Hebrews 8:4

NET Bible® (New English Translation)

Now if he were on earth, he would not be a priest, since there are already priests who offer the gifts prescribed by the law.

Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

  • Heb 7:11-15 : 11 Jesus and the Priesthood of Melchizedek So if perfection had in fact been possible through the Levitical priesthood– for on that basis the people received the law– what further need would there have been for another priest to arise, said to be in the order of Melchizedek and not in Aaron’s order? 12 For when the priesthood changes, a change in the law must come as well. 13 Yet the one these things are spoken about belongs to a different tribe, and no one from that tribe has ever officiated at the altar. 14 For it is clear that our Lord is descended from Judah, yet Moses said nothing about priests in connection with that tribe. 15 And this is even clearer if another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek,
  • Heb 5:1 : 1 For every high priest is taken from among the people and appointed to represent them before God, to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins.
  • Heb 11:4 : 4 By faith Abel offered God a greater sacrifice than Cain, and through his faith he was commended as righteous, because God commended him for his offerings. And through his faith he still speaks, though he is dead.
  • Num 16:40 : 40 It was a memorial for the Israelites, that no outsider who is not a descendant of Aaron should approach to burn incense before the LORD, that he might not become like Korah and his company– just as the LORD had spoken by the authority of Moses.
  • Num 17:12-13 : 12 The Israelites said to Moses,“We are bound to die! We perish, we all perish! 13 (17:28) Anyone who even comes close to the tabernacle of the LORD will die! Are we all to die?”
  • Num 18:5 : 5 You will be responsible for the care of the sanctuary and the care of the altar, so that there will be no more wrath on the Israelites.
  • 2 Chr 26:18-19 : 18 They confronted King Uzziah and said to him,“It is not proper for you, Uzziah, to offer incense to the LORD. That is the responsibility of the priests, the descendants of Aaron, who are consecrated to offer incense. Leave the sanctuary, for you have disobeyed and the LORD God will not honor you!” 19 Uzziah, who had an incense censer in his hand, became angry. While he was ranting and raving at the priests, a skin disease appeared on his forehead right there in front of the priests in the LORD’s temple near the incense altar.

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

  • Heb 8:1-3
    3 verses
    84%

    1The High Priest of a Better Covenant Now the main point of what we are saying is this: We have such a high priest, one who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven,

    2a minister in the sanctuary and the true tabernacle that the Lord, not man, set up.

    3For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices. So this one too had to have something to offer.

  • Heb 5:1
    79%

    1For every high priest is taken from among the people and appointed to represent them before God, to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins.

  • Heb 7:11-17
    7 verses
    78%

    11Jesus and the Priesthood of Melchizedek So if perfection had in fact been possible through the Levitical priesthood– for on that basis the people received the law– what further need would there have been for another priest to arise, said to be in the order of Melchizedek and not in Aaron’s order?

    12For when the priesthood changes, a change in the law must come as well.

    13Yet the one these things are spoken about belongs to a different tribe, and no one from that tribe has ever officiated at the altar.

    14For it is clear that our Lord is descended from Judah, yet Moses said nothing about priests in connection with that tribe.

    15And this is even clearer if another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek,

    16who has become a priest not by a legal regulation about physical descent but by the power of an indestructible life.

    17For here is the testimony about him:“You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”

  • Heb 8:5-7
    3 verses
    77%

    5The place where they serve is a sketch and shadow of the heavenly sanctuary, just as Moses was warned by God as he was about to complete the tabernacle. For he says,“See that you make everything according to the design shown to you on the mountain.”

    6But now Jesus has obtained a superior ministry, since the covenant that he mediates is also better and is enacted on better promises.

    7For if that first covenant had been faultless, no one would have looked for a second one.

  • Heb 7:19-21
    3 verses
    76%

    19for the law made nothing perfect. On the other hand a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.

    20And since this was not done without a sworn affirmation– for the others have become priests without a sworn affirmation,

    21but Jesus did so with a sworn affirmation by the one who said to him,“The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind,‘You are a priest forever’”–

  • Heb 7:26-28
    3 verses
    76%

    26For it is indeed fitting for us to have such a high priest: holy, innocent, undefiled, separate from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.

