Hebrews 8:4
BSB · Public Domain (CC0)“Now if He were on earth, He would not be a priest, since there are already priests who offer gifts according to the law.”
A short, plain-language explanation of Hebrews 8:4 goes here — the kind of answer a reader (or an AI assistant) can quote in one breath. Original meaning coming soon.
“Now if He were on earth, He would not be a priest, since there are already priests who offer gifts according to the law.”
Berean Standard Bible · Public Domain (CC0)“For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law:”
King James Version · Public Domain“Now if he were on earth, he would not be a priest at all, seeing there are those who offer the gifts according to the law;”
American Standard Version · Public Domain“for if, indeed, he were upon earth, he would not be a priest--(there being the priests who are offering according to the law, the gifts,”
Young's Literal Translation · Public DomainOther passages that echo Hebrews 8:4 — 7 related verses from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Numbers 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.
- Numbers 17:12Then the Israelites declared to Moses, “Look, we are perishing! We are lost; we are all lost!
- Numbers 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.
- 2 Chronicles 26:18They 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.”
- Hebrews 5:1Every high priest is appointed from among men to represent them in matters relating to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.
- Hebrews 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?
- Hebrews 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.
Cross-reference data: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (public domain) via OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0).