Hebrews 8:9 - Printer Friendly

ESV: 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.

NIV: It will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors 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.

NASB: NOT LIKE THE COVENANT WHICH I MADE WITH THEIR FATHERS ON THE DAY I TOOK THEM BY THE HAND TO BRING THEM OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT; FOR THEY DID NOT CONTINUE IN MY COVENANT, AND I DID NOT CARE ABOUT THEM, SAYS THE Lord.

CSB: not like the covenant that I made with their ancestors on the day I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt. I showed no concern for them, says the Lord, because they did not continue in my covenant.

NLT: This covenant will not be like the one I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand and led them out of the land of Egypt. They did not remain faithful to my covenant, so I turned my back on them, says the Lord.

KJV: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.

NKJV: not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they did not continue in My covenant, and I disregarded them, says the Lord.

This passage comes from Jeremiah 31:31–34, where that Old Testament prophet records God's promise to create a "new covenant" with the people of Israel. The language of this passage is extremely clear: God's intent is to provide something new, something different from the existing Levitical priesthood. This quotation is used to support the main assertion of the author of Hebrews: that God has always intended for salvation to come through Christ, and not through the Old Testament Law.

This passage repeats the idea that this promised covenant is something new. This is not the same arrangement which God made with the "fathers" of Israel, meaning the people who left Egypt during the Exodus. As earlier verses pointed out, if God is planning to make something new in the future, it necessarily means that God does not consider the "old" system to be perfect. And, in fact, it is not. This quotation from Jeremiah explains how the new covenant, fulfilled in Christ, is superior.

One of the flaws noted in the old covenant—the primary flaw, in fact—is the lack of obedience from God's people. Even though Scripture indicates that the new covenant is superior, all of the drawbacks of the old covenant are rooted in human flaws (Hebrews 8:8; Romans 3:20). Priesthood is inherited (Hebrews 7:20), priests die (Hebrews 7:23), priests sin (Hebrews 7:27). Here, the fact that the people disobey and defy the covenant is mentioned. This, for Israel, came with the very consequences promised them by God (Deuteronomy 30:15–19). The new covenant is superior, primarily, because it is grounded in the work of Jesus Christ, rather than in fallible human efforts (Galatians 2:16).

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.