Now if He were on earth, He would not be a priest, since there are already priests who offer gifts according to the law.
Parallel translations
- WEB For if he were on earth, he would not be a priest at all, seeing there are priests who offer the gifts according to the law;
- KJV For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law:
- NKJV For if He were on earth, He would not be a priest, since there are priests who offer the gifts according to the law;
- NASB Now if He were on earth, He would not be a priest at all, since there are those who offer the gifts according to the Law;
- NLT If he were here on earth, he would not even be a priest, since there already are priests who offer the gifts required by the law.
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
If Christ were on earth, he would not be a priest at all, since earthly priests already serve under the law. His priesthood belongs to the heavenly, not the earthly, order.
Overview
On earth the priestly office was occupied by Levitical priests according to the law, leaving no place there for Christ. His priesthood is therefore heavenly, exercised in the true sanctuary above. This confirms that his ministry transcends and surpasses the earthly system.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- Heb 7:11–15Now 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 5:1Every high priest is appointed from among men to represent them in matters relating to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.
- Num 18:5And you shall attend to the duties of the sanctuary and of the altar, so that wrath may not fall on the Israelites again.
- Num 17:12–13Then the Israelites declared to Moses, “Look, we are perishing! We are lost; we are all lost!
- 2 Chr 26:18–19They took their stand against King Uzziah and said, “Uzziah, you have no right to offer incense to the LORD. Only the priests, the descendants of Aaron, are consecrated to burn incense. Leave the sanctuary, for you have acted unfaithfully; you will not receive honor from the LORD God.”
- Num 16:40just as the LORD commanded him through Moses. This was to be a reminder to the Israelites that no outsider who is not a descendant of Aaron should approach to offer incense before the LORD, lest he become like Korah and his followers.
- Heb 11:4By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous when God gave approval to his gifts. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
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.
How Hebrews 8:4 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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