UTN uW Translation Notes:

Hebrews 8 General Notes

Structure and Formatting

5. The Son as high priest (5:1–10:18)* Teaching: The ministry of the Son (8:1–6)* Teaching: The new covenant (8:7–13)Some translations set each line of poetry farther to the right than the rest of the text to make it easier to read. The ULT does this with the poetry in 8:8–12, which the author quotes from the Old Testament.

Religious and Cultural Concepts in This Chapter

New covenant

In 8:6–13, the author refers to a “second,” “better,” and “new” covenant. All these phrases refer to the same covenant, the one that God promised in the words that the author quotes from Jeremiah 31:31–34. This new covenant is “mediated” through Jesus the Son (8:6), and when God initiated this covenant, the “first covenant” (the one God made with the Israelites through Moses) became “old” or “obsolete” (8:13). In your translation, use words or phrases that refer to an agreement or formal contract between people or groups. (See: covenant)

The heavenly sanctuary

In 8:1–2, the author refers to how Jesus sat down at the right side of God’s throne and is a “servant of the holy place and the true tabernacle.” Most likely, the author considers the throne where Jesus sat down to be inside this heavenly sanctuary. Scholars debate whether “holy place” and “true tabernacle” are two different names for the same thing or whether the “holy place” is the most sacred area inside the “true tabernacle.” Either way, these names refer to the sanctuary in heaven where Jesus acts as a high priest. You should refer to the heavenly sanctuary with the same words that you use to refer to the earthly sanctuary. (See: tabernacle and holy)

Translation Issues in This Chapter

The “house” of Israel or Judah

In 8:8 and 8:10, the quotation refers to the “house” of Israel or of Judah. In this context, “house” refers figuratively to a group of people who are connected because they are all descended from the same person or because they are all ruled by the same leader. In this case, both are true: The “house” refers to the people who are descended from Abraham and are ruled by a king. In 8:10, the “house of Israel” refers to all the Israelites. In 8:8, the “house of Israel” and the “house of Judah” refer to the two different kingdoms that the original kingdom of Israel split into. In both cases, the quotation is referring to all the Israelites. Consider using a natural way to refer to a group of people who belong together. (See: house)

Translation Issues in This Chapter

Was Jesus a priest when he lived and died on earth?

In 8:4, the author argues that Jesus would not be a priest if he were on earth. His basis for this claim seems to be that God has already appointed priests to offer sacrifices on earth. Scholars frequently debate whether the author of Hebrews claims that Jesus served as a priest when he obeyed God during his earthly life and when he died on the cross or whether he only served as a priest after he came back to life and ascended to heaven. Either way, the author’s point in this verse is that Jesus would not be a priest if he were on earth right now. See the notes on this verse for ways to translate the contrary-to-fact condition. (See: grammar-connect-condition-contrary)

What is the “fault” in the first covenant?

In 8:7, the author implies that the “first covenant” was not “faultless.” However, in 8:8, he claims that God finds “fault” with “them,” that is, the Israelites who received that covenant. Most likely, the “fault” in the first covenant was that it did not enable the Israelites to keep the covenant and so they failed. This contrasts with the “new covenant,” in which God will put his laws in the minds and hearts of his people. Since the people are the “fault” in the first covenant, there is no need to harmonize these two verses.