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 of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man. 3For 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: 5Who 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. 6But 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 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

• 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 7:11If 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?
• Numbers 16:40To be a memorial unto the children of Israel, that no stranger, which is not of the seed of Aaron, come near to offer incense before Yhwh; that he be not as Korah, and as his company: as Yhwh said to him by the hand of Moses.
• Numbers 17:12And the children of Israel spake unto Moses, saying, Behold, we die, we perish, we all perish.
• Numbers 18:5And ye shall keep the charge of the sanctuary, and the charge of the altar: that there be no wrath any more upon the children of Israel.
• 2 Chronicles 26:18And they withstood Uzziah the king, and said unto him, It appertaineth not unto thee, Uzziah, to burn incense unto Yhwh, but to the priests the sons of Aaron, that are consecrated to burn incense: go out of the sanctuary; for thou hast trespassed; neither shall it be for thine honour from Yhwh God.
• Hebrews 11:4By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.

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