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◄ Hebrews 8:4►

New International Version
If he were on earth, he would not be a priest, for there are already priests who offer the gifts prescribed by the law.

New Living Translation
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.

English Standard Version
Now if he were on earth, he would not be a priest at all, since there are priests who offer gifts according to the law.

Berean Standard Bible
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 Literal Bible
Then certainly if He were on earth, not even would He be a priest, there being those offering the gifts according to Law,

King James Bible
For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law:

New King James Version
For if He were on earth, He would not be a priest, since there are priests who offer the gifts according to the law;

New American Standard Bible
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;

NASB 1995
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;

NASB 1977
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;

Legacy Standard Bible
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;

Amplified Bible
Now if He were [still living] on earth, He would not be a priest at all, for there are priests who offer the gifts [to God] in accordance with the Law.

Christian Standard Bible
Now if he were on earth, he wouldn’t be a priest, since there are those offering the gifts prescribed by the law.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Now if He were on earth, He wouldn’t be a priest, since there are those offering the gifts prescribed by the law.

American Standard Version
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;

Contemporary English Version
If he were here on earth, he would not be a priest at all, because here the Law appoints other priests to offer sacrifices.

English Revised Version
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;

GOD'S WORD® Translation
If he were on earth, he would not even be a priest. On earth [other] priests offer gifts by following the instructions that Moses gave.

Good News Translation
If he were on earth, he would not be a priest at all, since there are priests who offer the gifts required by the Jewish Law.

International Standard Version
Now if he were on earth, he would not even be a priest, because other men offer the gifts prescribed by the Law.

NET Bible
Now if he were on earth, he would not be a priest, since there are already priests who offer the gifts prescribed by the law.

New Heart English Bible
Now 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;

Webster's Bible Translation
For if he were on earth, he would not be a priest, seeing there are priests that offer gifts according to the law:

Weymouth New Testament
If then He were still on earth, He would not be a priest at all, since here there are already those who present the offerings in obedience to the Law,

Majority Text Translations

Majority Standard Bible
For if He were on earth, He would not be a priest, since there are already priests who offer gifts according to the law.

World English Bible
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,

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
for if, indeed, He were on earth, He would not be a priest (there being the priests who are offering the gifts according to the Law,

Berean Literal Bible
Then certainly if He were on earth, not even would He be a priest, there being those offering the gifts according to Law,

Young's Literal Translation
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,

Smith's Literal Translation
For if truly he were upon earth, he would not be a priest, there being priests bringing in gifts according to the law;

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
If then he were on earth, he would not be a priest: seeing that there would be others to offer gifts according to the law,

Catholic Public Domain Version
And so, if he were upon the earth, he would not be a priest, since there would be others to offer gifts according to the law,

New American Bible
If then he were on earth, he would not be a priest, since there are those who offer gifts according to the law.

New Revised Standard Version
Now if he were on earth, he would not be a priest at all, since there are priests who offer gifts according to the law.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
For if he were on earth, he would not be a priest, because there are priests who offer gifts according to the law:

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And if he were on Earth, he would not be a Priest, because there have been Priests who have been offering gifts according to what is in The Law,

NT Translations

Anderson New Testament
For if he were on earth, he could not be a priest; because there are priests that offer gifts according to the law:

Godbey New Testament
If then indeed he was on the earth, he would not be a priest, there being those offering gifts according to law,

Haweis New Testament
For if he were on earth, he would not be a priest, there being priests who offer gifts according to the law;

Mace New Testament
which office he could not discharge here upon earth, where priests are already establish'd, who offer gifts according to the law:

Weymouth New Testament
If then He were still on earth, He would not be a priest at all, since here there are already those who present the offerings in obedience to the Law,

Worrell New Testament
If, therefore, He were on earth, He would not be a priest, since there are those offering the gifts according to the law,

Worsley New Testament
For if He were on earth, He could not be a priest, seeing there are priestsalready that offer gifts according to the law:

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Christ's Eternal Priesthood
…3And since every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices, it was necessary for this One also to have something to offer.4Now if He were on earth,He would not be a priest,since there are already priests who offer gifts according to the law.5The place where they serve is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: “See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.”…

Berean Standard Bible ·Download

Cross References

Hebrews 7:27
Unlike the other high priests, He does not need to offer daily sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people; He sacrificed for sin once for all when He offered up Himself.

Hebrews 9:12
He did not enter by the blood of goats and calves, but He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by His own blood, thus securing eternal redemption.

Hebrews 10:11
Day after day every priest stands to minister and to offer again and again the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.

Hebrews 5:1
Every high priest is appointed from among men to represent them in matters relating to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.

