The New Covenant and Christ’s Heavenly Ministry
Hebrews 8:1-13
Heb.8.1 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- Κεφαλαιον: NOUN,nom,sg,n
- δε: CONJ
- επι: PREP
- τοις: ART,dat,pl,n
- λεγομενοις: PART,pres,pas,dat,pl,m
- τοιουτον: ADJ,acc,sg,m
- εχομεν: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,pl
- αρχιερεα: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- ος: PRON,nom,sg,m
- εκαθισεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- εν: PREP
- δεξια: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- θρονου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- μεγαλωσυνης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- εν: PREP
- τοις: ART,dat,pl,n
- ουρανοις: NOUN,dat,pl,m
Parallels
- Hebrews 1:3 (verbal): Uses the same language of Christ ‘after making purification for sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,’ echoing the image of a seated heavenly high priest.
- Psalm 110:1 (quotation): The OT source cited elsewhere in Hebrews—‘Sit at my right hand’—provides the scriptural foundation for the Messiah’s enthronement at God’s right hand referenced here.
- Hebrews 10:12-13 (verbal): Explicitly repeats the motif that Christ ‘offered one sacrifice… then sat down at the right hand of God,’ linking his priestly work and heavenly enthronement to Hebrews 8:1.
- Hebrews 4:14 (thematic): Describes Jesus as the great high priest who has passed through the heavens, reinforcing the idea of a heavenly priestly ministry and Jesus’ present position.
- Hebrews 9:24 (thematic): Speaks of Christ entering ‘into heaven itself’ to appear in God’s presence on our behalf, paralleling the throne-in-heaven setting for the high priestly role in 8:1.
Alternative generated candidates
- Now the main point of what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens,
- Now the main point of what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens,
Heb.8.2 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- αγιων: ADJ,gen,pl,m
- λειτουργος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- σκηνης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- αληθινης: ADJ,gen,sg,f
- ην: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,sg
- επηξεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- κυριος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- ουκ: PART,neg
- ανθρωπος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
Parallels
- Hebrews 8:1 (structural): Immediate context: verse 1 summarizes the subject — the superior priesthood of Christ — of which v.2 specifies he ministers in the sanctuary and true tabernacle.
- Hebrews 9:11-12 (verbal): Describes Christ as entering the greater (true) tabernacle and securing eternal redemption by his blood, directly paralleling the depiction of Christ as minister of the 'true' tabernacle.
- Hebrews 9:24 (thematic): States that Christ entered heaven itself to appear in God’s presence for us, echoing the idea of a heavenly/tabernacle 'pitched by the Lord, not by man.'
- Exodus 25:8-9 (allusion): God’s command to make a sanctuary 'according to the pattern' (cf. Exodus 25:40) contrasts the earthly tabernacle made by Moses with the heavenly/tabernacle 'pitched by the Lord' mentioned in Hebrews 8:2.
- Hebrews 4:14 (thematic): Calls Jesus our great high priest who has passed through the heavens, linking his priestly ministry to a heavenly (true) sanctuary rather than an earthly one.
Alternative generated candidates
- a minister in the holy places and in the true tabernacle, which the Lord set up and not man.
- a minister in the sanctuary and true tabernacle which the Lord himself set up, not man.
Heb.8.3 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- πας: ADJ,nom,sg,m
- γαρ: PART
- αρχιερευς: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- εις: PREP
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- προσφερειν: VERB,pres,act,inf
- δωρα: NOUN,acc,pl,n
- τε: CONJ
- και: CONJ
- θυσιας: NOUN,acc,pl,f
- καθισταται·οθεν: VERB,pres,mid,ind,3,sg
- αναγκαιον: ADJ,acc,sg,neut
- εχειν: VERB,pres,act,inf
- τι: PRON,int,nom,sg,n
- και: CONJ
- τουτον: PRON,acc,sg,m
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- προσενεγκη: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
Parallels
- Hebrews 5:1-3 (thematic): Explains the general duty of every high priest to offer gifts and sacrifices and to sympathize with sinners — same priestly function asserted in Heb 8:3.
