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

2a minister in the sanctuary and the true tabernacle that the Lord, not man, set up. 3For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices. So this one too had to have something to offer. Now if he were on earth, he would not be a priest, since there are already priests who offer the gifts prescribed by the law. 5The place where they serve is a sketch and shadow of the heavenly sanctuary, just as Moses was warned by God as he was about to complete the tabernacle. For he says, “See that you make everything according to the design shown to you on the mountain.” 6But now Jesus has obtained a superior ministry, since the covenant that he mediates is also better and is enacted 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

Words taken from the KJV.

• Forγάρgar · forG1063
• ifεἰei · ifG1487
• ·μένmen · on the other handG3303
• he wereεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• onἐπίepi · upon/to/againstG1909
• earthγῆgē · earth: planetG1093
• notοὐδέoude · norG3761
• ·ἄνan · ifG302
• a priestἱερεύςhiereus · priestG2409
• priestsὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• that offerπροσφέρωprospherō · to bring toG4374
• giftsδῶρονdōron · giftG1435
• accordingκατάkata · according toG2596
• to the lawνόμοςnomos · lawG3551

Cross-references for Hebrews 8:4

• Hebrews 7:11So if perfection had in fact been possible through the Levitical priesthood – for on that basis the people received the law – what further need would there have been for another priest to arise, said to be in the order of Melchizedek and not in Aaron’s order?
• Numbers 16:40It was a memorial for the Israelites, that no outsider who is not a descendant of Aaron should approach to burn incense before the Lord, that he might not become like Korah and his company – just as the Lord had spoken by the authority of Moses.
• Numbers 17:12The Israelites said to Moses, “We are bound to die! We perish, we all perish!
• Numbers 18:5You will be responsible for the care of the sanctuary and the care of the altar, so that there will be no more wrath on the Israelites.
• 2 Chronicles 26:18They confronted King Uzziah and said to him, “It is not proper for you, Uzziah, to offer incense to the Lord. That is the responsibility of the priests, the descendants of Aaron, who are consecrated to offer incense. Leave the sanctuary, for you have disobeyed and the Lord God will not honor you!”
• Hebrews 11:4By faith Abel offered God a greater sacrifice than Cain, and through his faith he was commended as righteous, because God commended him for his offerings. And through his faith he still speaks, 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