Hebrews 8

1 The point [main idea, chief point] of what we are saying [speaking, teaching] is this: We do have such a high priest [chief priest, supreme priest], who sat down [took his seat, was seated] at the right hand [place of honor, position of power] of the throne [seat of authority, royal throne] of the Majesty [greatness, glorious power] in heaven [the spiritual realm], word study 2 and who ministers [serves as a priest, a public servant] in the sanctuary [holy place, set apart] and true [genuine, authentic] tabernacle [tent, dwelling place] set up [pitched, established] by the Lord [God, the supreme authority], not by man [human being, a mortal]. word study 3 And since every [all, each one] high priest [spiritual leader, chief priest] is appointed [ordained, set in order] to offer [bring to, present] both [and, also] gifts [sacrifices, offerings] and [also, both] sacrifices [atoning offerings, consecrations], it was necessary [of necessity, required] for this One [Christ, the Messiah] also to have [possess, hold] something [an offering, a gift] to offer [present, bring to]. word study 4 Now if He were on earth [as a human, in a physical body], He would not be a priest [one who serves God, leads worship], since there are already priests [those who offer sacrifices, lead worship] who offer gifts [sacrifices, offerings] according to the law [God’s instructions, divine regulations]. word study 5 The place [copy, mere shadow] where they serve [minister, give homage] is a copy [example, pattern] and shadow [image, representation] of what is in heaven [the heavenly realm, spiritual kingdom]. This is why Moses [the Hebrew lawgiver] was warned [admonished, divinely instructed] when he was about to build [construct, set up] the tabernacle [tent, sacred dwelling]: “See to it that you make [create, fashion] everything according to the pattern [design, blueprint] shown you on the mountain [Mount Sinai, the holy mountain].” word study 6 Now [at the present time, in this current era], however, Jesus has received [obtained, been given] a much more [far more, exceedingly] excellent [surpassing, superior] ministry [service, priestly work], just as [in the same way, to the same degree] the covenant [agreement, promise] He mediates [acts as a go-between, negotiates] is better [stronger, more excellent] and is founded [established, based] on better [more superior, greater] promises [assurances, vows]. word study 7 For [explaining, introducing a reason] if that [specific, previously mentioned] first covenant [agreement, testament] had been [existed as] without fault [blameless, free from defect], no [absolutely not] place [location, position] would have been [existed as] sought [looked for] for a second. word study 8 But God [finding fault, protesting against them] found fault with the people and said: “Behold [see, pay attention], the days [a period of time, an era] are coming, declares the Lord [the supreme authority, God], when I will make [establish, complete] a new [fresh, renewed] covenant [a formal agreement, a promise] with the house [family, descendants] of Israel and with the house of Judah [the people of Judah, the Jews]. word study 9 It will not be like the covenant [a formal agreement, a promise] I made with their fathers [ancestors, forefathers] when I took them by the hand [to guide] to lead them out of the land [the earth, the soil] of Egypt [a place of bondage], because they did not abide by [remain faithful to, persevere in] My covenant [a sacred promise, a divine agreement], and I disregarded [neglected, ignored] them, declares the Lord [the supreme God, the sovereign ruler]. word study 10 For this [the promised, new] is the covenant [agreement, divine promise] I will make [establish, ratify] with the house [family, descendants] of Israel [God’s chosen people] after [following, subsequent to] those days [a future time, an era to come], declares [says, affirms] the Lord [God, the Sovereign]. I will put [place, implant] My laws [commands, teachings] in their minds [thoughts, understanding] and inscribe [write, engrave] them on their hearts [inner being, emotions]. And I will be [exist as, remain] their God [Elohim, the one true Deity], and they will be [become, remain] My people [faithful followers, beloved ones]. word study 11 No longer will each one [individually, every person] teach his neighbor [fellow citizen, brother] or his brother [fellow believer, male sibling], saying, ‘Know [have a deep understanding of, be acquainted with] the Lord [God, Master, Yehovah],’ because they will all know [perceive, recognize, understand] Me, from the least [smallest, humblest] of them to the greatest [most prominent, noblest]. word study 12 For I will forgive [be merciful to, show compassion for] their iniquities [unrighteousness, sinful actions] and will remember [keep in mind, recall] their sins [transgressions, lawless deeds] no more [never again, completely forgotten].” word study 13 By speaking [to say, to declare] of a new [fresh, recently created] covenant, He has made the first [original, foremost] one obsolete [out-of-date, no longer in use]; and what is obsolete [worn out, decayed] and aging [growing old, becoming senescent] will soon disappear [vanish away, become invisible]. word study