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Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;

A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.

For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer.

For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law:

Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount.

But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.

For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.

For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:

Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.

10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:

11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.

12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.

13 In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.

A Heavenly Priesthood

Now the main point of what is being said is this: We have this kind of high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens,(A) a minister of the sanctuary and the true tabernacle that was set up by the Lord and not man.(B) For every high priest is appointed to offer gifts(C) and sacrifices; therefore it was necessary for this priest also to have something to offer. Now if He were on earth, He wouldn’t be a priest, since there are those[a] offering the gifts prescribed by the law. These serve as a copy and shadow(D) of the heavenly things, as Moses was warned when he was about to complete the tabernacle. For God said, Be careful that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown to you on the mountain.(E)[b] But Jesus has now obtained a superior ministry, and to that degree He is the mediator(F) of a better covenant,(G) which has been legally enacted on better promises.(H)

A Superior Covenant

For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion for a second one. But finding fault with His people,[c] He says:[d]

Look, the days are coming, says the Lord,
when I will make a new covenant
with the house of Israel
and with the house of Judah—
not like the covenant
that I made with their ancestors
on the day I took them by their hands
to lead them out of the land of Egypt.
I disregarded them, says the Lord,
because they did not continue in My covenant.
10 But this is the covenant
that I will make with the house of Israel
after those days, says the Lord:
I will put My laws into their minds
and write them on their hearts.
I will be their God,
and they will be My people.(I)
11 And each person will not teach his fellow citizen,[e]
and each his brother, saying, “Know the Lord,”
because they will all know Me,
from the least to the greatest of them.(J)
12 For I will be merciful to their wrongdoing,
and I will never again remember their sins.[f](K)[g]

13 By saying, a new covenant, He has declared that the first is old. And what is old and aging is about to disappear.(L)

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 8:4 Other mss read priests
  2. Hebrews 8:5 Ex 25:40
  3. Hebrews 8:8 Lit with them
  4. Hebrews 8:8 Other mss read finding fault, He says to them
  5. Hebrews 8:11 Other mss read neighbor
  6. Hebrews 8:12 Other mss add and their lawless deeds
  7. Hebrews 8:12 Jr 31:31-34

Chapter 8

Heavenly Priesthood of Jesus.[a] The main point of what has been said is this: we have such a high priest, who has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven,(A) a minister of the sanctuary[b] and of the true tabernacle that the Lord, not man, set up.(B) Now every high priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices; thus the necessity for this one also to have something to offer.(C) If then he were on earth, he would not be a priest, since there are those who offer gifts according to the law.(D) They worship in a copy and shadow of the heavenly sanctuary, as Moses was warned when he was about to erect the tabernacle. For he says, “See that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.”(E) Now he has obtained so much more excellent a ministry as he is mediator of a better covenant, enacted on better promises.(F)

Old and New Covenants.[c] For if that first covenant had been faultless, no place would have been sought for a second one. But he finds fault with them and says:[d]

“Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord,(G)
    when I will conclude a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah.
It will not be like the covenant I made with their fathers
    the day I took them by the hand to lead them forth from the land of Egypt;
for they did not stand by my covenant
    and I ignored them, says the Lord.
10 But this is the covenant I will establish with the house of Israel
    after those days, says the Lord:
I will put my laws in their minds
    and I will write them upon their hearts.
I will be their God,
    and they shall be my people.(H)
11 And they shall not teach, each one his fellow citizen
    and kinsman, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’
for all shall know me,
    from least to greatest.
12 For I will forgive their evildoing
    and remember their sins no more.”

13 [e](I)When he speaks of a “new” covenant, he declares the first one obsolete. And what has become obsolete and has grown old is close to disappearing.

