pair (the εἰ γάρ protasis of v. 13 leaning on the πόσῳ μᾶλλον apodosis) carries the argument from flesh to conscience. Verses 15–22 pivot on διαθήκη: the layout takes the disputed vv. 16–17 as a deliberate shift to the testamentary sense — where there is a will, the testator's death must be established — a wordplay the author exploits and then folds back into covenant idiom with the Sinai narrative (the Exod 24:8 quotation hung as content under λέγων) and the twin flush-left maxims of v. 22. The close (vv. 23–28) sets the ἐπεί-reductio against the νῦν δὲ ἅπαξ climax and ends on the καθ᾽-ὅσον/οὕτως correlative: men die once and face judgment, Christ was offered once and will appear ἐκ δευτέρου for salvation. Cruxes the layout takes a side on: διαθήκη in vv. 16–17 is read as testament/will (not a covenant-ratification requiring the covenant-maker's representative death), so the argument runs covenant → will → covenant; διὰ πνεύματος αἰωνίου (v. 14) is taken of the eternal (Holy) Spirit through whom Christ offered himself, not merely of his own indissoluble life; v. 23's startling claim that τὰ ἐπουράνια themselves needed cleansing is left standing at full strength — the heavenly things purified by better sacrifices — rather than softened to mere inauguration; and γενομένων ('the good things that have come') is retained at v. 11 against the variant μελλόντων.