For if that first covenant had been without fault, no place would have been sought for a second.
Parallel translations
- WEB For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second.
- KJV For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.
- NKJV For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second.
- NASB For if that first covenant had been free of fault, no circumstances would have been sought for a second.
- NLT If the first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no need for a second covenant to replace it.
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 the first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no need to seek a second. The very promise of a new covenant exposes the inadequacy of the old.
Overview
The writer reasons that the announcement of a new covenant implies the first was deficient, not in God's purpose but in its power to perfect. Its fault lay especially in the people's inability to keep it, as the next verses show. This prepares the great new-covenant quotation from Jeremiah that follows.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 4
- Heb 7:11Now 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?
- Gal 3:21Is the law, then, opposed to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come from the law.
- Heb 7:18So the former commandment is set aside because it was weak and useless
- Heb 8:6Now, however, Jesus has received a much more excellent ministry, just as the covenant He mediates is better and is founded on better promises.
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 8:7 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
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.