Source Scripture
Read the passage first. Study notes begin after the Scripture.
Hebrews 8:6-13
6But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.
7For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.
8For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:
9Not 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.
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 write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
11And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
12For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
13In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.
Question in context
Hebrews 8 names the better covenant, says fault was found with the people, and quotes the promise that YAHUAH will write His laws in minds and hearts. The vanishing old covenant administration must not be interpreted as the removal of what the new-covenant promise internalizes.
What the passage itself says
- The covenant is better because it is established on better promises, not because righteousness is replaced by lawlessness.
- Verse 8 locates the fault with the people before quoting Jeremiah's new-covenant promise.
- The quoted promise places YAHUAH's laws within the people, which directly controls how the old and new covenant language should be compared.
Immediate and confirming witnesses
Read these passages with the source Scripture to follow the immediate and confirming context.
- Immediate explanation: Hebrews 8:8-10
The better covenant is immediately defined by YAHUAH placing His laws in minds and writing them on hearts. - Lexical usage: Hebrews 7:22
The same writing calls YAHUSHA the surety of a better covenant because of His superior priesthood. - Prophetic purpose: Jeremiah 31:31-33
The prophetic covenant promise specifically renews the relationship by internalizing YAHUAH's law. - Apostolic confirmation: 2 Corinthians 3:3,6
Paul confirms that the Spirit writes upon hearts and ministers the renewed covenant. - Immediate explanation: Hebrews 8:8
The next verse explicitly says fault was found with the people, not that YAHUAH's righteous law was defective. - Lexical usage: Romans 8:3
Paul similarly says the law was weak through the flesh, locating failure in sinful humanity. - Prophetic purpose: Jeremiah 31:31-33
The promised remedy is YAHUAH's law written within a renewed people. - Apostolic confirmation: 2 Corinthians 3:3,6
Paul confirms that the Spirit changes the writing surface from stone to human hearts. - Immediate explanation: Hebrews 8:8-12
The vanishing covenant administration is replaced by one that writes YAHUAH's laws inwardly and forgives sin. - Lexical usage: 2 Corinthians 3:11
Paul likewise contrasts a fading administration with a more glorious enduring ministry.
Related Words in Context
Continue with these related Scripture studies.
- Hebrews 8:6: The Better Covenant Has Better Promises, Not Lawlessness
The better covenant has better promises and writes the law inwardly, not lawlessness. - Hebrews 8:7: The Fault Was With the People
The fault was with covenant-breaking people, not with YAHUAH's law. - Hebrews 8:13: Old Covenant Vanishing Does Not Erase the Law Written Within
The old covenant administration was vanishing, but the renewed covenant writes YAHUAH's law on the heart.