- Leviticus 9:7 (verbal): Moses commands Aaron to draw near and offer a sin offering and burnt offering for himself and the people, illustrating the priestly obligation to bring sacrifices.
- Leviticus 16:11 (allusion): Describes the high priest bringing blood into the Holy of Holies as an offering for atonement, paralleling the necessity that a priest have something to offer.
- Hebrews 9:7 (structural): Describes the earthly high priest entering the inner sanctuary once a year with blood to make atonement, reinforcing the role of offering required of priests.
- Hebrews 10:11-12 (thematic): Contrasts the repeated offerings of earthly priests with Christ’s single offering — presupposes the priestly function of offering referenced in Heb 8:3 and points to Christ’s fulfillment.
Alternative generated candidates
- For every high priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices; therefore it was necessary for this one also to have something to offer.
- For every high priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices; therefore it was necessary for this one also to have something to offer.
Heb.8.4 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ει: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,sg
- μεν: PART
- ουν: CONJ
- ην: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,sg
- επι: PREP
- γης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- ουδ᾽αν: PART
- ην: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,sg
- ιερευς: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- οντων: VERB,pres,act,part,gen,pl,m
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- προσφεροντων: VERB,pres,act,part,gen,pl,m
- κατα: PREP
- νομον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- δωρα·: NOUN,acc,pl,n
Parallels
- Hebrews 8:3 (verbal): Immediate context—states that every high priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices, directly explaining why an earthly priesthood exists and why Christ's priesthood must have something to offer.
- Hebrews 7:23-28 (thematic): Contrasts the many mortal, temporary priests of the law with the single, permanent high priest (Jesus) who does not need to offer sacrifices for his own sins—underpins the argument that earthly priests exist under the Law.
- Hebrews 9:6-7 (thematic): Describes the ministry of the earthly priests who enter the inner sanctuary annually to offer sacrifices, illustrating the earthly cultus that makes a terrestrial priesthood necessary.
- Psalm 110:4 (quotation): Quoted elsewhere in Hebrews to establish Jesus as priest after the order of Melchizedek, providing the theological contrast to the Levitical/earthly priesthood mentioned in 8:4.
- Leviticus 16:2 (allusion): Gives legislative detail about the duties and limits of the earthly high priest (entering the Holy of Holies), exemplifying the Levitical sacrificial system referenced in Hebrews 8:4.
Alternative generated candidates
- If he were on earth, he would not be a priest at all, since there are priests who offer gifts according to the law;
- Now if he were on earth he would not be a priest at all, for there are priests who offer the gifts according to the law;
Heb.8.5 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- οιτινες: PRO,rel,nom,pl,m
- υποδειγματι: NOUN,dat,sg,n
- και: CONJ
- σκια: NOUN,nom,pl,f
- λατρευουσιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,pl
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- επουρανιων: ADJ,gen,pl,n
- καθως: CONJ
- κεχρηματισται: VERB,perf,mid/pass,ind,3,sg
- Μωυσης: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- μελλων: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,sg,m
- επιτελειν: VERB,pres,act,inf
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- σκηνην: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- Ορα: VERB,pres,act,imp,2,sg
- γαρ: PART
- φησιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- ποιησεις: VERB,fut,act,ind,2,sg
- παντα: ADJ,nom,pl,n
- κατα: PREP
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- τυπον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- δειχθεντα: PART,aor,pass,acc,sg,m
- σοι: PRON,dat,sg,2
- εν: PREP
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- ορει: NOUN,dat,sg,n
- ·: PUNCT
Parallels
- Exodus 25:40 (quotation): Direct source quoted in Hebrews 8:5 — God instructs Moses to make the tabernacle 'according to the pattern' shown on the mountain; Hebrews cites this command to justify the earthly tabernacle as a copy of heavenly realities.
- Exodus 26:30 (quotation): Another explicit Mosaic instruction to construct the tabernacle 'according to the pattern' shown on the mountain, paralleling Hebrews’ claim that the sanctuary was a copy and shadow of heavenly things.