Hebrews 9:9
It is an illustration for the present time, because the gifts and sacrifices being offered were unable to cleanse the conscience of the worshiper.

Hebrews 10:1
For the law is only a shadow of the good things to come, not the realities themselves. It can never, by the same sacrifices offered year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship.

Hebrews 7:11
Now 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 9:24
For Christ did not enter a man-made copy of the true sanctuary, but He entered heaven itself, now to appear on our behalf in the presence of God.

Hebrews 10:12
But when this Priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, He sat down at the right hand of God.

Hebrews 7:23
Now there have been many other priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office.

Hebrews 9:25
Nor did He enter heaven to offer Himself again and again, as the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own.

Hebrews 5:3
That is why he is obligated to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people.

Hebrews 9:7
But only the high priest entered the second room, and then only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance.

Hebrews 10:4
because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

Hebrews 7:28
For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.

Treasury of Scripture

For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law:

he should.

Hebrews 7:11-15
If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further needwas there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron? …

Numbers 16:40
To be a memorial unto the children of Israel, that no stranger, whichis not of the seed of Aaron, come near to offer incense before the LORD; that he be not as Korah, and as his company: as the LORD said to him by the hand of Moses.

Numbers 17:12,13
And the children of Israel spake unto Moses, saying, Behold, we die, we perish, we all perish…

there are priests.

See.

Hebrews 11:4
By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.

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Hebrews 8

1.By the eternal priesthood of Christ the Levitical priesthood of Aaron is overshadowed;
7.and replaced by the new covenant of the Gospel.

Study Bible

Book ◦ Chapter

Now if He were on earth
This phrase suggests a hypothetical situation, emphasizing the heavenly nature of Christ's priesthood. The earthly realm is associated with the Levitical priesthood, which was established under the Mosaic Law. Jesus' priesthood is of a different order, the order of Melchizedek, which is eternal and heavenly, as discussed inHebrews 7.

He would not be a priest
According to the Mosaic Law, priests had to be from the tribe of Levi, specifically descendants of Aaron. Jesus, being from the tribe of Judah, would not qualify for the Levitical priesthood. This highlights the distinction between the earthly priesthood and Christ's superior, eternal priesthood.

since there are already priests
The existence of the Levitical priesthood is acknowledged here. At the time of writing, the temple in Jerusalem was still standing, and the Levitical priests were actively performing their duties. This underscores the continuity of the old covenant practices even as the new covenant was being established through Christ.

who offer gifts according to the law
The Levitical priests offered sacrifices and gifts as prescribed by the Mosaic Law. These offerings were a central part of the old covenant, serving as a temporary measure to atone for sin. In contrast, Christ's sacrifice is once and for all, fulfilling and surpassing the requirements of the law, as elaborated inHebrews 9 and 10.

Persons / Places / Events

1.Jesus Christ
The central figure in this passage, whose priesthood is being contrasted with the Levitical priesthood.

2.Levitical Priests
The priests from the tribe of Levi who served in the earthly temple, offering sacrifices according to the Mosaic Law.

3.Earthly Temple
The physical place where the Levitical priests performed their duties, as opposed to the heavenly sanctuary where Christ serves.

4.Mosaic Law
The set of laws given to Moses, which includes the regulations for the Levitical priesthood and temple sacrifices.

5.Heavenly Sanctuary
The spiritual realm where Christ serves as a high priest, offering a superior ministry.

Teaching Points

The Superiority of Christ's Priesthood
Christ's priesthood is superior because it is based in the heavenly realm, not limited by earthly constraints.

The Fulfillment of the Law
Jesus fulfills the requirements of the Mosaic Law, rendering the old sacrificial system obsolete.

The Role of the Earthly and Heavenly
Earthly symbols and rituals point to a greater heavenly reality, which is fully realized in Christ.

Living in the New Covenant
Believers are called to live under the new covenant, which offers a direct relationship with God through Christ.

Understanding Our Identity in Christ
As followers of Christ, we are part of a royal priesthood, called to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God.

Bible Study Questions and Answers

1.What is the meaning of Hebrews 8:4?

2.How does Hebrews 8:4 emphasize the necessity of Jesus' heavenly priesthood?

3.What Old Testament practices does Hebrews 8:4 reference regarding earthly priests?

4.How can understanding Hebrews 8:4 deepen our appreciation for Jesus' unique priestly role?

5.In what ways does Hebrews 8:4 encourage reliance on Jesus over earthly rituals?

6.How does Hebrews 8:4 connect to the broader theme of Jesus as our mediator?

