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Hebrews 8

Heb. 8:4 KJV (With Strong’s)

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4
For
gar (Greek #1063)
properly, assigning a reason (used in argument, explanation or intensification; often with other particles)
KJV usage: and, as, because (that), but, even, for, indeed, no doubt, seeing, then, therefore, verily, what, why, yet.
Pronounce: gar
Origin: a primary particle
if
ei (Greek #1487)
if, whether, that, etc.
KJV usage: forasmuch as, if, that, (al-)though, whether. Often used in connection or composition with other particles, especially as in 1489, 1490, 1499, 1508, 1509, 1512, 1513, 1536, 1537. See also 1437.
Pronounce: i
Origin: a primary particle of conditionality
he were
men (Greek #3303)
properly, indicative of affirmation or concession (in fact); usually followed by a contrasted clause with 1161 (this one, the former, etc.)
KJV usage: even, indeed, so, some, truly, verily. Often compounded with other particles in an intensive or asseverative sense.
Pronounce: men
Origin: a primary particle
en (Greek #2258)
I (thou, etc.) was (wast or were)
KJV usage: + agree, be, X have (+ charge of), hold, use, was(-t), were.
Pronounce: ane
Origin: imperfect of 1510
on
epi (Greek #1909)
properly, meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution (with the genitive case), i.e. over, upon, etc.; of rest (with the dative case) at, on, etc.; of direction (with the accusative case) towards, upon, etc.
KJV usage: about (the times), above, after, against, among, as long as (touching), at, beside, X have charge of, (be-, (where-))fore, in (a place, as much as, the time of, -to), (because) of, (up-)on (behalf of), over, (by, for) the space of, through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), with. In compounds it retains essentially the same import, at, upon, etc. (literally or figuratively).
Pronounce: ep-ee'
Origin: a primary preposition
earth
ge (Greek #1093)
soil; by extension a region, or the solid part or the whole of the terrene globe (including the occupants in each application)
KJV usage: country, earth(-ly), ground, land, world.
Pronounce: ghay
Origin: contracted from a primary word
, he should
en (Greek #2258)
I (thou, etc.) was (wast or were)
KJV usage: + agree, be, X have (+ charge of), hold, use, was(-t), were.
Pronounce: ane
Origin: imperfect of 1510
not
oude (Greek #3761)
not however, i.e. neither, nor, not even
KJV usage: neither (indeed), never, no (more, nor, not), nor (yet), (also, even, then) not (even, so much as), + nothing, so much as.
Pronounce: oo-deh'
Origin: from 3756 and 1161
be
an (Greek #302)
a primary particle, denoting a supposition, wish, possibility or uncertainty
KJV usage: (what-, where-, wither-, who-)soever. Usually unexpressed except by the subjunctive or potential mood. Also contracted for 1437.
Pronounce: an
en (Greek #2258)
I (thou, etc.) was (wast or were)
KJV usage: + agree, be, X have (+ charge of), hold, use, was(-t), were.
Pronounce: ane
Origin: imperfect of 1510
a priest
hiereus (Greek #2409)
a priest (literally or figuratively)
KJV usage: (high) priest.
Pronounce: hee-er-yooce'
Origin: from 2413
, seeing that ζthere are
on (Greek #5607)
and the neuter ὄν (on) present participle of 1510; being
KJV usage: be, come, have.
Pronounce: oan
Origin: οὖσα (oo'-sah)
priests
ho (Greek #3588)
the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
KJV usage: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.
Pronounce: ho
Origin: ἡ (hay), and the neuter τό (to) in all their inflections
hiereus (Greek #2409)
a priest (literally or figuratively)
KJV usage: (high) priest.
Pronounce: hee-er-yooce'
Origin: from 2413
that offer
prosphero (Greek #4374)
to bear towards, i.e. lead to, tender (especially to God), treat
KJV usage: bring (to, unto), deal with, do, offer (unto, up), present unto, put to.
Pronounce: pros-fer'-o
Origin: from 4314 and 5342 (including its alternate)
gifts
ho (Greek #3588)
the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
KJV usage: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.
Pronounce: ho
Origin: ἡ (hay), and the neuter τό (to) in all their inflections
doron (Greek #1435)
specially, a sacrifice
KJV usage: gift, offering.
Pronounce: do'-ron
Origin: a present
according
kata (Greek #2596)
(prepositionally) down (in place or time), in varied relations (according to the case (genitive, dative or accusative) with which it is joined)
KJV usage: about, according as (to), after, against, (when they were) X alone, among, and, X apart, (even, like) as (concerning, pertaining to touching), X aside, at, before, beyond, by, to the charge of, (charita-)bly, concerning, + covered, (dai-)ly, down, every, (+ far more) exceeding, X more excellent, for, from ... to, godly, in(-asmuch, divers, every, -to, respect of), ... by, after the manner of, + by any means, beyond (out of) measure, X mightily, more, X natural, of (up-)on (X part), out (of every), over against, (+ your) X own, + particularly, so, through(-oughout, -oughout every), thus, (un-)to(-gether, -ward), X uttermost, where(-by), with. In composition it retains many of these applications, and frequently denotes opposition, distribution, or intensity.
Pronounce: kat-ah'
Origin: a primary particle
to the law
ho (Greek #3588)
the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
KJV usage: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.
Pronounce: ho
Origin: ἡ (hay), and the neuter τό (to) in all their inflections
nomos (Greek #3551)
law (through the idea of prescriptive usage), genitive case (regulation), specially, (of Moses (including the volume); also of the Gospel), or figuratively (a principle)
KJV usage: law.
Pronounce: nom'-os
Origin: from a primary νέμω (to parcel out, especially food or grazing to animals)
:*
ho (Greek #3588)
the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
KJV usage: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.
Pronounce: ho
Origin: ἡ (hay), and the neuter τό (to) in all their inflections
ζ
or, they.

More on:

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Earth,
Gifts,
Law,
Offering; Offering Up,
Priest; Priesthood

Cross References

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Ministry on This Verse

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he should.
Heb. 7:11‑15• 11If indeed then perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, for the people had their law given to them in connexion with *it*, what need was there still that a different priest should arise according to the order of Melchisedec, and not be named after the order of Aaron?
 12For, the priesthood being changed, there takes place of necessity a change of law also.
 13For he, of whom these things are said, belongs to a different tribe, of which no one has ever been attached to the service of the altar.
 14For it is clear that our Lord has sprung out of Juda, as to which tribe Moses spake nothing as to priests.
 15And it is yet more abundantly evident, since a different priest arises according to the similitude of Melchisedec, (Heb. 7:11‑15)
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Num. 16:40• 40as a memorial to the children of Israel, that no stranger who is not of the seed of Aaron come near to burn incense before Jehovah, that he be not as Korah, and as his band,--as Jehovah had said to him through Moses. (Num. 16:40)
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Num. 17:12‑13• 12And the children of Israel spoke to Moses, saying, Lo, we expire, we perish, we all perish.
 13Every one that comes at all near to the tabernacle of Jehovah shall die: shall we then expire altogether? (Num. 17:12‑13)
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Num. 18:5• 5And ye shall keep the charge of the sanctuary, and the charge of the altar; that there come no wrath any more upon the children of Israel. (Num. 18:5)
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2 Chron. 26:18‑19• 18and they withstood Uzziah the king, and said to him, It is not for thee, Uzziah, to burn incense to Jehovah, but for the priests the sons of Aaron, that are consecrated to burn incense. Go out of the sanctuary; for thou hast transgressed; neither shall it be for thine honour from Jehovah Elohim.
 19And Uzziah was wroth; and he had a censer in his hand to burn incense; and while he was wroth with the priests, the leprosy rose up in his forehead before the priests in the house of Jehovah, beside the incense altar. (2 Chron. 26:18‑19)
there are priests.
or, they are priests.
gifts.[Doron ,] gifts, or offerings, comprehended propitiatory sacrifices as well as freewill-offerings.See.
Heb. 11:4• 4By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained testimony of being righteous, God bearing testimony to his gifts, and by it, having died, he yet speaks. (Heb. 11:4)
• Christ is characteristically to the Christian the heavenly Priest. On earth He could have no sacerdotal place: God had called Aaron and his sons in succession to minister and to serve therein; and, when the Epistle to the Hebrews was written, such there were still offering the gifts according to law. Christ's priesthood was wholly different, of sovereign grace and exercised in glory, as was due to His person and His work (“Hebrews 8:3-6” by W. Kelly)
• Jesus, were He on earth, would not be a priest; there were priests on earth according to the law, in which all things were but figures of the heavenly things. (“Hebrews 8” by J.N. Darby)
• The human priesthood, exercised on earth on behalf of an earthly people, gives place to the heavenly priesthood of Christ, exercised in heaven on behalf of a heavenly people. (“The New Covenant: Hebrews 8” by H. Smith)

J. N. Darby Translation

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4
If then indeed he were upon earth, he would not even be a priest, there being those who offer the gifts according to the law,

W. Kelly Translation

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4
If thena indeed he were on earth, he would not even be a priest, as there are thoseb that offer the gifts according toc law;

WK Translation Notes

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a
The word "for," (gar) of the T. R. and KJV yields to the "then" (oun) of the best ancient witnesses.
b
The T. R. has "the priests" but is rightly dropped.
c
The article before "law" is rightly dropped. Here again the article is no more desirable in English than in Greek, though it might have been used in both. It is not that it is optional for the same shade of sense; on the contrary, it is due to exactness in expressing character rather than mere fact.