Footnotes

  1. 8:1–6 The Christian community has in Jesus the kind of high priest described in Hb 7:26–28. In virtue of his ascension Jesus has taken his place at God’s right hand in accordance with Ps 110:1 (Hb 8:1), where he presides over the heavenly sanctuary established by God himself (Hb 8:2). Like every high priest, he has his offering to make (Hb 8:3; cf. Hb 9:12, 14), but it differs from that of the levitical priesthood in which he had no share (Hb 8:4) and which was in any case but a shadowy reflection of the true offering in the heavenly sanctuary (Hb 8:5). But Jesus’ ministry in the heavenly sanctuary is that of mediator of a superior covenant that accomplishes what it signifies (Hb 8:6).
  2. 8:2 The sanctuary: the Greek term could also mean “holy things” but bears the meaning “sanctuary” elsewhere in Hebrews (Hb 9:8, 12, 24, 25; 10:19; 13:11). The true tabernacle: the heavenly tabernacle that the Lord…set up is contrasted with the earthly tabernacle that Moses set up in the desert. True means “real” in contradistinction to a mere “copy and shadow” (Hb 8:5); compare the Johannine usage (e.g., Jn 1:9; 6:32; 15:1). The idea that the earthly sanctuary is a reflection of a heavenly model may be based upon Ex 25:9, but probably also derives from the Platonic concept of a real world of which our observable world is merely a shadow.
  3. 8:7–13 Since the first covenant was deficient in accomplishing what it signified, it had to be replaced (Hb 8:7), as Jeremiah (Jer 31:31–34) had prophesied (Hb 8:8–12). Even in the time of Jeremiah, the first covenant was antiquated (Hb 8:13). In Hb 7:22–24, the superiority of the new covenant was seen in the permanence of its priesthood; here the superiority is based on better promises, made explicit in the citation of Jer 31:31–34 (LXX: 38), namely, in the immediacy of the people’s knowledge of God (Hb 8:11) and in the forgiveness of sin (Hb 8:12).
  4. 8:8–12 In citing Jeremiah the author follows the Septuagint; some apparent departures from it may be the result of a different Septuagintal text rather than changes deliberately introduced.
  5. 8:13 Close to disappearing: from the prophet’s perspective, not that of the author of Hebrews.

Now de the crowning affirmation kephalaion to epi what ho we are saying legō is this: we do have echō such toioutos a high archiereus priest , who hos has taken his seat kathizō at en the right dexios hand of the ho throne thronos of the ho Majesty megalōsynē in en · ho heaven ouranos, an officiating priest leitourgos of ho holy hagios things and kai of the ho true alēthinos tabernacle skēnē · ho which hos the ho Lord kyrios put up pēgnymi, not ou man anthrōpos.

For gar every pas high priest archiereus is appointed kathistēmi to eis offer prospherō both te gifts dōron and kai sacrifices thusia; so hothen it was necessary anankaios for this houtos high priest also kai to have echō something tis to offer prospherō. So oun if ei he had been eimi on epi earth , he would an not oude be eimi a priest hiereus, since there are eimi already those ho who offer prospherō the ho gifts dōron prescribed by kata the law nomos. The place where they hostis serve latreuō is a shadowy skia suggestion hypodeigma · kai of the ho heavenly epouranios sanctuary, just as kathōs Moses Mōysēs was warned chrēmatizō by God when he was about mellō to erect epiteleō the ho tabernacle skēnē; for gar he said phēmi, “ See horaō that you make poieō everything pas according to kata the ho pattern typos · ho shown deiknymi you sy on en the ho mountain oros.” But de as it is nyn, he has obtained tynchanō a superior diaphoros ministry leitourgia, since the covenant diathēkē of which hosos · kai he is mediator mesitēs is eimi better kreittōn, since it hostis has been enacted nomotheteō on the basis of epi better kreittōn promises epangelia.