- Hebrews 9:23-24 (thematic): Develops the same argument: the earthly tabernacle and its rites are copies/shadows of heavenly realities, and Christ ministers in the true heavenly sanctuary rather than in man‑made copies.
- Colossians 2:17 (verbal): Uses the same 'shadow' language — Jewish festivals, food laws and sabbaths are described as a 'shadow' of things to come — echoing Hebrews’ contrast between earthly copies and heavenly substance.
- Acts 7:44 (allusion): Stephen recounts that the tabernacle was built by Moses 'according to the pattern' shown him on the mountain, echoing the same Mosaic tradition Hebrews cites to characterize the tabernacle as patterned after a heavenly prototype.
Alternative generated candidates
- who serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, just as Moses was warned when he was about to make the tent. For he was instructed, 'See that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.'
- who serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, just as Moses was warned when about to make the tabernacle: 'See that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.'
Heb.8.6 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- νυνι: ADV
- δε: CONJ
- διαφορωτερας: ADJ,acc,pl,f
- τετυχεν: VERB,perf,act,ind,3,sg
- λειτουργιας: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- οσω: ADV
- και: CONJ
- κρειττονος: ADJ,gen,sg,m
- εστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- διαθηκης: NOUN,gen,sg,fem
- μεσιτης: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- ητις: PRON,rel,nom,sg,f
- επι: PREP
- κρειττοσιν: ADJ,dat,pl,m
- επαγγελιαις: NOUN,dat,pl,f
- νενομοθετηται: VERB,perf,pass,ind,3,sg
Parallels
- Hebrews 7:22 (verbal): Uses parallel wording: Christ is described as guarantor/mediator of a 'better covenant,' echoing the same claim about his priestly ministry.
- Hebrews 9:15 (verbal): Explicitly calls Jesus 'mediator of a new covenant' and links that mediation to redemption from transgressions—closely mirrors the function attributed in 8:6.
- Hebrews 12:24 (verbal): Speaks of 'the blood of sprinkling' and Jesus as mediator of the new covenant, reinforcing the same titular and sacrificial role emphasized in 8:6.
- Jeremiah 31:31-34 (quotation): The Old Testament passage quoted in Hebrews 8:8–12 as the promise of a 'new covenant'—the 'better promises' upon which the new covenant is founded.
- Galatians 3:19-20 (thematic): Discusses the role of a mediator in relation to the law and promises; thematically related to Hebrews' argument that Christ mediates a superior covenant compared with the old law-based arrangement.
Alternative generated candidates
- But now he has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as he is also mediator of a better covenant, which has been established on better promises.
- But now he has obtained a more excellent ministry, since he is also mediator of a better covenant, which has been established on better promises.
Heb.8.7 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- Ει: PART
- γαρ: PART
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- πρωτη: ADJ,nom,sg,f
- εκεινη: PRON,dat,sg,f
- ην: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,sg
- αμεμπτος: ADJ,nom,sg,f
- ουκ: PART,neg
- αν: PART
- δευτερας: ADJ,gen,sg,f
- εζητειτο: VERB,impf,mp,ind,3,sg
- τοπος·: NOUN,nom,sg,m
Parallels
- Hebrews 7:18-19 (structural): Speaks of the annulment of a former commandment because of weakness and uselessness, providing immediate context for why a second covenant is needed—parallels the claim that the first was not faultless.
- Hebrews 8:6 (thematic): Describes Christ as mediator of a better covenant founded on better promises, explaining the purpose for seeking a second covenant mentioned in 8:7.
- Hebrews 8:13 (structural): Declares the first covenant obsolete and ready to vanish, directly reiterating the consequence of the first covenant's inadequacy noted in 8:7.
- Jeremiah 31:31-34 (quotation): Quoted and applied in Hebrews 8:8-12 as the promised 'new covenant' that replaces the old one—provides the prophetic basis for replacing the first covenant referred to in 8:7.