7.Why would Jesus not be a priest on earth according to Hebrews 8:4?

8.How does Hebrews 8:4 challenge the necessity of earthly priesthood?

9.What does Hebrews 8:4 imply about the role of the Levitical priests?

10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Hebrews 8?

11.How do Psalms foreshadow Jesus Christ's life and mission?

12.What are the different types of Psalms?

13.Is the Law of Moses eternal? (Psalm 119:160 vs. Hebrews 8:13)

14.What is The Pentateuch?

What Does Hebrews 8:4 Mean

Now if He were on earth

• The writer is picturing a purely hypothetical scene. Jesus already ascended (Acts 1:9). His present ministry is in “the true tabernacle set up by the Lord, not by man” (Hebrews 8:2).

• Being “on earth” would confine Him to the old, shadowy system that depended on physical buildings and repeated sacrifices. Yet He now ministers “in the heavenly sanctuary” (Hebrews 9:24).

•Colossians 3:1 invites us to lift our eyes where He actually is: “Set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.”

He would not be a priest

• Earthbound priesthood belonged to Levi, but “our Lord was descended from Judah, a tribe about which Moses said nothing concerning priests” (Hebrews 7:13-14).

• By the earthly rule He could never approach the altar (Numbers 3:10).

• God intentionally chose a different order for His Son—“You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek” (Hebrews 7:17). That heavenly order depends on an indestructible life, not on genealogy.

Since there are already priests

• At the time Hebrews was written, temple worship still operated in Jerusalem. Thousands of Levites kept the daily routine (Exodus 28:1;Hebrews 9:6-7).

• The writer isn’t denying their ministry; he’s showing its limits. Their very existence proves the old covenant was still in place for Israel, yet it was “becoming obsolete and growing old” (Hebrews 8:13).

Who offer gifts according to the law

• Levitical priests “stand day after day serving and offering again and again the same sacrifices” (Hebrews 10:11). Those gifts could never cleanse the conscience completely.

• Jesus, by contrast, “gave Himself up for us as an offering and a sacrifice to God” (Ephesians 5:2). His one offering fulfills the law’s requirements once for all (Hebrews 9:24-26).

• Earthly priests handle symbols; the Son presents the reality. What the law pictured, His cross accomplished.

summary

Hebrews 8:4 points out that Jesus’ priesthood is utterly different from the Levitical system. If He stayed on earth, He would be disqualified by lineage and redundancy; yet He serves in heaven, after a superior order, offering a perfect sacrifice that earthly priests could only foreshadow. Our confidence, therefore, rests not in repetitive rituals but in the finished, heavenly ministry of our exalted High Priest.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(4)For if he were . . .--The oldest Greek MSS. and two important versions read, "If then He were"; and two other changes in the text of this verse also rest on high authority. In its correct form the verse will stand thus:If then He were on earth, He would not even be a priest (that is, He would not be a priest at all),seeing there are those who according to law offer the gifts. The argument somewhat resembles that ofHebrews 7:13-14; there, however, the impediment is that of tribe; here the thought is that the place is preoccupied by men who by express command are bringing the gifts unto God.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Greek

Now
οὖν(oun)
Conjunction
Strong's 3767:Therefore, then. Apparently a primary word; certainly, or accordingly.

if
εἰ(ei)
Conjunction
Strong's 1487:If. A primary particle of conditionality; if, whether, that, etc.

He were
ἦν(ēn)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1510:I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

on
ἐπὶ(epi)
Preposition
Strong's 1909:On, to, against, on the basis of, at.

earth,
γῆς(gēs)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 1093:Contracted from a primary word; soil; by extension a region, or the solid part or the whole of the terrene globe.

He would not be
ἦν(ēn)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1510:I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

a priest,
ἱερεύς(hiereus)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2409:A priest, one who offers sacrifice to a god (in Jewish and pagan religions; of Christians only met.). From hieros; a priest.

since there are already
ὄντων(ontōn)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 1510:I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

[priests]
τῶν(tōn)
Article - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588:The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

to offer
προσφερόντων(prospherontōn)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 4374:From pros and phero; to bear towards, i.e. Lead to, tender, treat.

gifts
δῶρα(dōra)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural
Strong's 1435:A gift, present. A present; specially, a sacrifice.

according to
κατὰ(kata)
Preposition
Strong's 2596:A primary particle; down, in varied relations (genitive, dative or accusative) with which it is joined).

[the] Law.
νόμον(nomon)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3551:From a primary nemo; law, genitive case, specially, (including the volume); also of the Gospel), or figuratively.

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NT Letters: Hebrews 8:4 For if he were on earth he (Heb. He. Hb)