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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 therefore perfection were through the Levitical priesthood, for [based] on it the people had the law, what further need that a different priest should arise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be said according to the order of Aaron?
 12For the priesthood being changed there cometh of necessity a change of law also.
 13For he of whom these things are said hath part in a different tribe from which no one hath attended to the altar;
 14for [it is] evident beforehand that our Lord hath sprung out of Judah, as to which tribe Moses spoke nothing about priests.
 15And it is yet more abundantly evident if according to the similitude of Melchizedek there ariseth a different priest (Heb. 7:11‑15)
;
Num. 16:40•  (Num. 16:40)
;
Num. 17:12‑13•  (Num. 17:12‑13)
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Num. 18:5•  (Num. 18:5)
;
2 Chron. 26:18‑19•  (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 it was witnessed that he was righteous, God witnessing in respect of his gifts; and through it he, having died, yet speaketh. (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.