- Galatians 3:23-25 (thematic): Portrays the law as a guardian until Christ came, implying the insufficiency of the old covenant and the need for a new covenantal arrangement, resonant with Hebrews' argument in 8:7.
Alternative generated candidates
- For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion sought for a second.
- For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion to seek a second.
Heb.8.8 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- μεμφομενος: VERB,pres,mid/dep,ptc,nom,sg,m
- γαρ: PART
- αυτους: PRON,acc,pl,m
- λεγει·Ιδου: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- ημεραι: NOUN,nom,pl,f
- ερχονται: VERB,pres,mid,ind,3,pl
- λεγει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- κυριος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- συντελεσω: VERB,fut,act,ind,1,sg
- επι: PREP
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- οικον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- Ισραηλ: NOUN,voc,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- επι: PREP
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- οικον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- Ιουδα: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- διαθηκην: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- καινην: ADJ,acc,sg,f
Parallels
- Jeremiah 31:31 (quotation): Hebrews 8:8 directly quotes the opening formula of Jeremiah 31:31 announcing 'days are coming' when God will establish a new covenant with Israel and Judah.
- Jeremiah 31:33-34 (quotation): The subsequent clauses of Hebrews 8 (vv. 10–12) continue Jeremiah's language about God's law being written on hearts and sins being forgiven, making these verses the fuller Old Testament source for the citation.
- Ezekiel 36:26-27 (allusion): Ezekiel promises a 'new heart' and a new spirit and the putting of God's Spirit within, thematically paralleling the inward transformation and covenant renewal implied in the 'new covenant' motif.
- Luke 22:20 (thematic): Jesus' institution of the 'new covenant' in his blood at the Last Supper grounds the Christian interpretation of Jeremiah's promise and is the New Testament locus for connecting the prophetic promise with Christ's work.
- 2 Corinthians 3:3,6 (verbal): Paul speaks of being 'letters from Christ' written on hearts by the Spirit and contrasts the ministry of the new covenant as life-giving, echoing Jeremiah's image of God's law written on the heart and the superior, spiritual character of the new covenant.
Alternative generated candidates
- For finding fault with them 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;'
- For finding fault with them he says, 'Behold, days are coming, says the Lord, when I will establish a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah;'
Heb.8.9 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ου: PART,neg
- κατα: PREP
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- διαθηκην: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- ην: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,sg
- εποιησα: VERB,aor,act,ind,1,sg
- τοις: ART,dat,pl,n
- πατρασιν: NOUN,dat,pl,m
- αυτων: PRON,gen,pl,m
- εν: PREP
- ημερα: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- επιλαβομενου: VERB,aor,mid,part,gen,sg,m
- μου: PRON,gen,sg,1
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- χειρος: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- αυτων: PRON,gen,pl,m
- εξαγαγειν: VERB,aor,act,inf
- αυτους: PRON,acc,pl,m
- εκ: PREP
- γης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- Αιγυπτου: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- οτι: CONJ
- αυτοι: PRON,nom,pl,3
- ουκ: PART,neg
- ενεμειναν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- εν: PREP
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- διαθηκη: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- μου: PRON,gen,sg,1
- καγω: CONJ+PRON,nom,sg,1
- ημελησα: VERB,aor,act,ind,1,sg
- αυτων: PRON,gen,pl,m
- λεγει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- κυριος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
Parallels
- Jeremiah 31:31-34 (quotation): Hebrews 8 explicitly cites and develops Jeremiah’s promise of a new covenant contrasting it with the covenant made with the fathers (language about ‘not like the covenant…’ and God’s dealing with their unfaithfulness).
- Exodus 24:7-8 (structural): The Sinai covenant ceremony (Moses reads the book of the covenant; blood is sprinkled) provides the historical/legal background for ‘the covenant I made with their fathers.’
- Deuteronomy 5:2-3 (structural): Affirms that God established the covenant with the ancestors at Horeb/Sinai, supplying the canonical reference point Hebrews contrasts with the promised new covenant.
