The Epistle to the Hebrews

⭑ Geneva Bible :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 8 -

Nowe of the things which we haue spoken, this is the summe, that wee haue such an hie Priest, that sitteth at the right hand of the throne of the Maiestie in heauens,

And is a minister of the Sanctuarie, and of that true Tabernacle which the Lord pight, and not man.

For euery high Priest is ordeined to offer both giftes and sacrifices: wherefore it was of necessitie, that this man shoulde haue somewhat also to offer.

For he were not a Priest, if he were on the earth, seeing there are Priestes that according to the Lawe offer giftes,

Who serue vnto the paterne and shadowe of heauenly things, as Moses was warned by God, whe he was about to finish the Tabernacle. See, saide hee, that thou make all thinges according to the paterne, shewed to thee in the mount.

The New Covenant

(Jeremiah 31:26–40)

But nowe our hie Priest hath obteined a more excellent office, in as much as he is the Mediatour of a better Testament, which is established vpon better promises.

For if that first Testament had bene vnblameable, no place should haue bene sought for the second.

For in rebuking them he saith, Beholde, the dayes will come, saith the Lord, when I shall make with the house of Israel, and with the house of Iuda a newe Testament:

Not like the Testament that I made with their fathers, in the day that I tooke them by the hand, to leade them out of the land of Egypt: for they continued not in my Testament, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.

For this is the Testament that I will make with the house of Israel, After those dayes, saith the Lord, I will put my Lawes in their minde, and in their heart I will write them, and I wil be their God, and they shalbe my people,

And they shall not teache euery man his neighbour and euery man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall knowe me, from the least of them to the greatest of them.

For I will bee mercifull to their vnrighteousnes, and I wil remember their sinnes and their iniquities no more.

In that he saith a new Testament, he hath abrogate the olde: nowe that which is disanulled and waxed olde, is ready to vanish away.

Now in the things which we are saying, the main point is this: we have such a high priest, who sat down on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens,

a servant of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Lord pitched, not man.

For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices. Therefore it is necessary that this high priest also have something to offer.

For if he were on earth, he would not be a priest at all, seeing there are priests who offer the gifts according to the law,

who serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, even as Moses was warned by God when he was about to make the tabernacle, for he said, “See, you shall make everything according to the pattern that was shown to you on the mountain.”(a)

The New Covenant

(Jeremiah 31:26–40)

But now he has obtained a more excellent ministry, by as much as he is also the mediator of a better covenant, which on better promises has been given as law.

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

For finding fault with them, he said, “Behold,(b) the days are coming”, says the Lord, “that 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 that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; for they didn’t continue in my covenant, and I disregarded them,” says the Lord.

“For 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 mind; I will also write them on their heart. I will be their God, and they will be my people.

They will not teach every man his fellow citizen

(c)

and every man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for all will know me, from their least to their greatest.

For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness. I will remember their sins and lawless deeds no more.”(d)

In that he says, “A new covenant”, he has made the first obsolete. But that which is becoming obsolete and grows aged is near to vanishing away.

Footnotes

(a)8:5 ℘ Exodus 25:40

(b)8:8 “Behold”, from “ἰδοὺ”, means look at, take notice, observe, see, or gaze at. It is often used as an interjection.

(d)8:12 ℘ Jeremiah 31:31-34