Hebrews 8:9
What does Hebrews 8:9 mean?
A plain-English look at Hebrews 8:9 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Hebrews 8:9 means
The new covenant will not be like the one made when God led Israel out of Egypt. That earlier covenant was broken—“they continued not in my covenant”—and thus God “regarded them not.” The Sinai arrangement exposed the people’s stubbornness but could not change their hearts. The problem was not with God’s commands but with human inability. Therefore, the new covenant must differ in kind, not merely in degree. It will be structured to overcome the breach, not only to diagnose it. By recalling the Exodus covenant and Israel’s failure, the verse underscores our need for a divinely effected renewal.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers In the day that I took them by the hand to lead them forth out of the land of Egypt; For they continued not in my covenant, And I regarded them not, saith the Lord.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Not 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.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers In the day that I took them by the hand to lead them forth out of the land of Egypt; For they continued not in my covenant, And I regarded them not, saith the Lord.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Not like the agreement which I made with their fathers when I took them by the hand, to be their guide out of the land of Egypt; for they did not keep the agreement with me, and I gave them up, says the Lord.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers, in the day of My taking <FI>them<Fi> by their hand, to bring them out of the land of Egypt--because they did not remain in My covenant, and I did not regard them, saith the Lord, --
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Not according to the testament which I made to their fathers, on the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt: because they continued not in my testament: and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890not according to the covenant which I made to their fathers in [the] day of my taking their hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they did not continue in my covenant, and I did not regard them, saith [the] Lord.
Context
Continuing Jeremiah’s prophecy, the author contrasts the new covenant with the Mosaic one. The old was real and God-given, yet it was broken by the people. Verse 10 will now describe the heart of the new arrangement: God’s law internalized and the covenant relationship affirmed. This flow shows that the new covenant addresses the very weakness of the old—external commands met by hard hearts—by promising inward change and a secure bond between God and His people. The reader learns to look for transformation from within rather than reliance on external forms.
v.8For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, That I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah;
v.9This passage
v.10For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel After those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, And on their heart also will I write them: And I will be to them a God, And they shall be to me a people:
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Judges 10:13
Yet ye have forsaken me, and served other gods: wherefore I will save you no more.
- Deuteronomy 29:25
Then men shall say, Because they forsook the covenant of Jehovah, the God of their fathers, which he made with them when he brought them forth out of the land of Egypt,
- Psalms 105:43
And he brought forth his people with joy, Andhis chosen with singing.
- Exodus 19:4
Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto myself.
- Isaiah 63:11
Then he remembered the days of old, Mosesandhis people, saying, Where is he that brought them up out of the sea with the shepherds of his flock? where is he that put his holy Spirit in the midst of them?
- Job 8:20
Behold, God will not cast away a perfect man, Neither will he uphold the evil-doers.
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