Hebrews 8:4
New International Version
If he were on earth, he would not be a priest, for there are already priests who offer the gifts prescribed by the law.

New Living Translation
If he were here on earth, he would not even be a priest, since there already are priests who offer the gifts required by the law.

English Standard Version
Now if he were on earth, he would not be a priest at all, since there are priests who offer gifts according to the law.

Berean Standard Bible
Now if He were on earth, He would not be a priest, since there are already priests who offer gifts according to the law.

Berean Literal Bible
Then certainly if He were on earth, not even would He be a priest, there being those offering the gifts according to Law,

King James Bible
For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law:

New King James Version
For if He were on earth, He would not be a priest, since there are priests who offer the gifts according to the law;

New American Standard Bible
Now if He were on earth, He would not be a priest at all, since there are those who offer the gifts according to the Law;

NASB 1995
Now if He were on earth, He would not be a priest at all, since there are those who offer the gifts according to the Law;

NASB 1977
Now if He were on earth, He would not be a priest at all, since there are those who offer the gifts according to the Law;

Legacy Standard Bible
Now if He were on earth, He would not be a priest at all, since there are those who offer the gifts according to the Law;

Amplified Bible
Now if He were [still living] on earth, He would not be a priest at all, for there are priests who offer the gifts [to God] in accordance with the Law.

Christian Standard Bible
Now if he were on earth, he wouldn’t be a priest, since there are those offering the gifts prescribed by the law.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Now if He were on earth, He wouldn’t be a priest, since there are those offering the gifts prescribed by the law.

American Standard Version
Now if he were on earth, he would not be a priest at all, seeing there are those who offer the gifts according to the law;

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And if he were on Earth, he would not be a Priest, because there have been Priests who have been offering gifts according to what is in The Law,

Contemporary English Version
If he were here on earth, he would not be a priest at all, because here the Law appoints other priests to offer sacrifices.

Douay-Rheims Bible
If then he were on earth, he would not be a priest: seeing that there would be others to offer gifts according to the law,

English Revised Version
Now if he were on earth, he would not be a priest at all, seeing there are those who offer the gifts according to the law;

GOD'S WORD® Translation
If he were on earth, he would not even be a priest. On earth [other] priests offer gifts by following the instructions that Moses gave.

Good News Translation
If he were on earth, he would not be a priest at all, since there are priests who offer the gifts required by the Jewish Law.

International Standard Version
Now if he were on earth, he would not even be a priest, because other men offer the gifts prescribed by the Law.

Literal Standard Version
for if, indeed, He were on earth, He would not be a priest (there being the priests who are offering the gifts according to the Law,

Majority Standard Bible
For if He were on earth, He would not be a priest, since there are already priests who offer gifts according to the law.

New American Bible
If then he were on earth, he would not be a priest, since there are those who offer gifts according to the law.

NET Bible
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.

New Revised Standard Version
Now if he were on earth, he would not be a priest at all, since there are priests who offer gifts according to the law.

New Heart English Bible
Now if he were on earth, he would not be a priest at all, seeing there are priests who offer the gifts according to the Law;

Webster's Bible Translation
For if he were on earth, he would not be a priest, seeing there are priests that offer gifts according to the law:

Weymouth New Testament
If then He were still on earth, He would not be a priest at all, since here there are already those who present the offerings in obedience to the Law,

World English Bible
For if he were on earth, he would not be a priest at all, seeing there are priests who offer the gifts according to the law,

Young's Literal Translation
for if, indeed, he were upon earth, he would not be a priest -- (there being the priests who are offering according to the law, the gifts,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Christ's Eternal Priesthood
3And since every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices, it was necessary for this One also to have something to offer. 4Now if He were on earth, He would not be a priest, since there are already priests who offer gifts according to the law. 5The place where they serve is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: “See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.”…

Cross References
Hebrews 5:1
Every high priest is appointed from among men to represent them in matters relating to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.

Hebrews 7:27
Unlike the other high priests, He does not need to offer daily sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people; He sacrificed for sin once for all when He offered up Himself.

Hebrews 8:3
And since every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices, it was necessary for this One also to have something to offer.

Hebrews 9:9
It is an illustration for the present time, because the gifts and sacrifices being offered were unable to cleanse the conscience of the worshiper.

Hebrews 10:11
Day after day every priest stands to minister and to offer again and again the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.


Treasury of Scripture

For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law:

he should.

Hebrews 7:11-15
If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron? …

Numbers 16:40
To be a memorial unto the children of Israel, that no stranger, which is not of the seed of Aaron, come near to offer incense before the LORD; that he be not as Korah, and as his company: as the LORD said to him by the hand of Moses.

Numbers 17:12,13
And the children of Israel spake unto Moses, saying, Behold, we die, we perish, we all perish…

there are priests.

See.

Hebrews 11:4
By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.

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Already Earth Gifts Indeed Law Obedience Offer Offering Offerings Ordered Prescribed Present Priest Priests
Hebrews 8
1. By the eternal priesthood of Christ the Levitical priesthood of Aaron is overshadowed;
7. and replaced by the new covenant of the Gospel.














(4) For if he were . . .--The oldest Greek MSS. and two important versions read, "If then He were"; and two other changes in the text of this verse also rest on high authority. In its correct form the verse will stand thus: If then He were on earth, He would not even be a priest (that is, He would not be a priest at all), seeing there are those who according to law offer the gifts. The argument somewhat resembles that of Hebrews 7:13-14; there, however, the impediment is that of tribe; here the thought is that the place is preoccupied by men who by express command are bringing the gifts unto God.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
Now
οὖν (oun)
Conjunction
Strong's 3767: Therefore, then. Apparently a primary word; certainly, or accordingly.

if
εἰ (ei)
Conjunction
Strong's 1487: If. A primary particle of conditionality; if, whether, that, etc.

He were
ἦν (ēn)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

on
ἐπὶ (epi)
Preposition
Strong's 1909: On, to, against, on the basis of, at.

earth,
γῆς (gēs)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 1093: Contracted from a primary word; soil; by extension a region, or the solid part or the whole of the terrene globe.

He would not be
ἦν (ēn)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

a priest,
ἱερεύς (hiereus)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2409: A priest, one who offers sacrifice to a god (in Jewish and pagan religions; of Christians only met.). From hieros; a priest.

since there are already
ὄντων (ontōn)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

[priests]
τῶν (tōn)
Article - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

to offer
προσφερόντων (prospherontōn)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 4374: From pros and phero; to bear towards, i.e. Lead to, tender, treat.

gifts
δῶρα (dōra)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural
Strong's 1435: A gift, present. A present; specially, a sacrifice.

according to
κατὰ (kata)
Preposition
Strong's 2596: A primary particle; down, in varied relations (genitive, dative or accusative) with which it is joined).

[the] Law.
νόμον (nomon)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3551: From a primary nemo; law, genitive case, specially, (including the volume); also of the Gospel), or figuratively.


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NT Letters: Hebrews 8:4 For if he were on earth he (Heb. He. Hb)
Hebrews 8:3
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