Hebrews 8:9 kjv

Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.

Hebrews 8:9 nkjv

not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they did not continue in My covenant, and I disregarded them, says the LORD.

Hebrews 8:9 niv

It will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they did not remain faithful to my covenant, and I turned away from them, declares the Lord.

Hebrews 8:9 esv

not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt. For they did not continue in my covenant, and so I showed no concern for them, declares the Lord.

Hebrews 8:9 nlt

This covenant will not be like the one
I made with their ancestors
when I took them by the hand
and led them out of the land of Egypt.
They did not remain faithful to my covenant,
so I turned my back on them, says the LORD.

Hebrews 8 verses

Hebrews 8 9 Meaning

Hebrews 8:9, quoting Jeremiah 31:32, contrasts the new covenant with the old Mosaic covenant. It asserts that the old covenant, given at the time Israel was delivered from Egypt, was not truly lasting because the people themselves failed to remain faithful to its terms. As a result, God, in His justice, ceased to uphold His specific covenant relationship and intervention on their behalf. This verse highlights the fundamental reason the Old Covenant was insufficient: it depended on human obedience, which failed.

Hebrews 8 9 Context

Hebrews chapter 8 introduces the superiority of Christ's priesthood and the covenant He mediates. After establishing that Christ serves in a heavenly tabernacle (Heb 8:1-5) and has obtained a more excellent ministry (Heb 8:6), the author introduces the concept of a "better covenant." He explains this by quoting at length from Jeremiah 31:31-34. Verse 9 is part of this quotation, detailing the inadequacy of the first covenant not because it was inherently flawed in design from God's side, but because the people, referred to as "their fathers," failed to uphold their part. This sets up the logical progression that if the first covenant were "faultless" (Heb 8:7) in producing righteous obedience, a second covenant would not have been necessary. Historically, the audience consisted of Jewish Christians facing persecution, tempted to revert to the familiar practices of the old Mosaic system, temple worship, and rituals. The author highlights that those systems were incomplete and ultimately obsolete, having been superseded by the perfect work of Christ under the new covenant.

Hebrews 8 9 Word analysis

• not according to the covenant: The Greek phrase "οὐ κατὰ τὴν διαθήκην" (ou kata tēn diathēkēn) explicitly states a dissimilarity or contrast. It signifies that the new covenant will operate on fundamentally different principles and possess greater efficacy compared to the first. The first covenant was external, dependent on human adherence, while the new one is internal, based on God's work in the heart.
• that I made with their fathers: This highlights God's initiative in establishing the original covenant at Sinai, revealing His faithful and benevolent character. "Fathers" refers to the Israelites who left Egypt, a generation with whom God uniquely established this direct relationship.
• on the day when I took them by the hand: The Greek "ἐν ἡμέρᾳ ἐπιλαβομένου μου τῆς χειρὸς αὐτῶν" (en hēmerā epilabomenou mou tēs cheiros autōn) depicts a tender, parental, and protective gesture. It evokes imagery of God guiding Israel like a parent guides a child or a shepherd his flock, signifying intimate care, deliverance, and leadership from bondage. This powerful metaphor emphasizes the compassionate manner in which God initiated His relationship with them.
• to lead them out of the land of Egypt: This phrase unequivocally anchors the covenant's origin to the historical Exodus, the foundational redemptive act in Israel's history, symbolizing God's power to deliver and His claim over them.
• because they continued not in my covenant: The Greek "ὅτι αὐτοὶ οὐκ ἐνέμειναν ἐν τῇ διαθήκῃ μου" (hoti autoi ouk enemeinan en tē diathēkē mou) attributes the failure directly to the people. "Enemeinan" (from enemeno) means "to abide in, to persist in, to remain true to." This highlights a sustained and willful failure on their part to adhere to their side of the covenant terms. The emphasis is on the ongoing, habitual unfaithfulness of Israel.
• and I regarded them not: The Greek "κἀγὼ ἠμέλησα αὐτῶν" (kagō ēmelēsa autōn) signifies God's consequential response to Israel's unfaithfulness. "Ēmelēsa" (from ameleo) implies "to neglect, to disregard, to pay no attention to, to treat as unimportant, to cease to care for." This is not an act of indifference, but rather a just divine judgment where God withdraws His active and special intervention or protection, allowing them to experience the stipulated consequences of breaking the covenant. It signifies the relational breach from God's side as a direct response to their consistent breach. Some scholarly views interpret this as God "turned His back" or "disregarded their pleas," as promised for disobedience.
• saith the Lord: This declaration, "λέγει Κύριος" (legei Kyrios), acts as an emphatic authentication, underscoring that the entire statement comes with divine authority from God Himself through the prophet Jeremiah.

Hebrews 8 9 Bonus section

The concept of "fault" mentioned in Hebrews 8:7 ("For if that first covenant had been faultless...") is crucial for understanding verse 9. The "fault" was not in God's perfect law or covenant design itself, which was holy, righteous, and good (Rom 7:12). Instead, the fault lay in humanity's inherent inability to fully obey that law due to their sinful nature. Thus, the Old Covenant exposed sin but could not empower overcome it. This necessitated a better covenant—one that addresses the heart of the problem (sinful human nature) through inward transformation. The first covenant established a clear moral standard and revealed the depths of human sin; the second provides the means for genuine reconciliation and spiritual regeneration.

Hebrews 8 9 Commentary

Hebrews 8:9 powerfully articulates why a "new covenant" (v. 8) was not just preferable but divinely necessary. The "first" (Mosaic) covenant, while good and given by God, could not produce a people who fully and consistently adhered to its stipulations. The problem was not with God's perfect law, nor with His gracious initiative in leading Israel out of Egypt, symbolized by His tender "taking them by the hand." Instead, the fundamental issue lay with the human heart, as highlighted by "they continued not in my covenant." This persistent human failure led to God's response: "I regarded them not," indicating a cessation of His special protection and favor in response to their disobedience. This demonstrates that the Law was powerless to change the rebellious human will, necessitating a covenant written on the heart by God's Spirit. The inadequacy of the Old Covenant paves the way for the superiority of the New, established on the perfect, once-for-all sacrifice of Christ, enabling inner transformation and a lasting relationship with God that was not achievable under the former system.