- Exodus 32:1-14 (thematic): The golden calf episode exemplifies Israel’s breach of the Sinai covenant—illustrating the charge ‘they did not continue in my covenant’ and God’s judgment/responding mercy.
Alternative generated candidates
- not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; for they did not continue in my covenant, and I had no regard for them, says the Lord.
- not like the covenant I made with their fathers on the day I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; for they did not continue in my covenant, and I took no care of them, says the Lord.
Heb.8.10 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- οτι: CONJ
- αυτη: PRON,dat,sg,f
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- διαθηκη: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- ην: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,sg
- διαθησομαι: VERB,fut,mid,ind,1,sg
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- οικω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- Ισραηλ: NOUN,voc,sg,m
- μετα: PREP
- τας: ART,acc,pl,f
- ημερας: NOUN,acc,pl,f
- εκεινας: PRON,dem,acc,pl,f
- λεγει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- κυριος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- διδους: PART,pres,act,nom,sg,m
- νομους: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- μου: PRON,gen,sg,1
- εις: PREP
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- διανοιαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- αυτων: PRON,gen,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- επι: PREP
- καρδιας: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- αυτων: PRON,gen,pl,m
- επιγραψω: VERB,fut,act,ind,1,sg
- αυτους: PRON,acc,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- εσομαι: VERB,fut,mid,ind,1,sg
- αυτοις: PRO,dat,pl,3
- εις: PREP
- θεον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- αυτοι: PRON,nom,pl,3
- εσονται: VERB,fut,act,ind,3,pl
- μοι: PRON,dat,sg,1
- εις: PREP
- λαον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
Parallels
- Jeremiah 31:33-34 (quotation): Hebrews 8:10 directly cites Jeremiah's promise to put God's law in the mind and write it on the heart, and the covenant formula 'I will be their God... they shall be my people.'
- Ezekiel 36:26-27 (allusion): Speaks of giving a new heart and putting God's Spirit within so people will follow his statutes—complements Jeremiah's promise of internalized law and divine enablement for obedience.
- Ezekiel 11:19-20 (thematic): Contains similar language about granting a single/new heart and putting a new spirit so that the people will follow God's laws and be his people, echoing the new-covenant transformation.
- 2 Corinthians 3:3 (verbal): Paul portrays believers as a letter 'written... not with ink but with the Spirit... on tablets of human hearts,' reflecting the same inward inscription of God's law spoken of in Hebrews.
- Romans 2:15 (thematic): Refers to the 'law written on their hearts' (conscience), supporting the New Testament theme that God's moral requirement is inwardly present rather than merely external.
Alternative generated candidates
- 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 on their hearts I will write them. I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
- For this is the covenant I will establish with the house of Israel after those days, says 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.
Heb.8.11 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- ου: PART,neg
- μη: PART
- διδαξωσιν: VERB,aor,act,sub,3,pl
- εκαστος: ADJ,nom,sg,m
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- πολιτην: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- εκαστος: ADJ,nom,sg,m
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- αδελφον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- λεγων·Γνωθι: VERB,pres,act,ptcp,nom,sg,m
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- κυριον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- οτι: CONJ
- παντες: ADJ,nom,pl,m
- ειδησουσιν: VERB,fut,act,ind,3,pl
- με: PRON,acc,sg,1
- απο: PREP
- μικρου: ADJ,gen,sg,m
- εως: CONJ
- μεγαλου: ADJ,gen,sg,m
- αυτων: PRON,gen,pl,m
Parallels
- Jeremiah 31:34 (quotation): Direct source quoted by Hebrews 8:11 — the promise that ‘they shall all know me, from the least to the greatest,’ and no one will need to teach a neighbor to know the Lord.
- Jeremiah 31:33 (structural): Immediate context of the quoted Jeremiah passage — ‘I will put my law within them…’ supplies the covenantal framework (law written on hearts) that leads to universal knowledge of God in the new covenant.
- Ezekiel 36:26-27 (thematic): Prophetic parallel about God giving a new heart and putting his Spirit within people so they will follow his statutes — background motif to the internalized law and resulting knowledge of God in the new covenant.
