“who serve the copy and shadow of the heavenly things, as Moses was divinely instructed when he was about to make the tabernacle. For He said, ‘See that you make all things according to the pattern shown you on the mountain'” (Hebrews 8:5).
This reference to Moses and the Old Testament tabernacle draws our attention to the use of Biblical typology. This literary device is one that can help us enjoy a fuller, richer understanding of some important Biblical concepts.
You see, typology refers to the study of a figure, representation, or symbol of something else. It involves the use of patterns or metaphors in which one thing is used to represent another. For example…
- Jesus referenced the prophet Jonah’s experience as a type (or representation) of His own death, burial, and resurrection (Matthew 12:38-40).
- Paul the Apostle presented Adam as a type of Jesus in Romans 5:14.
- Melchizedek, the king-priest of Salem (Genesis 14:18-20 and Psalm 110:4) is said to be typical of Christ in Hebrews 6:20. (1)
Here is Hebrews 8:5, the Old Testament tabernacle (as well as the Temple that followed), served as a type, model, or replica that conveyed the presence of something else. In this instance, that “something else” represented the heavenly reality of such things. One source offers a helpful explanation concerning the “copy” and the “shadow” mentioned here…
“The book of Hebrews tells us that the priests of the tabernacle ministered in a copy [hupodeigmati] and shadow [skia] of the heavenly things (Heb. 8:5; cf. 9:23). When the writer of this epistle says that the tabernacle was a copy and a shadow, he means that it was derived from something else. A copy is made from an original and a shadow is cast from something of substance.” (2)
Nevertheless, one author presents us with an important reminder that should help prevent us from taking this analogy too far…
“This does not mean that there are actual buildings in heaven which were copied in the tabernacle, but rather that the heavenly realities were adequately symbolized and represented in the earthly tabernacle model.” (3)
This also explains why the author of Hebrews quoted Exodus 25:40 within this passage. The Tabernacle that Moses constructed would not serve its symbolic purpose if it deviated from this heavenly design. So just as we can follow a shadow back to the object that created it, so we can also follow the “shadow” of the Old Testament tabernacle back to its heavenly origin.
(1) See “Type”, Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary Copyright © 1986, 1995 by Thomas Nelson Publishers.
(2) Daniel R. Hyde, God in Our Midst: The Tabernacle and Our Relationship with God Reformation Trust Publishing [pg. 46]
(3) MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Heb 8:5). Thomas Nelson Publishers.