Hebrews Chapter 8 verse 7 Holy Bible

ASV Hebrews 8:7

For if that first `covenant' had been faultless, then would no place have been sought for a second.
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BBE Hebrews 8:7

For if that first agreement had been as good as possible, there would have been no place for a second.
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DARBY Hebrews 8:7

For if that first was faultless, place had not been sought for a second.
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KJV Hebrews 8:7

For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.
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WBT Hebrews 8:7


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WEB Hebrews 8:7

For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second.
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YLT Hebrews 8:7

for if that first were faultless, a place would not have been sought for a second.
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Pulpit Commentary

Pulpit CommentaryVerse 7. - For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for a second. "For" introduces this sentence as a reason for what has been already said; i.e. for a better covenant having been spoken cf. The expression might be objected to by Hebrew readers as implying imperfection in the original Divine covenant. "Nay," says the writer, "it was imperfect, it was not faultless; for prophecy itself declares this." Should it be further objected that in the prophecy it is not the old covenant itself that is found fault with, but the people for not observing it, the answer would be that the remedy for their non-observance being the substitution of a new one that would answer its purpose better, some imperfection in the old one is implied. This is indeed the very point of this verse. If it be asked, further, how faultiness in the old covenant is compatible with the view of its Divine origin, the answer is abundantly supplied in St. Paul's Epistles. His position constantly is that the Mosaic Law, though in itself "holy, just, and true," and adequate to its purpose, was still imperfect as a means of justification. It was but a temporary dispensation, with a purpose of its own, intervening between the original promise to Abraham and the fulfillment of that promise in Christ. Thus it is no derogation to itself or to its Author to charge it with "weakness and unprofitableness" for a purpose it was never meant to answer.

Ellicott's Commentary

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(7) For the second.--Rather, for a second. This verse connects itself with the words, "a better covenant" in Hebrews 8:6. The form of expression used clearly points to the intended inference--that covenant was faulty, and a place was sought for a second; this makes plain the connection with Hebrews 8:8. The failure of the first covenant was manifest (Hebrews 7:11; Hebrews 7:18) to God, who, whilst the first still existed, "sought" and found place for a second.