For if He were on earth, He would not be a priest, since there are priests who offer the 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:
- BSB Now if He were on earth, He would not be a priest, since there are already priests who offer 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 there were perfection through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people have received the law), what further need was there for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, and not be called after the order of Aaron?
- Heb 5:1For every high priest, being taken from among men, is appointed for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins.
- Num 18:5“You shall perform the duty of the sanctuary and the duty of the altar, that there be no more wrath on the children of Israel.
- Num 17:12–13The children of Israel spoke to Moses, saying, “Behold, we perish! We are undone! We are all undone!
- 2 Chr 26:18–19They resisted Uzziah the king, and said to him, “It isn’t for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to Yahweh, but for the priests the sons of Aaron, who are consecrated to burn incense. Go out of the sanctuary, for you have trespassed. It will not be for your honor from Yahweh God.”
- Num 16:40to be a memorial to the children of Israel, to the end that no stranger, who isn’t of the offspring of Aaron, would come near to burn incense before Yahweh, that he not be as Korah, and as his company; as Yahweh spoke to him by Moses.
- Heb 11:4By faith, Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he had testimony given to him that he was righteous, God testifying with respect to his gifts; and through it he, being dead, still speaks.
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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