For gar if ei · ho that ekeinos first prōtos covenant had been eimi blameless amemptos, then no ou occasion topos would an have been sought zēteō for a second deuteros. For gar finding fault memphomai, God says legō to them autos, “ Behold idou, days hēmera are coming erchomai, declares legō the Lord kyrios, when kai I will establish synteleō a new kainos covenant diathēkē with epi the ho house oikos of Israel Israēl and kai with epi the ho house oikos of Judah Ioudas. It will not ou be like kata the ho covenant diathēkē that hos I made poieō with ho their autos fathers patēr on en the day hēmera when I egō took epilambanomai them autos by the ho hand cheir to bring exagō them autos out of ek the land of Egypt Aigyptos, because hoti they autos did not ou continue emmenō in en · ho my egō covenant diathēkē and I kagō abandoned ameleō them autos, says legō the Lord kyrios. 10 For hoti this houtos is the ho covenant diathēkē that hos I will establish diatithēmi with the ho house oikos of Israel Israēl after meta · ho those ekeinos days hēmera, declares legō the Lord kyrios: I will put didōmi my egō laws nomos in eis · ho their autos minds dianoia and kai I will inscribe epigraphō them autos on epi their autos hearts kardia. · kai I will be eimi their autos God theos and kai they autos will be eimi my egō people laos. 11 And kai they will not ou mē teach didaskō each one hekastos · ho his autos neighbor politēs and kai each one hekastos · ho his autos brother adelphos saying legō, ‘ Know ginōskō the ho Lord kyrios,’ for hoti they will all pas know oida me egō from apo the least mikros of them autos to heōs the greatest megas. 12 For hoti I will be eimi gracious hileōs toward ho their autos iniquities adikia and kai I will mimnēskomai never ou again eti remember mimnēskomai · ho their autos sins hamartia.”

13 In en speaking legō of a new kainos covenant, he makes the ho first one prōtos obsolete palaioō. And de what ho is becoming obsolete palaioō and kai growing gēraskō old is ready engys to disappear aphanismos.

Jesus Is Our High Priest In The True Heavenly Temple

Now[a] the main-point in the things being said is: we have such a High Priest, Who sat-down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, Minister of the Holies[b], indeed[c] of the true tabernacle (which the Lord pitched[d], not a human).

Earthly Priests Serve In a Copy And Shadow of The Heavenly Things

For every high priest is appointed that he might be offering both gifts and sacrifices. Hence it is[e] necessary that this One also have something which He may offer. Now indeed, if He were on earth He would not even be a priest— there being the ones offering the gifts according-to the Law, who are serving a copy and a shadow of the heavenly things, just as Moses has been warned, being about to complete the tabernacle: for “See”, He says [in Ex 25:40], “that you make everything according to the pattern having been shown to you on the mountain”.

But Jesus Has a Better Ministry As Mediator of a Better Covenant With Better Promises

But He has now obtained a more-excellent ministry[f], by as much as He is indeed the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises!

For God Promised a New Covenant

For if that first covenant had been faultless, no place would have been sought for a second. For, finding-fault-with[g] them, He says [in Jer 31:31-34]: “Behold— days are coming, says the Lord, and I will consummate[h] a new covenant for the house of Israel and for the house of Judah; not in accordance with the covenant which I made with their fathers on the day I took-hold-of their hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, because they did not continue in My covenant, and I did not-care-for them, says the Lord. 10 Because this is the covenant which I will covenant with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: Giving My laws into their mind, I will also write them upon their heart. And I will be God to them and they will be a people to Me. 11 And they will by no means each teach his fellow-citizen and each his brother, saying ‘Know[i] the Lord’, because they all will know Me from the small[j] one up to their great one. 12 Because I will be merciful[k] to their wrong-doings, and I will never remember[l] their sins again”.

God Has Thus Made The First Covenant Old

13 In that He says “New”, He has made the first old[m]. And the thing becoming old and growing-aged is near disappearance.

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 8:1 At this point the writer turns from Christ’s person as High Priest in the order of Melchizedek to His work as High Priest.
  2. Hebrews 8:2 Or, Holy places.
  3. Hebrews 8:2 Or, and.
  4. Hebrews 8:2 Or, set up, erected.
  5. Hebrews 8:3 Or, was; making this a specific reference to the cross instead of a general statement of principle.
  6. Hebrews 8:6 Or, priestly-service.
  7. Hebrews 8:8 Or, blaming.
  8. Hebrews 8:8 Or, accomplish, complete, execute.
  9. Hebrews 8:11 Or, Come-to-know.
  10. Hebrews 8:11 Or, little. That is, insignificant. Or, least... greatest.
  11. Hebrews 8:12 Or, propitious, gracious.
  12. Hebrews 8:12 That is, call-to-mind, keep-in-mind.
  13. Hebrews 8:13 Or, obsolete.