The Greek word here translated altar for the burning of incense usually means a censer or incense-holder. But here it must refer to the wooden box overlaid with gold, on which incense was burned twice a day (see Exo 30.1-10). This altar was in fact kept in the outer part of the sanctuary (see Exo 30.6), but it would be wrong to change the statement in Hebrews to agree with the statement in Exodus 30. A literal rendering of the gold altar might suggest that the altar was made entirely of gold, but in reality it was merely overlaid with gold. It may therefore be appropriate to translate the gold altar as “the altar which was covered with gold.”
In some languages incense is referred to as “sweet-smelling resin,” and in a few cases it is “sweet-smelling medicine.” Where there is no specific term or phrase for incense, it may be described as “a sweet-smelling substance” or even “a sweet-smelling powder.”
Covenant Box: Good News Translation and other common language translations rightly use Box in place of the traditional “ark,” which is no longer part of common language, except for Noah’s ark, which was quite different. This Box is described in Exodus 25.10-16. It was called the Covenant Box because it contained various objects, all mentioned in this verse, which were closely linked with the making of the covenant between God and Israel. According to 1 Kings 8.9, “the box” contained nothing but the two stone tablets, but the writer of Hebrews seems to have ignored this text.
In selecting an appropriate term for Box, it is important to choose an expression such as “Chest,” which will refer to a container used in preserving or storing important objects.
There may, however, be some difficulty in relating Covenant to Box. One may use a phrase such as “Box which symbolizes the Covenant,” “Box which points to the Covenant,” “Box which tells about God’s agreement,” or “Box which shows God’s agreement.” Good News Translation fourth edition and containing replaces the clearer Good News Bible third edition “The box contained.” The Greek of Hebrews 9.3-4 cannot mean that the Most Holy Place contained the gold jar, etc.
On the jar, see Exodus 16.33. The gold jar which contained the manna was of a size to hold approximately two liters. The expression gold jar can be translated “jar made of gold.” In some languages there are a number of different terms for jar, depending on its shape, its size, the material of which it is made, and whether or not it has a top. It is impossible to determine precisely the shape of the jar involved, and therefore, if possible, one should select a term having a general meaning.
On Aaron’s stick, see Numbers 17.8-10. Aaron’s stick may be rendered as “Aaron’s walking stick” or “the stick which Aaron used when he walked.” The clause that had sprouted leaves may be rendered in some languages as “from which leaves had come out” or “on which leaves had grown.”
On the stone tablets, see Exodus 25.16 and Deuteronomy 10.3-5. The phrase which Revised Standard Version literally translates “the tables of the covenant” is found in the Septuagint of 1 Kings 8.9, and a similar phrase is found in Deuteronomy 9.9, 11. Several translations expand this phrase to make it clearer for the modern reader; for example, Bijbel in Gewone Taal has “the stone tablets with the law of the covenant.” Two is not in the Greek text; but see Exodus 32.15 and Deuteronomy 10.1. In modern English, “table” usually means a piece of furniture, so Good News Translation uses the diminutive tablets. The Old Testament passages referred to show that they must have been small enough to carry, but large enough for the commandments to be cut into the stone. The two stone tablets may be expressed as “the two tablets which were made out of stone” or “the two slabs of stone.”
With the commandments written on them may be rendered as “with God’s commandments written on them” or “with words about what God had commanded.” It is important in rendering the commandments to use the same type of expression which is used in the Old Testament.
Quoted with permission from Ellingworth, Paul and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on The Letter of the Hebrews. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1983. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .