Hebrews 8:7 kjv

For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.

Hebrews 8:7 nkjv

For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second.

Hebrews 8:7 niv

For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another.

Hebrews 8:7 esv

For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion to look for a second.

Hebrews 8:7 nlt

If the first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no need for a second covenant to replace it.

Hebrews 8 verses

Hebrews 8 7 Meaning

This verse states a crucial logical premise: if the Mosaic Covenant, referred to as "that first covenant," had been perfect or without flaw in fulfilling God's ultimate redemptive purposes, there would have been no need or divine impulse to establish "a second." The clear implication is that the first covenant indeed had inherent limitations, which necessitated the New Covenant in Christ.

Hebrews 8 7 Context

Hebrews 8:7 serves as a crucial theological turning point within the Epistle to the Hebrews. Immediately preceding it, the author has declared that Jesus ministers a "better covenant, founded on better promises" (Heb 8:6). This verse then provides the logical necessity for such a superior covenant: the "first covenant"—the Mosaic Covenant, including the Law, sacrificial system, and Levitical priesthood—was not without fault or, more precisely, was incomplete in achieving humanity's full reconciliation with God. The immediate chapter then continues to explain this "new covenant" by quoting at length from Jeremiah 31:31-34, emphasizing its inward, spiritual nature and comprehensive forgiveness.

Historically, the book of Hebrews was addressed to Jewish believers likely facing persecution or temptation to revert to the comforting familiarity of Old Testament rituals and temple worship. The author meticulously argues for the ultimate supremacy of Jesus Christ and His new covenant work over every aspect of the old dispensation. The concept of the old covenant's "fault" or provisional nature was vital for the audience to grasp the definitive and complete nature of Christ's salvation and priesthood, assuring them that moving beyond the Mosaic system was not an abandonment of God's truth but a progression to its intended fulfillment.

Hebrews 8 7 Word analysis

• For (γάρ - gar): This conjunction introduces a causal explanation or a logical reason for the preceding statement (Heb 8:6), justifying why a "better covenant" and a superior ministry were necessary.
• if (εἰ - ei): This conditional particle introduces a factual condition, assuming the negative. The statement implies the actual truth that the first covenant was not faultless. It's an "if-as-is-the-case" construction.
• that first (ἡ πρώτη - hē prōtē): Refers specifically to the Mosaic Covenant, God's agreement with Israel established through Moses at Sinai, encompassing the Law, tabernacle worship, and the Levitical priesthood. The definite article highlights its specific identity.
• covenant (διαθήκη - diathēkē): More than a mere contract, diathēkē implies a divine disposition, an arrangement or will ordained by a superior party. Here, it refers to God's established order and promises to His people.
• had been (ἦν - ēn): The imperfect tense of "to be" denotes a continuous or inherent state in the past. It speaks to the intrinsic nature of the first covenant.
• faultless (ἄμεμπτος - amemptos): Meaning "without blemish," "blameless," "irreproachable," or "perfect." The author does not suggest the Law was morally bad, but rather that it was incomplete or ineffective in bringing about full, eternal perfection in the worshiper or in fully dealing with sin (Heb 7:19; 10:1-4). Its "fault" was its inability to give spiritual life, perfectly cleanse the conscience, or provide complete access to God.
• then (οὐκ ἄν - ouk an): A particle combination that sets up the negative logical consequence or the non-existence of a potential outcome in a conditional sentence.
• no place (οὐδεμία χώρα - oudemia chōra): Literally "no space" or "no region." Figuratively, it means "no opportunity," "no reason," "no basis," or "no need." There would be absolutely no justification for what followed.
• would have been sought (ἐζητεῖτο - ezēteito): The imperfect passive of zēteō ("to seek," "to desire," "to demand"). The passive voice indicates that the "seeking" was not human whim, but divinely initiated or necessitated, as if God Himself was looking for or requiring a better covenant due to the first's limitations. It implies a providential divine movement.
• for a second (δευτέρας - deuteras): Implies "a second covenant," understood implicitly from the context. This refers directly to the New Covenant established by Jesus Christ.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "For if that first covenant had been faultless": This conditional clause establishes the premise of the argument. It refers to the Old Testament Mosaic Law and its related institutions. The key assertion is that this "first covenant" was not "faultless" in the sense of being adequate or complete for mankind's ultimate redemption and reconciliation with God. Its inability stemmed from its outward nature, its reliance on imperfect human agents (Levitical priests), and its temporary rituals (animal sacrifices) that could only atone temporarily, never truly remove sin or perfect the conscience.
• "then no place would have been sought for a second": This presents the logical consequence of the stated premise. The existence and institution of the "second" (New) Covenant is presented as undeniable evidence that the "first" was, by definition, not faultless. The phrase "no place would have been sought" emphasizes that there would have been no need, reason, or divine impetus to introduce something new if the original arrangement were fully effective. This powerfully asserts the Old Covenant's obsolescence in light of Christ's superior work.

Hebrews 8 7 Bonus section

• The argument in this verse is not against the integrity or divine origin of the Mosaic Law, but against its sufficiency to bring about full salvation and spiritual perfection. God intended the first covenant to be temporary, pointing towards the lasting reality of Christ.
• This verse undergirds the concept of progressive revelation in God's dealing with humanity, where His plan unfolds over time, leading to its ultimate and complete manifestation in Jesus Christ.
• The phrase "sought for" implies a divine initiative. It was God's plan from the beginning to supersede the temporary shadows of the Old Covenant with the eternal substance of the New through His Son. This provides assurance that the New Covenant is not a human invention but God's intended fulfillment.

Hebrews 8 7 Commentary

Hebrews 8:7 functions as a linchpin in the Epistle's central argument: the definitive superiority of the New Covenant in Jesus Christ over the Old Covenant of Moses. The author employs a reductio ad absurdum argument: if the old covenant was truly perfect or entirely effective for eternal salvation, then God would have had no reason to introduce a new one. The very fact that God initiated a "second" covenant is presented as irrefutable proof of the first's inherent, albeit divinely purposed, limitations.

These "faults" were not moral blemishes in God's Law, for the Law is holy and good (Rom 7:12), but rather an inherent inadequacy in its ability to permanently perfect the worshiper, provide full forgiveness for sins, or grant direct, lasting access to God's presence. The old covenant provided types and shadows, revealing sin and guiding humanity towards Christ, but it could not actually bring spiritual life or eternal redemption (Heb 7:18-19, Gal 3:21). It served as a preparatory, provisional dispensation, leading up to the complete and perfect work of Christ (Gal 3:24). Thus, the "seeking" for a second covenant speaks to a divine necessity for progress in God's redemptive plan, fully realized in Jesus, who established a covenant grounded in better promises and sealed by His own perfect sacrifice.