Hebrews 7:19

THE MESSAGE

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
(for the law perfected nothing), but a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.

King James Version (1611)
For the Law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did: by the which wee draw nigh vnto God.

King James Version
For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.

English Standard Version
(for the law made nothing perfect); but on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.

New American Standard Bible
(for the Law made nothing perfect); on the other hand, there is the introduction of a better hope, through which we come near to God.

New Century Version
The law of Moses could not make anything perfect. But now a better hope has been given to us, and with this hope we can come near to God.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
(for the Law made nothing perfect), and on the other hand there is a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.

Legacy Standard Bible
(for the Law made nothing perfect), and on the other hand there is a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.

Berean Standard Bible
(for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.

Contemporary English Version
because the Law cannot make anything perfect. At the same time, we are given a much better hope, and it can bring us close to God.

Complete Jewish Bible
(for the Torah did not bring anything to the goal); and, on the other hand, a hope of something better is introduced, through which we are drawing near to God.

Darby Translation
(for the law perfected nothing,) and the introduction of a better hope by which we draw nigh to God.

Easy-to-Read Version
The Law of Moses could not make anything perfect. But now a better hope has been given to us. And with that hope we can come near to God.

Geneva Bible (1587)
For the Law made nothing perfite, but the bringing in of a better hope made perfite, whereby we drawe neere vnto God.

George Lamsa Translation
For the law made nothing perfect, but there has come in its place a better hope, by which we draw near to God.

Good News Translation
For the Law of Moses could not make anything perfect. And now a better hope has been provided through which we come near to God.

Lexham English Bible
(for the law made nothing perfect), but on the other hand there is the introduction of a better hope through which we draw near to God.

Literal Translation
For the Law perfected nothing, but a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.

Amplified Bible
(for the Law never made anything perfect); while on the other hand a better hope is introduced through which we now continually draw near to God.

American Standard Version
(for the law made nothing perfect), and a bringing in thereupon of a better hope, through which we draw nigh unto God.

Bible in Basic English
(Because the law made nothing complete), and in its place there is a better hope, through which we come near to God.

Hebrew Names Version
(for the law made nothing perfect), and a bringing in thereupon of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.

International Standard Version
(for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we approach God.Acts 13:39; Romans 3:20-21,28; 5:2; 8:3; Galatians 2:16; Ephesians 2:18; 3:12; Hebrews 4:16; 6:18; 8:6; 9:9; 10:19;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
For the law perfected nothing: but instead of it a hope has entered which is more excellent, (and) by which we are brought nigh unto Aloha.

Murdock Translation
For the law perfected nothing; but in the place of it there came in a hope, which is better than it, and by which we draw near to God.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
For the lawe made nothyng perfect, but [was] the bryngyng in of a better hope, by the whiche we drawe nygh vnto God.

English Revised Version
(for the law made nothing perfect), and a bringing in thereupon of a better hope, through which we draw nigh unto God.

World English Bible
(for the law made nothing perfect), and a bringing in thereupon of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did, by which we draw nigh to God.

Weymouth's New Testament
for the Law brought no perfect blessing--but on the other hand we have the bringing in of a new and better hope by means of which we draw near to God.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
For whi the lawe brouyt no thing to perfeccioun, but there is a bringing in of a betere hope, bi which we neiyen to God.

Update Bible Version
(for the law made nothing perfect), and a bringing in thereupon of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.

Webster's Bible Translation
For the law made nothing perfect, but the introduction of a better hope [did]; by which we draw nigh to God.

New English Translation
for the law made nothing perfect. On the other hand a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.

New King James Version
for the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.

New Living Translation
For the law never made anything perfect. But now we have confidence in a better hope, through which we draw near to God.

New Life Bible
For the Law of Moses could not make men right with God. Now there is a better hope through which we can come near to God.

New Revised Standard
(for the law made nothing perfect); there is, on the other hand, the introduction of a better hope, through which we approach God.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
For, the law, perfected, nothing; but there is the superinducing of a better hope, - through which we draw near unto God.

Douay-Rheims Bible
For the law brought nothing to perfection: but a bringing in of a better hope, by which we draw nigh to God.

Revised Standard Version
(for the law made nothing perfect); on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
For the lawe made nothynge parfecte: but was an introduccion of a better hope by which hope we drawe nye vnto god.

Young's Literal Translation
(for nothing did the law perfect) and the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw nigh to God.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
For the lawe made nothinge perfecte, but was an introduccion of a better hope, by ye which hope we drawe nye vnto God.

Mace New Testament (1729)
for the law made no man perfect, but this was effected by introducing a better hope, which brings us nearer to the divine presence.

Simplified Cowboy Version
The Law never made anything perfect. But now we are confident this new trail leads us straight to God.