    27He has no need to do every day what those priests do, to offer sacrifices first for their own sins and then for the sins of the people, since he did this in offering himself once for all.

    28For the law appoints as high priests men subject to weakness, but the word of solemn affirmation that came after the law appoints a son made perfect forever.

  • Heb 9:23-25
    3 verses
    75%

    23So it was necessary for the sketches of the things in heaven to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves required better sacrifices than these.

    24For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with hands– the representation of the true sanctuary– but into heaven itself, and he appears now in God’s presence for us.

    25And he did not enter to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the sanctuary year after year with blood that is not his own,

  • Heb 7:3
    75%

    3Without father, without mother, without genealogy, he has neither beginning of days nor end of life but is like the son of God, and he remains a priest for all time.

  • Heb 9:11
    74%

    11Christ’s Service in the Heavenly Sanctuary But now Christ has come as the high priest of the good things to come. He passed through the greater and more perfect tent not made with hands, that is, not of this creation,

  • Heb 10:11
    74%

    11And every priest stands day after day serving and offering the same sacrifices again and again– sacrifices that can never take away sins.

  • Heb 9:6-9
    4 verses
    74%

    6So with these things prepared like this, the priests enter continually into the outer tent as they perform their duties.

    7But only the high priest enters once a year into the inner tent, and not without blood that he offers for himself and for the sins of the people committed in ignorance.

    8The Holy Spirit is making clear that the way into the holy place had not yet appeared as long as the old tabernacle was standing.

    9This was a symbol for the time then present, when gifts and sacrifices were offered that could not perfect the conscience of the worshiper.

  • Heb 10:1-2
    2 verses
    73%

    1Concluding Exposition: Old and New Sacrifices Contrasted For the law possesses a shadow of the good things to come but not the reality itself, and is therefore completely unable, by the same sacrifices offered continually, year after year, to perfect those who come to worship.

    2For otherwise would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers would have been purified once for all and so have no further consciousness of sin?

  • Heb 5:3-6
    4 verses
    72%

    3and for this reason he is obligated to make sin offerings for himself as well as for the people.

    4And no one assumes this honor on his own initiative, but only when called to it by God, as in fact Aaron was.

    5So also Christ did not glorify himself in becoming high priest, but the one who glorified him was God, who said to him,“You are my Son! Today I have fathered you,”

    6as also in another place God says,“You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”

  • Heb 7:23-24
    2 verses
    72%

    23And the others who became priests were numerous, because death prevented them from continuing in office,

    24but he holds his priesthood permanently since he lives forever.

  • Heb 10:4-5
    2 verses
    71%

    4For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

    5So when he came into the world, he said,“Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me.

  • Heb 10:8
    71%

    8When he says above,“Sacrifices and offerings and whole burnt offerings and sin-offerings you did not desire nor did you take delight in them”(which are offered according to the law),

  • Heb 4:14-15
    2 verses
    70%

    14Jesus Our Compassionate High Priest Therefore since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession.

    15For we do not have a high priest incapable of sympathizing with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way just as we are, yet without sin.

  • Heb 2:17
    70%

    17Therefore he had to be made like his brothers and sisters in every respect, so that he could become a merciful and faithful high priest in things relating to God, to make atonement for the sins of the people.

  • Heb 5:10
    70%

    10and he was designated by God as high priest in the order of Melchizedek.

  • Heb 6:20
    70%

    20where Jesus our forerunner entered on our behalf, since he became a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.

  • Heb 13:10
    70%

    10We have an altar that those who serve in the tabernacle have no right to eat from.

  • Ps 110:4
    69%

    4The LORD makes this promise on oath and will not revoke it:“You are an eternal priest after the pattern of Melchizedek.”

  • Heb 3:1
    69%

    1Jesus and Moses Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, partners in a heavenly calling, take note of Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess,

  • Heb 9:1
    69%

    1The Arrangement and Ritual of the Earthly Sanctuary Now the first covenant, in fact, had regulations for worship and its earthly sanctuary.