OET interlinear HEB 8:4

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

οὖν

therefore

The word Now introduces an inference based on the claim that priests offer gifts and sacrifices ([8:3](../08/03.md)). The author’s point is that God has already set up a priesthood on earth that offers the necessary gifts. Because Jesus does not belong to that priesthood (since he is not descended from Levi), he is not a priest on earth, but only in heaven. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word or phrase that introduces an inference or a development. Alternate translation: [As you can see,] or [Therefore,]

Note 2 topic: writing-pronouns

ἦν & οὐδ’ ἂν ἦν ἱερεύς

˱he˲_was & not_even ˱he˲_was & (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Εἰ μέν οὖν ἦν ἐπί γῆς οὐδʼ ἄν ἦν ἱερεύς ὄντων τῶν προσφερόντων κατά νόμον τά δῶρα)

The pronoun he refers to Jesus. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use the name Jesus in place of that pronoun. Alternate translation: [Jesus were … he would not be a priest at all]

Note 3 topic: grammar-connect-condition-contrary

εἰ μὲν & ἦν ἐπὶ γῆς

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Εἰ μέν οὖν ἦν ἐπί γῆς οὐδʼ ἄν ἦν ἱερεύς ὄντων τῶν προσφερόντων κατά νόμον τά δῶρα)

The author is making a conditional statement that sounds hypothetical, but he is already convinced that the condition is not true. He knows that Jesus is not really on earth right now. He uses the statement that he knows is not true to show that Jesus can only be a high priest in heaven and not on earth. Use a natural form in your language for introducing a condition that the speaker believes is not true. Alternate translation: [if indeed he were actually on earth]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ἦν ἐπὶ γῆς

˱he˲_was ˱he˲_was (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Εἰ μέν οὖν ἦν ἐπί γῆς οὐδʼ ἄν ἦν ἱερεύς ὄντων τῶν προσφερόντων κατά νόμον τά δῶρα)

The author does not mean that Jesus was never on earth or will never be on earth. Rather, he means that Jesus is not on earth right now, because he has ascended into heaven (See: [8:1](../08/01.md)). If it would be helpful in your language, you could express this idea more explicitly. Alternate translation: [he were currently on earth] or [he were now on earth instead of in heaven]

Note 5 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

ὄντων τῶν προσφερόντων κατὰ νόμον τὰ δῶρα

being ¬which offering (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Εἰ μέν οὖν ἦν ἐπί γῆς οὐδʼ ἄν ἦν ἱερεύς ὄντων τῶν προσφερόντων κατά νόμον τά δῶρα)

The phrase since there are introduces the reason why Jesus would not be a priest at all if he were on earth right now. The author’s point is that God has already appointed priests who serve on earth and Jesus is not one of them. Therefore, he is not a priest on earth. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make it clearer that the phrase since there are the ones offering gives the reason for the author’s claim. Alternate translation: [because the ones offering the gifts according to the law already exist]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ὄντων τῶν προσφερόντων κατὰ νόμον τὰ δῶρα

being ¬which offering (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Εἰ μέν οὖν ἦν ἐπί γῆς οὐδʼ ἄν ἦν ἱερεύς ὄντων τῶν προσφερόντων κατά νόμον τά δῶρα)

The author is referring to the priests who are descended from Levi who offer gifts and “sacrifices” as God commanded them to do through Moses. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express this idea more explicitly. Alternate translation: [since the Levitical priests offer the gifts according to Moses’ law]