Contextual Overview

¹¹If the priesthood of Levi and Aaron, which provided the framework for the giving of the law, could really make people perfect, there wouldn't have been need for a new priesthood like that of Melchizedek. But since it didn't get the job done, there was a change of priesthood, which brought with it a radical new kind of law. There is no way of understanding this in terms of the old Levitical priesthood, which is why there is nothing in Jesus' family tree connecting him with that priestly line. ¹⁵But the Melchizedek story provides a perfect analogy: Jesus, a priest like Melchizedek, not by genealogical descent but by the sheer force of resurrection life—he lives!—"priest forever in the royal order of Melchizedek." The former way of doing things, a system of commandments that never worked out the way it was supposed to, was set aside; the law brought nothing to maturity. Another way—Jesus!—a way that does work, that brings us right into the presence of God, is put in its place. ²⁰The old priesthood of Aaron perpetuated itself automatically, father to son, without explicit confirmation by God. But then God intervened and called this new, permanent priesthood into being with an added promise: God gave his word; he won't take it back: "You're the permanent priest." This makes Jesus the guarantee of a far better way between us and God—one that really works! A new covenant. ²³Earlier there were a lot of priests, for they died and had to be replaced. But Jesus' priesthood is permanent. He's there from now to eternity to save everyone who comes to God through him, always on the job to speak up for them. ²⁶So now we have a high priest who perfectly fits our needs: completely holy, uncompromised by sin, with authority extending as high as God's presence in heaven itself. Unlike the other high priests, he doesn't have to offer sacrifices for his own sins every day before he can get around to us and our sins. He's done it, once and for all: offered up himself as the sacrifice. The law appoints as high priests men who are never able to get the job done right. But this intervening command of God, which came later, appoints the Son, who is absolutely, eternally perfect.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

the law: Hebrews 7:11, Hebrews 9:9, Acts 13:39, Romans 3:20, Romans 3:21, Romans 8:3, Galatians 2:16

made: ץהום [Strong's G3762], ופוכוישףום, completed nothing; it was the introduction, but not the completion.

the bringing in: or, it was the bringing in, Galatians 3:24

a better: Hebrews 6:18, Hebrews 8:6, Hebrews 11:40, John 1:17, Romans 8:3, Colossians 1:27, 1 Timothy 1:1

we: Hebrews 4:16, Hebrews 10:19-22, Psalms 73:28, John 14:6, Romans 5:2, Ephesians 2:13-18, Ephesians 3:12

Reciprocal: Leviticus 16:26 - wash Numbers 19:21 - General Romans 4:14 - For if Ephesians 2:18 - through Colossians 1:5 - the hope 2 Thessalonians 2:16 - good Hebrews 7:18 - the weakness Hebrews 7:25 - come Hebrews 8:13 - he hath Hebrews 10:9 - He taketh Hebrews 10:14 - he Hebrews 10:22 - draw Hebrews 12:2 - finisher James 4:8 - Draw nigh to God

Cross-References

Genesis 7:2
"Take on board with you seven pairs of every clean animal, a male and a female; one pair of every unclean animal, a male and a female; and seven pairs of every kind of bird, a male and a female, to insure their survival on Earth. In just seven days I will dump rain on Earth for forty days and forty nights. I'll make a clean sweep of everything that I've made."

Genesis 7:6
Noah was 600 years old when the floodwaters covered the Earth. Noah and his wife and sons and their wives boarded the ship to escape the flood. Clean and unclean animals, birds, and all the crawling creatures came in pairs to Noah and to the ship, male and female, just as God had commanded Noah. In seven days the floodwaters came.

Jeremiah 3:22
"We're here! We've come back to you. You're our own true God ! All that popular religion was a cheap lie, duped crowds buying up the latest in gods. We're back! Back to our true God , the salvation of Israel. The Fraud picked us clean, swindled us of what our ancestors bequeathed us, Gypped us out of our inheritance— God-blessed flocks and God-given children. We made our bed and now lie in it, all tangled up in the dirty sheets of dishonor. All because we sinned against our God , we and our fathers and mothers. From the time we took our first steps, said our first words, we've been rebels, disobeying the voice of our God ."

Gill's Notes on the Bible

For the law made nothing perfect,.... Or no man; neither any of the priests that offered sacrifices, nor any of the people for whom they were offered: it could not perfectly make atonement for sin; nor make men perfectly holy or righteous; it could neither justify nor sanctify; neither bring in a perfect righteousness, nor bring men to perfect holiness, and so to eternal life and salvation:

