Hebrews 8:4

Hebrews 8:4 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law:
• New International Version (NIV)If he were on earth, he would not be a priest, for there are already priests who offer the gifts prescribed by the law.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Now if he were on earth, he would not be a priest at all, since there are priests who offer gifts according to the law.
• New King James Version (NKJV)For if He were on earth, He would not be a priest, since there are priests who offer the gifts according to the law;

Context of Hebrews 8:4

2and who ministers in the sanctuary and true tabernacle set up by the Lord, not by man. 3And since every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices, it was necessary for this One also to have something to offer. Now if He were on earth, He would not be a priest, since there are already priests who offer gifts according to the law. 5The place where they serve is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: “See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.” 6Now, however, Jesus has received a much more excellent ministry, just as the covenant He mediates is better and is founded on better promises.

Hebrews 8:4 word by word

Εἰ μὲν οὖν ἦν ἐπὶ γῆς, οὐδ᾽ ἂν ἦν ἱερεὺς ὄντων τῶν προσφερόντων κατὰ νόμον τὰ δῶρα,Read the interlinear

• Nowοὖνoun · therefore/thenG3767
• Nowμένmen · on the other handG3303
• ifεἰei · ifG1487
• He wereεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• onἐπίepi · upon/to/againstG1909
• earthγῆgē · earth: planetG1093
• He would not beοὐδέoude · norG3761
• He would not beἄνan · ifG302
• a priestἱερεύςhiereus · priestG2409
• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• who offerπροσφέρωprospherō · to bring toG4374
• giftsδῶρονdōron · giftG1435
• according toκατάkata · according toG2596
• lawνόμοςnomos · lawG3551

Cross-references for Hebrews 8:4

• Hebrews 7:11Now 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?
• Numbers 16:40just as the LORD commanded him through Moses. This was to be a reminder to the Israelites that no outsider who is not a descendant of Aaron should approach to offer incense before the LORD, lest he become like Korah and his followers.
• Numbers 17:12Then the Israelites declared to Moses, “Look, we are perishing! We are lost; we are all lost!
• Numbers 18:5And you shall attend to the duties of the sanctuary and of the altar, so that wrath may not fall on the Israelites again.
• 2 Chronicles 26:18They took their stand against King Uzziah and said, “Uzziah, you have no right to offer incense to the LORD. Only the priests, the descendants of Aaron, are consecrated to burn incense. Leave the sanctuary, for you have acted unfaithfully; you will not receive honor from the LORD God.”
• Hebrews 11:4By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous when God gave approval to his gifts. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.

Commentaries on Hebrews 8:4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4For if he were on earth - As the Jewish temple was standing when this epistle was written, the whole temple service continued to be performed by the legal priests, descendants of Aaron, of the tribe of Levi; therefore if Christ had been then on earth, he could not have performed the office of a priest, being of the tribe of Judah, to which tribe the office of the priesthood did not appertain. There are priests that offer gifts - This is an additional…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest - He could not perform that office. The design of this is, to show a reason why he was removed to heaven. The reason was, that on earth there were those who were set apart to that office, and that he, not being of the same tribe with them, could not officiate as priest. There was an order of people here on earth consecrated already to that office, and hence, it was necessary that the Lord Jesus, in…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4If Jesus were on earth, he would not be a priest under the old system (see Hebrews 7:13–14). However, Jesus is in heaven, making his priestly role unique and better than the priests of the old covenant (8:5; 9:11, 24; 10:12).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. Implying that Christ's priestly office is exercised in heaven, not in earth; in the power of His resurrection life, not of His earthly life. For--The oldest manuscripts read, "accordingly then." if, &c.--"if He were on earth, He would not even (so the Greek) be a priest" (compare He 7:13, 14); therefore, certainly, He could not exercise the high priestly function in the earthly Holy of Holies. seeing that, &c.--"since there are" already, and exist now…Read the comment

Topics related to Hebrews 8:4

• Covenant
• Law

In the dictionaries

• Admonish
• Uttermost
• Christ, Offices of
• Congregation
• Faithful; Faithfulness
• Gebal
• Hebrews, Epistle to the
• Jeroham
• Joelah
• Law in the New Testament

Commentaries on Hebrews 8

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings