If the first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no need for a second covenant to replace it.
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.
- BSB For if that first covenant had been without fault, no place would have been sought for a 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.
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 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?
- Gal 3:21Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could make alive, most certainly righteousness would have been of the law.
- Heb 7:18For there is an annulling of a foregoing commandment because of its weakness and uselessness
- Heb 8:6But now he has obtained a more excellent ministry, by so much as he is also the mediator of a better covenant, which on better promises has been given as law.
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.