but the bringing in of a better hope did; not the grace of hope; that is not something newly brought in, the saints under the Old Testament had it; nor is it better now than then, though it has greater advantages and more encouragement to the exercise of it: nor heaven and eternal glory, the thing hoped for; the saints under the legal dispensation hoped for this, as well as believers under the present dispensation; nor is what the latter hope for better than that the former did: nor is God the author and object of hope intended; the phrase of bringing in will not suit with him; besides, he is distinguished from it, in the next clause: to understand it of the Gospel, the means of hope, and of encouraging it, is no ill sense; that standing in direct contradistinction to the law: but the priesthood of Christ, of which the apostle is treating in the context, is generally understood, which is the ground of hope; for all promises respecting eternal life are confirmed by it, and all blessings connected with it procured; and it is better than the Aaronic priesthood, under the law; and a better ground of hope than the sacrifices of that law were: Christ himself may be designed, who is often called hope, being the object, ground, and foundation of it; and is a better one than Moses, or his law, Aaron, or his priesthood; and it is by him men draw nigh to God; and the bringing in of him or his priesthood shows that Christ's priesthood was not upon the foot of the law, and that he existed as a priest, before brought in, and as a better hope, though not so fully revealed; and it may have respect to his coming in the flesh, being sent, or brought in by his father: now the bringing in of him and his priesthood did make something perfect; it brought to perfection all the types, promises, and prophecies of the Old Testament, the whole law, moral and ceremonial; it brought in perfect atonement, reconciliation, pardon, righteousness, and redemption; it perfected the persons of all God's elect; and perfectly provided for their holiness, peace, comfort, and eternal happiness: some read the words "but it", the law, "was the bringing in of a better hope": the law led unto, made way for, and introduced. Christ, the better hope; and so the Arabic version, "seeing it should be an entrance to a more noble hope"; the Syriac version renders it, "but in the room of it entered a hope more excellent than that"; than the law:

by the which we draw nigh unto God; the Father, as the Father of Christ, and of his people in him, and as the Father of mercies, and the God of all grace and this drawing nigh to him is to be understood not locally but spiritually; it includes the whole worship of God, but chiefly designs prayer: and ought to be done with a true heart, in opposition to hypocrisy; and in faith, in opposition to doubting; and with reverence and humility, in opposition to rashness; and with freedom, boldness, and thankfulness: and it is through Christ and his priesthood that souls have encouragement to draw nigh to God; for Christ has paid all their debts, satisfied law and justice, procured the pardon of their sins, atonement and reconciliation for them; he is the way of their access to God; he gives them audience and acceptance; he presents their prayers, and intercedes for them himself.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

For the law made nothing perfect - The Levitical, ceremonial law. It did not produce a perfect state; it did not do what was desirable to be done for a sinner; see the note on Hebrews 7:11. That Law, as such, did not reconcile man to God; it did not make an atonement: it did not put away guilt; in one word, “it did not restore things to the condition in which they were before the Law was broken and man became a sinner.” If man were saved under that system - as many undoubtedly were - it was not in virtue of any intrinsic efficacy which it possessed, but in virtue of that great sacrifice which it typified.

But the bringing in of a better hope did - Margin, “But it was.” The correct rendering is, probably, “but there is the bringing in of a better hope, by which we have access to God.” The Law could not effect this. It left the conscience guilty, and sin unexpiated. But there is now the introduction of a better system by which we can approach a reconciled God. The “better hope” here refers to the more sure and certain expectation of heaven introduced by the gospel. There is a better foundation for hope; a more certain way of obtaining the divine favor than the Law could furnish.

By the which - By which better hope; that is, by means of the ground of hope furnished by the gospel, to wit, that God is now reconciled. and that we can approach him with the assurance that he is ready to save us.

We draw nigh unto God - We have access to him; notes, Romans 5:1-2.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 19. For the law made nothing perfect — It completed nothing; it was only the outline of a great plan, the shadow of a glorious substance; see on Hebrews 7:11. It neither pardoned sin, nor purified the heart, nor gave strength to obey the moral precepts. ουδεν, nothing, is put here for ουδενα, no person.

But the bringing in of a better hope — The original is very emphatic, επεισαγωγη, the superintroduction, or the after introduction; and this seems to be put in opposition to the προαγουσα εντολη, the preceding commandment, or former Levitical law, of Hebrews 7:18. This went before to prepare the way of the Lord; to show the exceeding sinfulness of sin, and the strict justice of God. The better hope, which referred not to earthly but to spiritual good, not to temporal but eternal felicity, founded on the priesthood and atonement of Christ, was afterwards introduced for the purpose of doing what the law could not do, and giving privileges and advantages which the law would not afford. One of these privileges immediately follows:-

By the which we draw nigh unto God. — This is a sacerdotal phrase: the high priest alone could approach to the Divine presence in the holy of holies; but not without the blood of the sacrifice, and that only once in the year. But through Christ, as our high priest, all believers in him have an entrance to the holiest by his blood; and through him perform acceptable service to God. The better hope means, in this place, Jesus Christ, who is the author and object of the hope of eternal life, which all his genuine followers possess. He is called our hope, 1 Timothy 1:1; Colossians 1:27.