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Hebrews 8
Expanded Bible
Hebrews 8
Expanded Bible
Jesus Is Our High Priest
8 Here is the [main; most important] point of what we are saying: We have a high priest who sits on the right side of ·God’s [L the Majesty’s] throne in heaven. 2 Our high priest ·serves [ministers; performs priestly service] in the ·Most Holy Place [sanctuary; L holy things], the true ·place of worship [Tabernacle; Holy Tent; Ex. 33:7] that was made by the Lord, not by humans.
3 [L For] Every high priest ·has the work of offering [is appointed to offer] gifts and sacrifices to God. So our high priest must also ·offer something to God [L have something to offer]. 4 If our high priest were now living on earth, he would not be a priest, because there are already priests here who follow the law by offering gifts to God. 5 ·The work they do as priests [or The sanctuary in which they serve] is only a ·copy [model; prototype] and a shadow of what is in heaven. This is why God warned Moses when he was ready to build the ·Holy Tent [T Tabernacle]: “Be very careful to make everything by the ·plan [pattern; design] I showed you on the mountain [Ex. 25:40].” 6 But the priestly ·work [service; ministry] that has been given to Jesus is ·much greater than [far superior to] the work that was given to the other priests. In the same way, the new ·agreement [covenant; contract] that Jesus ·brought from God to his people [L mediates] is much ·greater [better] than the old one. And the new ·agreement [covenant; contract] is ·based [founded; legally enacted] on ·promises of better things [L better promises; C all God’s promises are reliable, but these promises bring greater blessings].
7 If there had been ·nothing wrong [no fault] with the first ·agreement [covenant; contract; C given to Israel through Moses at Mount Sinai], there would have been no ·need for [or reason to look for; or occasion for God to establish] a second ·agreement [L one; C the Mosaic covenant was insufficient because it did not provide true forgiveness of sins; 10:1]. 8 But God ·found something wrong with his people and said [or found fault with the covenant, and said to his people]:[a]
“·Look [T Behold], the ·time is [days are] coming, says the Lord,
when I will ·make [complete; establish] a new ·agreement [covenant; contract]
with the ·people [L house] of Israel
and the ·people [L house] of Judah.
9 It will not be like the ·agreement [covenant]
I made with their ·ancestors [forefathers; fathers]
when I took them by the hand
to bring them out of [L the land of] Egypt.
But they ·broke [L did not abide by] that ·agreement [covenant; contract],
and I ·turned away from [abandoned; stopped caring for] them, says the Lord.
10 [For; But] This is the ·agreement [covenant; contract] I will make
with the ·people [L house] of Israel ·at that time [L after those days], says the Lord.
I will put my ·teachings [L laws] in their minds
and write them on their hearts.
I will be their God,
and they will be my people.
11 People will no longer have to teach their ·neighbors [fellow citizens] and ·relatives [L brothers (and sisters)]
·to know the Lord [L saying, “Know the Lord”],
because all people will know me,
from the least to the ·most important [greatest].
12 I will ·forgive them for [be merciful with regard to] ·the wicked things they did [their unrighteousness/wickedness],
and I will not remember their sins anymore [Jer. 31:31–34; Luke 22:20].”
13 God called this a new ·agreement [covenant; contract], so he has made ·the first agreement [L the first one] ·old [obsolete; outdated]. And anything that is ·old [obsolete; outdated] and worn out is ready to disappear.
Footnotes
- Hebrews 8:8 But … said Some Greek copies read “But God found something wrong and said to his people.”
Hebrews 8
New International Version
Hebrews 8
New International Version
The High Priest of a New Covenant
8 Now the main point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest,(A) who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven,(B) 2 and who serves in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle(C) set up by the Lord, not by a mere human being.
3 Every high priest(D) is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices,(E) and so it was necessary for this one also to have something to offer.(F) 4 If he were on earth, he would not be a priest, for there are already priests who offer the gifts prescribed by the law.(G) 5 They serve at a sanctuary that is a copy(H) and shadow(I) of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned(J) when he was about to build the tabernacle: “See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.”[a](K) 6 But in fact the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant(L) of which he is mediator(M) is superior to the old one, since the new covenant is established on better promises.
7 For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another.(N) 8 But God found fault with the people and said[b]:
“The days are coming, declares the Lord,
when I will make a new covenant(O)
with the people of Israel
and with the people of Judah.
9 It will not be like the covenant
I made with their ancestors(P)
when I took them by the hand
to lead them out of Egypt,
because they did not remain faithful to my covenant,
and I turned away from them,
declares the Lord.
10 This is the covenant(Q) I will establish with the people of Israel
after that time, declares the Lord.
I will put my laws in their minds
and write them on their hearts.(R)
I will be their God,
and they will be my people.(S)
11 No longer will they teach their neighbor,
or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’
because they will all know me,(T)
from the least of them to the greatest.
12 For I will forgive their wickedness
and will remember their sins no more.(U)”[c](V)
13 By calling this covenant “new,”(W) he has made the first one obsolete;(X) and what is obsolete and outdated will soon disappear.
Footnotes
- Hebrews 8:5 Exodus 25:40
- Hebrews 8:8 Some manuscripts may be translated fault and said to the people.
- Hebrews 8:12 Jer. 31:31-34
Expanded Bible (EXB)
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