- John 17:3 (thematic): Jesus’ summary of eternal life as ‘to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent’ — echoes the centrality of knowing God as the defining mark of covenant life.
Alternative generated candidates
- And they shall not teach each one his neighbor, and each one his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord,' for all shall know me, from the least of them to the greatest.
- And they shall not each teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord,' for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
Heb.8.12 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- οτι: CONJ
- ιλεως: ADJ,nom,sg,m
- εσομαι: VERB,fut,mid,ind,1,sg
- ταις: ART,dat,pl,f
- αδικιαις: NOUN,dat,pl,f
- αυτων: PRON,gen,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- αμαρτιων: NOUN,gen,pl,f
- αυτων: PRON,gen,pl,m
- ου: PART,neg
- μη: PART
- μνησθω: VERB,aor,mid,subj,1,sg
- ετι: ADV
Parallels
- Jeremiah 31:34 (quotation): The original Old Testament source of the wording and promise: God declares he will forgive their iniquity and no longer remember their sins (explicitly quoted in Hebrews 8).
- Hebrews 10:17 (quotation): Another New Testament citation of the same Jeremiah promise, used to argue that under the new covenant God will not remember sins (verbatim/near-verbatim repetition).
- Isaiah 43:25 (verbal): God says he blots out transgressions and will not remember sins — very similar language and theological claim about divine forgiveness and non-remembrance.
- Psalm 103:12 (thematic): Uses the image of sins removed 'as far as the east is from the west,' thematically echoing the idea that God removes/forgets sins once forgiven.
- Micah 7:19 (thematic): Speaks of God casting all sins 'into the depths of the sea,' another Old Testament image expressing decisive removal and non-remembrance of sin.
Alternative generated candidates
- For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.
- For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.
Heb.8.13 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- εν: PREP
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- λεγειν: VERB,pres,act,inf
- Καινην: ADJ,acc,sg,f
- πεπαλαιωκεν: VERB,perf,act,ind,3,sg
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- πρωτην: ADJ,acc,sg,f
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- δε: CONJ
- παλαιουμενον: PART,pres,mid/pass,nom,sg,n
- και: CONJ
- γηρασκον: PART,pres,act,nom,sg,n
- εγγυς: ADV
- αφανισμου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
Parallels
- Jeremiah 31:31-34 (quotation): Hebrews 8 cites this passage as the promise of a 'new covenant' that replaces the old, providing the scriptural basis for declaring the first covenant obsolete.
- Hebrews 7:18-19 (thematic): Speaks of the nullification/setting aside of the former commandment because of weakness and the introduction of a better hope—same theological move that makes the first covenant obsolete.
- Hebrews 10:9-10 (verbal): Explicitly states that Christ 'sets aside the first' to establish the second, using language parallel to 8:13 about the former covenant being put away in favor of the new.
- 2 Corinthians 3:7,11 (allusion): Contrasts the fading, passing glory of the old (Mosaic) ministry with the enduring ministry of the Spirit; the imagery of 'fading' or 'waning' echoes Hebrews 8:13's language of the old covenant aging and vanishing.
Alternative generated candidates
- In speaking of a new covenant he has made the first obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is near to disappearing.
- By calling it 'new,' he has made the first obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.
Now the main point of what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens,
a minister in the holy places and of the true tabernacle that the Lord set up, not man.
For every high priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices; hence it was necessary that this one also have something to offer.
If, then, he were on earth he would not be a priest, for there are those who offer gifts according to the law;
they serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, just as Moses was warned when he was about to erect the tabernacle; for he was told, “See that you make all things according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.” But now he has obtained a more excellent ministry, for he is mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises.
For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no place sought for a second.
For he finds fault with them when he says: “Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will establish a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.”
Not like the covenant I made with their fathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, for they did not remain in my covenant, and I did not regard them, says the Lord.
For this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says 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. And they shall no longer teach each one his neighbor and each one his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.
In calling this a ‘new’ covenant he has made the first obsolete; and what is becoming obsolete and growing old is near to vanishing away.