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Read the Bible

Good News Translation

Hebrews 8:4

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.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Covenant;   Law;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - High Priest, the;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Tabernacle;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Ezekiel, Theology of;   Sanctification;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Covenant;   Obedience of Christ;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Christianity;   Hebrews, the Epistle to the;   High Priest;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Church;   Hebrews;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Hebrews, Epistle to;   Law;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Earth Earthen Earthy Earthly;   Priest (2);   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Hebrews, Epistle to the;   Priest, Priesthood;   1910 New Catholic Dictionary - names of our lord;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Hebrews;   Mediator;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Melchizedek;   Tabernacle, the;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Christ, Offices of;   Hebrews, Epistle to the;   Priesthood in the New Testament;  

Parallel Translations

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.
King James Version (1611)
For if he were on earth, he should not bee a Priest, seeing that there are Priests that offer gifts according to the Law:
King James Version
For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to 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.
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;
New Century Version
If our high priest were now living on earth, he would not be a priest, because there are already priests here who follow the law by offering gifts to God.
New American Standard Bible (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;
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;
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.
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.
Complete Jewish Bible
Now if he were on earth, he wouldn't be a cohen at all, since there already are cohanim offering the gifts required by the Torah.
Darby Translation
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,
Easy-to-Read Version
If our high priest were now living on earth, he would not be a priest. I say this because there are already priests here who follow the law by offering gifts to God.
Geneva Bible (1587)
For he were not a Priest, if he were on the earth, seeing there are Priestes that according to the Lawe offer giftes,
George Lamsa Translation
For if he were on earth, he would not be a priest, because there are priests who offer gifts according to the law:
Lexham English Bible
Now if he were on earth, he would not even be a priest, because there are those who offer the gifts according to the law,
Literal Translation
For if indeed He were on earth, He would not even be a priest, there being those priests offering 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.
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;
Bible in Basic English
If he had been on earth he would not have been a priest at all, because there are other priests who make the offerings ordered by the law;
Hebrew Names Version
For if he were on eretz, he would not be a Kohen at all, seeing there are Kohanim who offer the gifts according to the 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.
Etheridge Translation
But were he upon the earth, he would not be a priest, because there were priests who offered oblations as by the law;
Murdock Translation
And if he were on earth, he would not be a priest; because there are priests [fn] , who offer oblations agreeably to the law:
Bishop's Bible (1568)
For he were not a priest, yf he were on the earth, seyng there are priestes that accordyng to the lawe offer gyftes,
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;
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;
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
For if he were on earth, he would not be a priest, there being priests that offer gifts, according to the law,
Weymouth's 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,
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Therfor if he were on erthe, he were no preest, whanne ther weren that schulden offre yiftis bi the lawe,
Update Bible 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;
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:
New English Translation
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 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 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.
New Life Bible
If Christ were on the earth, He would not be a religious leader such as these. The religious leaders on earth give gifts like the Law says.
New Revised Standard
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.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
If, indeed, therefore, he had been on earth, he had not, in that case, even been a priest, since there are those who are offering the gifts, according to the law: -
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.
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.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
For he were not a preste yf he were on ye erth where are prestes that acordynge to ye lawe
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,
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
For he were not a prest, yf he were vpon earth, where are prestes yt acordynge to the lawe
Mace New Testament (1729)
which office he could not discharge here upon earth, where priests are already establish'd, who offer gifts according to the law:
Simplified Cowboy Version
If Jesus was on earth, he wouldn't even be a trail boss. There are plenty who can give gifts and make sacrifices according the old code.

Contextual Overview

1 The whole point of what we are saying is that we have such a High Priest, who sits at the right of the throne of the Divine Majesty in heaven. 2 He serves as high priest in the Most Holy Place, that is, in the real tent which was put up by the Lord, not by human hands. 3 Every high priest is appointed to present offerings and animal sacrifices to God, and so our High Priest must also have something to offer. 4 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. 5 The work they do as priests is really only a copy and a shadow of what is in heaven. It is the same as it was with Moses. When he was about to build the Sacred Tent, God told him, "Be sure to make everything according to the pattern you were shown on the mountain."

