By speaking of a new covenant, He has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and aging will soon disappear.
Parallel translations
- WEB In that he says, “A new covenant”, he has made the first old. But that which is becoming old and grows aged is near to vanishing away.
- KJV In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.
- NKJV In that He says, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.
- NASB When He said, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is about to disappear.
- NLT When God speaks of a “new” covenant, it means he has made the first one obsolete. It is now out of date and will soon disappear.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
By announcing a 'new' covenant, God thereby declared the first one obsolete and ready to pass away. The old order was always meant to give way to something better.
Overview
The author reasons from the word 'new' in Jeremiah's prophecy: a new covenant implies the first is now old and fading. Written likely before the temple's destruction in AD 70, this signals the old sacrificial system was passing. The point is not that the law was bad, but that it was preparatory, finding its goal and end in Christ and the better covenant he mediates.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- 2 Cor 5:17Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come!
- Heb 7:18–19So the former commandment is set aside because it was weak and useless
- Heb 7:11–12Now if perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood (for on this basis the people received the law), why was there still need for another priest to appear—one in the order of Melchizedek and not in the order of Aaron?
- Heb 9:15Therefore Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, now that He has died to redeem them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.
- Heb 9:9–10It is an illustration for the present time, because the gifts and sacrifices being offered were unable to cleanse the conscience of the worshiper.
- 1 Cor 13:8Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be restrained; where there is knowledge, it will be dismissed.
- Isa 51:6Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look at the earth below; for the heavens will vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment, and its people will die like gnats. But My salvation will last forever, and My righteousness will never fail.
- Matt 24:35Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away.
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Hebrews is sustained worship of Christ: better than angels, Moses, and the priests; the great High Priest after Melchizedek who by one sacrifice perfects forever those he saves.
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Original language
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