• Hebrews 6:19
    The Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures

    • 19 ἣν which ὡς as ἄγκυραν anchor ἔχομεν we are having τῆς of the ψυχῆς, soul, ἀσφαλῆ sure τε and καὶ and βεβαίαν stable καὶ and εἰσερχομένην entering εἰς into τὸ the ἐσώτερον inner [part] τοῦ of the καταπετάσματος, curtain,

  • Hebrews Study Notes—Chapter 6
    New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (Study Edition)

    • 6:19

      this hope as an anchor: This reassuring metaphor supports the point of the preceding verses: The Christian hope is solid and reliable. As an anchor holds a ship fast and secure even in the midst of storms, so the sure hope of seeing God’s promises fulfilled can help a Christian to remain stable and endure turbulent times. (Compare Ps 46:1-3.) Paul well knew the value of an anchor, for he had endured many dangers at sea. (Ac 27:13, 29; see study note on 2Co 11:25; see Media Gallery, “An Anchor of Wood and Metal.”) Even in non-Biblical writings of Paul’s day, the anchor was used to symbolize hope.

      for the soul: Or “for our lives.”​—See Glossary, “Soul.”

      both sure and firm: Paul shows why the Christian hope is so reliable when he says that this anchor, or hope, “enters in within the curtain.” (See study note on it enters in within the curtain in this verse.) He thus indicates that God is the one who keeps the hope secure. Regarding this, one reference work says: “Other anchors descend into the deep: this ascends to the highest heavens, and lays hold on the very throne of God.”

      it enters in within the curtain: Paul’s point here is that the hope of the Hebrew Christians does not depend on any human or earthly source. Rather, this hope “enters in within the curtain,” that is, into heaven. Thus the hope is connected with God, who arranged for the ransom, and with Jesus, who gave his life to provide it. A curtain in the tabernacle served as a barrier to the Most Holy compartment. Once a year, the high priest would enter the Most Holy. There, “within,” or beyond, the curtain, he would make atonement for the sins of the Israelites. (Heb 9:7) As Paul will explain later in his letter, the Most Holy pictured heaven. (Heb 9:24) The curtain pictured Jesus’ flesh, or human body, because that was a barrier to entering heaven. (1Co 15:50; Heb 10:20 and study notes) Jesus passed beyond that “curtain” by sacrificing his human body and, upon his resurrection as a spirit, entering heaven. (1Pe 3:18) There, in God’s presence, he atoned for the sins of mankind by presenting the value of his shed blood as a ransom. (Heb 6:20; 9:12) That provision​—atonement by means of Christ’s ransom​—was the basis for God’s “promise to Abraham” to be fulfilled. (Heb 6:13, 14) It is the basis for the hope of all obedient humans.​—Mt 20:28.