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

he should: Hebrews 7:11-15, Numbers 16:40, Numbers 17:12, Numbers 17:13, Numbers 18:5, 2 Chronicles 26:18, 2 Chronicles 26:19

there are priests: or, they are priests

gifts: שסב [Strong's G1435], gifts, or offerings, comprehended propitiatory sacrifices as well as freewill-offerings., See, Hebrews 11:4

Reciprocal: Leviticus 6:20 - the offering Numbers 3:10 - and the stranger

Cross-References

Genesis 8:17
Take all the birds and animals out with you, so that they may reproduce and spread over all the earth."
Genesis 8:19
All the animals and birds went out of the boat in groups of their own kind.
2 Kings 19:37
One day, when he was worshiping in the temple of his god Nisroch, two of his sons, Adrammelech and Sharezer, killed him with their swords and then escaped to the land of Ararat. Another of his sons, Esarhaddon, succeeded him as emperor.
Isaiah 37:38
One day when he was worshiping in the temple of his god Nisroch, two of his sons, Adrammelech and Sharezer, killed him with their swords and then escaped to the land of Ararat. Another of his sons, Esarhaddon, succeeded him as emperor.
Jeremiah 51:27
"Give the signal to attack! Blow the trumpet so that the nations can hear! Prepare the nations for war against Babylonia! Tell the kingdoms of Ararat, Minni, and Ashkenaz to attack. Appoint an officer to lead the attack. Bring up the horses like a swarm of locusts.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest,.... The Socinians from hence attempt to prove that Christ was not a priest, and did not offer sacrifice on earth; whereas his coming into the world, and his appearance in human nature, was in the character of a priest, and to qualify himself for one; his death was his sacrifice, which was on earth; and he never offered but one sacrifice; and it was after he had offered himself that he went to heaven; so the sacrifices under the law were first offered, before their blood was carried within: but the meaning is, either if "that" was on earth, namely, what it was necessary he should have to offer; if his human nature had been earthly, had been of men, had come by ordinary generation, he had not been properly, only typically a priest, at most; and had been no better than the typical ones; yea, he would have been needless, nay, might not have offered, not being of Levi's tribe, and could not have existed as a priest with the sons of Aaron; but he had his human nature in another way, through the power of the Holy Ghost from above, and therefore is said to come from above, from heaven, and to be the Lord from heaven: or the sense is, if he was on earth, and had not died, he had not been a priest; and if he had died and remained under the power of death, he had been a priest of no account and use; and had he rose again and remained on earth, without going to heaven, with his blood and sacrifice, he had not been a perfect priest; if Christ had remained on earth, the Levitical priesthood had remained, and so he would have been no priest, since two priesthoods could not have subsisted together. The Levitical priesthood was in force while Christ was on earth; Christ's priesthood was not perfected on earth; the Levitical priesthood remaining while he was on earth, proves he was not then a perfect priest, or had not completed his priesthood; had he been so, that would not have subsisted; it was necessary therefore that Christ should enter into the holy place, to put an end to the Levitical priesthood: moreover, if he had remained on earth, he had been needless;

seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law; there were priests when Christ was upon earth; their work was to offer gifts the people brought, and sacrifices for sin, and that according to the law of Moses, which till the death of Christ was in full force.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest - He could not perform that office. The design of this is, to show a reason why he was removed to heaven. The reason was, that on earth there were those who were set apart to that office, and that he, not being of the same tribe with them, could not officiate as priest. There was an order of people here on earth consecrated already to that office, and hence, it was necessary that the Lord Jesus, in performing the functions of the office, should be removed to another sphere.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Hebrews 8:4. For if he were on earth — As the Jewish temple was standing when this epistle was written, the whole temple service continued to be performed by the legal priests, descendants of Aaron, of the tribe of Levi; therefore if Christ had been then on earth, he could not have performed the office of a priest, being of the tribe of Judah, to which tribe the office of the priesthood did not appertain.

There are priests that offer gifts — This is an additional proof that this epistle was written before the destruction of Jerusalem. As the word θυσιαι, sacrifices, is not added here as it is in Hebrews 8:3, is it any evidence that bloody sacrifices had then ceased to be offered? Or, are both kinds included in the word δωρα, gifts? But is δωρον, a gift, ever used to express a bloody sacrifice? I believe the Septuagint never used it for זבח zebach, which signifies an animal offered to God in sacrifice.


 
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