HEB 8:6-13

The New Covenant

6But now he has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as he is also mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted upon better promises. [8:7] For if that first covenant had been faultless, no place would have been sought for a second. [8:8] For finding fault with them he says: 'Behold, days are coming, says the Lord, and I will ratify a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah — [8:9] not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day of my taking hold of their hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they themselves did not continue in my covenant, and I disregarded them, says the Lord. [8:10] For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: giving my laws into their mind, and upon their hearts I will inscribe them; and I will be to them for God, and they themselves will be to me for a people. [8:11] And they shall certainly not teach, each one his comrade and each one his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord,' because all will know me, from the least of them to the greatest of them; [8:12] because I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and their sins I will certainly not remember anymore.' [8:13] In saying 'new,' he has made the first obsolete; and what is growing old and aging is near to vanishing.

In the world it was spoken into

In the first-century Jewish context, the concept of covenant was central to understanding the relationship between God and His people. The Mosaic covenant, established at Sinai, was foundational for Jewish identity, law, and worship. However, the author of Hebrews critiques this covenant by quoting Jeremiah 31:31-34, which promises a 'new covenant' . This new covenant is framed as superior because it addresses the failure of Israel to remain faithful to the old covenant. The term 'mediator' evokes the role of Moses in the Sinai covenant but elevates Jesus as the mediator of a better covenant based on 'better promises.' The verb 'made obsolete' underscores the idea that the old covenant, while once valid, is now outdated and replaced by the new. For Jewish listeners, this would have been a radical claim, challenging their reliance on Torah and temple practices. The promise of internalized law ('I will put my laws into their minds') shifts the focus from external observance to inward transformation, a concept that would resonate with Hellenistic Jewish audiences familiar with philosophical ideals of internalized virtue.

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How other translations render this

HEB 8:6

KJV: But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.
BSB: Now, however, Jesus has received a much more excellent ministry, just as the covenant He mediates is better and is founded on better promises.
Koinōnos: But now he has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as he is also mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted upon better promises.

HEB 8:7

KJV: For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.
BSB: For if that first covenant had been without fault, no place would have been sought for a second.
Koinōnos: For if that first covenant had been faultless, no place would have been sought for a second.

HEB 8:8

KJV: For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:
BSB: But God found fault with the people and said: “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.
Koinōnos: For finding fault with them he says: 'Behold, days are coming, says the Lord, and I will ratify a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah —

HEB 8:9

KJV: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.
BSB: It will not be like the covenant I made with their fathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, because they did not abide by My covenant, and I disregarded them, declares the Lord.
Koinōnos: not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day of my taking hold of their hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they themselves did not continue in my covenant, and I disregarded them, says the Lord.

HEB 8:10

KJV: For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
BSB: For this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord. I will put My laws in their minds and inscribe them on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they will be My people.
Koinōnos: For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: giving my laws into their mind, and upon their hearts I will inscribe them; and I will be to them for God, and they themselves will be to me for a people.

HEB 8:11

KJV: And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
BSB: No longer will each one teach his neighbor or his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest.
Koinōnos: And they shall certainly not teach, each one his comrade and each one his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord,' because all will know me, from the least of them to the greatest of them;

HEB 8:12

KJV: For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
BSB: For I will forgive their iniquities and will remember their sins no more.”
Koinōnos: because I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and their sins I will certainly not remember anymore.

HEB 8:13

KJV: In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.
BSB: By speaking of a new covenant, He has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and aging will soon disappear.
Koinōnos: In saying 'new,' he has made the first obsolete; and what is growing old and aging is near to vanishing.

Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.

Translator's notes

HEB 8:6

more excellent:The word translated 'more excellent' here emphasizes that the new covenant is not just better, but fundamentally different in kind, setting it apart as superior.
a ministry,:The term used here for 'a ministry' originally referred to a public service performed by a private citizen at their own expense, highlighting a sense of costly, dedicated service.

HEB 8:8

I will ratify:The word translated 'I will ratify' carries the sense of bringing something to completion or fully accomplishing it, not just formally approving it.

HEB 8:13

He has made obsolete:The phrase 'He has made obsolete' conveys the idea of something becoming old and decaying through the passage of time, rendering it no longer useful or valid.