Hebrews 8:8 - Printer Friendly

ESV: For he finds fault with them when he says: "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,

NIV: But God found fault with the people and said : "The days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah.

NASB: For in finding fault with the people, He says, 'BEHOLD, DAYS ARE COMING, SAYS THE Lord, WHEN I WILL BRING ABOUT A NEW COVENANT WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL AND THE HOUSE OF JUDAH,

CSB: But finding fault with his people, he says: See, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah—

NLT: But when God found fault with the people, he said: 'The day is coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and Judah.

KJV: For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:

NKJV: Because finding fault with them, He says: “Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah—

This begins a quotation from another Old Testament prophet, found in Jeremiah 31:31–34. This is used to support the writer's claim that God promised a "better" covenant than the Old Testament system of priests and sacrifices. Earlier in this letter, the writer of Hebrews offered passages such as Genesis 14 and Psalm 110 to show this promise. Here, he introduces yet another place in Jewish Scripture where God explicitly says He will one day replace the Levitical priesthood with something superior.

The language used by Jeremiah is very clear: this is a "new covenant," something meant to replace the "old covenant." Further, Jeremiah's statement is forward-looking. This is a promise God made which was meant to be fulfilled at some later date. Jeremiah was not looking into the past, at some decree God had made long ago. This was, at the time, a new statement from God. The reference to the people of Israel, as well as the house of Judah, emphasizes that this is part of God's plan for His chosen people, one which would be extended to the rest of the world through Jesus Christ (Romans 3:20; 5:12).

Hebrews 8:7–13 uses a quotation from Jeremiah to support an important claim. According to the author of Hebrews, God has always intended to replace the old covenant of the Levitical priests with a new covenant, centered on the work of Jesus Christ. Jeremiah's description of a covenant, explicitly different from what Israel was given during the Exodus, describes the personal, internal nature of the Holy Spirit in a saved believer. Jeremiah's words also place great emphasis on ''I will'' statements coming from God.

Hebrews chapter 8 indicates that the temples, rituals, and objects of the old covenant were always meant to be symbolic. They were real, and valuable, but their ultimate worth was in their symbolism. Those were always intended by God to point towards a better covenant. Rather than something repetitive, earthly, and limited, God planned to offer something completed, personal, and eternal through Jesus Christ. As further proof of this, the writer of Hebrews offers yet another quotation from the Jewish Scriptures, this time from the prophet Jeremiah.

Hebrews chapter 8 builds on the points made in chapter 7. Jesus' service as High Priest is superior, since He is given a better position and serves in a better location than the priests of the Old Covenant. This chapter sets up the idea of earthly things being shadows of heavenly things, especially when it comes to the temple and sacrifices. This leads into the focus of chapter 9, which is the superiority of Christ's sacrifice compared to those of the Levitical system.

The book of Hebrews is meant to challenge, encourage, and empower Christian believers. According to this letter, Jesus Christ is superior to all other prophets and all other claims to truth. Since God has given us Christ, we ought to listen to what He says and not move backwards. The consequences of ignoring God are dire. Hebrews is important for drawing on many portions of the Old Testament in making a case that Christ is the ultimate and perfect expression of God's plan for mankind. This book presents some tough ideas about the Christian faith, a fact the author makes specific note of.