Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another. New Living Translation If the first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no need for a second covenant to replace it. English Standard Version For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion to look for a second. Berean Standard Bible For if that first covenant had been without fault, no place would have been sought for a second. Berean Literal Bible For if what was first had been faultless, no place would have been sought for a second. King James Bible For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. New King James Version For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second. New American Standard Bible For if that first covenant had been free of fault, no circumstances would have been sought for a second. NASB 1995 For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion sought for a second. NASB 1977 For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion sought for a second. Legacy Standard Bible For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion sought for a second. Amplified Bible For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion for a second one or an attempt to institute another one [the new covenant]. Christian Standard Bible For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion for a second one. Holman Christian Standard Bible For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion for a second one. American Standard Version For if that first covenant had been faultless, then would no place have been sought for a second. Aramaic Bible in Plain English For if the first one had been without fault, then there would have been no place for this second one. Contemporary English Version If the first agreement with God had been all right, there would not have been any need for another one. Douay-Rheims Bible For if that former had been faultless, there should not indeed a place have been sought for a second. English Revised Version For if that first covenant had been faultless, then would no place have been sought for a second. GOD'S WORD® Translation If nothing had been wrong with the first promise, no one would look for another one. Good News Translation If there had been nothing wrong with the first covenant, there would have been no need for a second one. International Standard Version If the first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no need to look for a second one, Literal Standard Version for if that first were faultless, a place would not have been sought for a second. Majority Standard Bible For if that first covenant had been without fault, no place would have been sought for a second. New American Bible For if that first covenant had been faultless, no place would have been sought for a second one. NET Bible For if that first covenant had been faultless, no one would have looked for a second one. New Revised Standard Version For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no need to look for a second one. New Heart English Bible For if the first had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second. Webster's Bible Translation For if that first covenant had been faultless, then would no place have been sought for the second. Weymouth New Testament For if that first Covenant had been free from imperfection, there would have been no attempt to introduce another. World English Bible For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second. Young's Literal Translation for if that first were faultless, a place would not have been sought for a second. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context The New Covenant6Now, however, Jesus has received a much more excellent ministry, just as the covenant He mediates is better and is founded on better promises. 7For if that first covenant had been without fault, no place would have been sought for a second. 8But God found fault with the people and said: “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.… Cross References Deuteronomy 29:14 I am making this covenant and this oath not only with you, Hebrews 7:11 Now if perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood (for on this basis the people received the law), why was there still need for another priest to appear--one in the order of Melchizedek and not in the order of Aaron? Treasury of Scripture For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. had. Hebrews 8:6 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. Hebrews 7:11,18 If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron? … Galatians 3:21 Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. Jump to Previous Agreement Attempt Covenant Faultless First Free Good Imperfection Introduce Occasion Possible Second Sought WrongJump to Next Agreement Attempt Covenant Faultless First Free Good Imperfection Introduce Occasion Possible Second Sought WrongHebrews 8 1. By the eternal priesthood of Christ the Levitical priesthood of Aaron is overshadowed;7. and replaced by the new covenant of the Gospel. (7) For the second.--Rather, for a second. This verse connects itself with the words, "a better covenant" in Hebrews 8:6. The form of expression used clearly points to the intended inference--that covenant was faulty, and a place was sought for a second; this makes plain the connection with Hebrews 8:8. The failure of the first covenant was manifest (Hebrews 7:11; Hebrews 7:18) to God, who, whilst the first still existed, "sought" and found place for a second.Verse 7. - For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for a second. "For" introduces this sentence as a reason for what has been already said; i.e. for a better covenant having been spoken cf. The expression might be objected to by Hebrew readers as implying imperfection in the original Divine covenant. "Nay," says the writer, "it was imperfect, it was not faultless; for prophecy itself declares this." Should it be further objected that in the prophecy it is not the old covenant itself that is found fault with, but the people for not observing it, the answer would be that the remedy for their non-observance being the substitution of a new one that would answer its purpose better, some imperfection in the old one is implied. This is indeed the very point of this verse. If it be asked, further, how faultiness in the old covenant is compatible with the view of its Divine origin, the answer is abundantly supplied in St. Paul's Epistles. His position constantly is that the Mosaic Law, though in itself "holy, just, and true," and adequate to its purpose, was still imperfect as a means of justification. It was but a temporary dispensation, with a purpose of its own, intervening between the original promise to Abraham and the fulfillment of that promise in Christ. Thus it is no derogation to itself or to its Author to charge it with "weakness and unprofitableness" for a purpose it was never meant to answer. Parallel Commentaries ... Greek Forγὰρ (gar) Conjunction Strong's 1063: For. A primary particle; properly, assigning a reason. if εἰ (ei) Conjunction Strong's 1487: If. A primary particle of conditionality; if, whether, that, etc. that ἐκείνη (ekeinē) Demonstrative Pronoun - Nominative Feminine Singular Strong's 1565: That, that one there, yonder. From ekei; that one (neuter) thing); often intensified by the article prefixed. first [ covenant ] πρώτη (prōtē) Adjective - Nominative Feminine Singular Strong's 4413: First, before, principal, most important. Contracted superlative of pro; foremost. had been ἦν (ēn) Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist. without fault, ἄμεμπτος (amemptos) Adjective - Nominative Feminine Singular Strong's 273: Blameless, free from fault or defect. Irreproachable. no οὐκ (ouk) Adverb Strong's 3756: No, not. Also ouk, and ouch a primary word; the absolute negative adverb; no or not. place τόπος (topos) Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular Strong's 5117: Apparently a primary word; a spot, i.e. Location; figuratively, condition, opportunity; specially, a scabbard. would have been sought ἐζητεῖτο (ezēteito) Verb - Imperfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular Strong's 2212: To seek, search for, desire, require, demand. Of uncertain affinity; to seek; specially, to worship, or to plot. for a second. δευτέρας (deuteras) Adjective - Genitive Feminine Singular Strong's 1208: Second; with the article: in the second place, for the second time. As the compare of duo; second. Links Hebrews 8:7 NIVHebrews 8:7 NLT Hebrews 8:7 ESV Hebrews 8:7 NASB Hebrews 8:7 KJV Hebrews 8:7 BibleApps.com Hebrews 8:7 Biblia Paralela Hebrews 8:7 Chinese Bible Hebrews 8:7 French Bible Hebrews 8:7 Catholic Bible NT Letters: Hebrews 8:7 For if that first covenant had been (Heb. He. Hb) |