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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comRobertson Word Pictures - Hebrews 8:6 - 8:6
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
But now (nun de). Logical use of nun, as the case now stands, with Jesus as high priest in heaven.
Hath he obtained (tetuchen). Perfect active indicative of tugchanō with the genitive, a rare and late form for teteuchen (also teteuchēken), old verb to hit the mark, to attain.
A ministry the more excellent (diaphorōteras leitourgias). “A more excellent ministry.” For the comparative of diaphoros see Heb 1:4. This remark applies to all the five points of superiority over the Levitical priesthood.
By how much (hosōi). Instrumental case of the relative hosos between two comparative adjectives as in Heb 1:4.
The mediator (mesitēs). Late word from mesos (amid) and so a middle man (arbitrator). Already in Gal 3:19. and see 1Ti 2:5. See Heb 9:15; Heb 12:24 for further use with diathēkē.
Of a better covenant (kreittonos diathēkēs). Called “new” (kainēs, neas in Heb 9:15; Heb 12:24). For diathēkē see Mat 26:28; Luk 1:72; Gal 3:17, etc. This idea he will discuss in Heb 8:7-13.
Hath been enacted (nenomothetētai). Perfect passive indicative of nomotheteō as in Heb 7:11 which see.
Upon better promises (epi kreittosin epaggeliais). Upon the basis of (epi). But how “better” if the earlier were also from God? This idea, alluded to in Heb 6:12-17, Will be developed in 10:19-12:3 with great passion and power. Thus it is seen that “better” (kreissōn) is the keynote of the Epistle. At every point Christianity is better than Judaism.