Hebrews 8 | New International Reader’s Version

New International Reader’s Version

The high priest of a new covenant

1 Here is the main point of what we are saying. We have a high priest like that. He sat down at the right hand of the throne of the King, the Majesty in heaven. 2 He serves in the sacred tent. The Lord set up the true holy tent. A mere human being did not set it up. 3 Every high priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices. So this priest also had to have something to offer. 4 What if he were on earth? Then he would not be a priest. There are already priests who offer the gifts required by the law. 5 They serve at a sacred tent. But it is only a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. That’s why God warned Moses when he was about to build the holy tent. God said, ‘Be sure to make everything just like the pattern I showed you on the mountain.’ (Ex 25:40) 6 But Jesus has been given a greater work to do for God. He is the go-between for the new covenant. This covenant is better than the old one. The new covenant is based on better promises. 7 Suppose nothing had been wrong with that first covenant. Then no one would have looked for another covenant. 8 But God found fault with the people. He said, ‘The days are coming, announces the Lord. I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel. I will also make it with the people of Judah. 9 It will not be like the covenant I made with their people of long ago. That was when I took them by the hand. I led them out of Egypt. My new covenant will be different because they didn’t remain faithful to my old covenant. So I turned away from them, announces the Lord. 10 This is the covenant I will establish with the people of Israel after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds. I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God. And they will be my people. 11 People will not teach their neighbour anymore. They will not say to one another, “Know the Lord.” That’s because everyone will know me. From the least important to the most important, all of them will know me. 12 I will forgive their evil ways. I will not remember their sins anymore.’ (Jer 31:31) 13 God called this covenant ‘new’. So he has done away with the first one. And what is out of date and has been done away with will soon disappear.

English Standard Version

Jesus, High Priest of a Better Covenant

1 Now the point in what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, (Mr 16:19) 2 a minister in the holy places, in the true tent^[1] that the Lord set up, not man. (Ex 33:7; Heb 9:11; Heb 9:24) 3 For every high priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices; thus it is necessary for this priest also to have something to offer. (Eph 5:2; Heb 5:1; Heb 9:12; Heb 10:9)

Eph 5:2Heb 5:1Heb 9:12Heb 10:9

4 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. 5 They serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things. For when Moses was about to erect the tent, he was instructed by God, saying, “See that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown you on the mountain.” (Ex 25:40; Col 2:17; Heb 9:23; Heb 10:1)

Ex 25:40Col 2:17Heb 9:23Heb 10:1

6 But as it is, Christ^[2] has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises. (2Co 3:6; Ga 3:19; Heb 1:4; Heb 7:22; Heb 9:15; Heb 12:24)

2Co 3:6Ga 3:19Heb 1:4Heb 7:22Heb 9:15Heb 12:24

7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion to look for a second. (Heb 7:11) 8 For he finds fault with them when he says:^[3] “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will establish a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, (Jer 31:31) 9 not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt. For they did not continue in my covenant, and so I showed no concern for them, declares the Lord. 10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. (Ro 11:27; 2Co 3:3; Heb 10:16) 11 And they shall not teach, each one his neighbor and each one his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. (Isa 54:13; Joh 6:45; 1Jo 2:27) 12 For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.” (Ro 11:27; Heb 10:17) 13 In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away. (2Co 5:17)