1
Κεφάλαιον δὲ ἐπὶ τοῖς λεγομένοις, τοιοῦτον ἔχομεν ἀρχιερέα, ὃς ἐκάθισεν ἐν δεξιᾷ τοῦ θρόνου τῆς μεγαλωσύνης ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς,
Now the main point of what is being said is this: we have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens,
Summary / thesisδέThe author signals the climactic point (κεφάλαιον) of the whole high-priestly argument: our high priest is enthroned at God's right hand — a priest who is also seated King.
Κεφάλαιονmain pointNominativenominative (predicate / heading)κεφάλαιον: 'chief point, sum' (from κεφαλή, 'head'); the crowning or summarizing matter — not 'summary' in the sense of recap but the capstone of the argument.
δὲnowtransitional conjunction
ἐπὶupon / inpreposition + dative (reference)
τοῖςthe thingsDativearticle (substantizes ptc.)
λεγομένοιςbeing saidPres Pass Ptc · Dat Pl Neut · λέγωsubstantival participle (object of ἐπί)→ present (ongoing)λέγω: 'say, speak'; the neuter plural participle = 'the things being said,' i.e. the foregoing argument of chs. 5–7.
τοιοῦτονsuchAccusativedemonstrative adjective (anticipatory)τοιοῦτος: 'of such a kind'; here forward-pointing — 'a high priest of this very kind,' anticipating the ὅς-clause.
ἔχομενwe havePres Act Indic 1 Pl · ἔχωmain verb→ stative present (present possession)ἔχω: 'have, hold'; the present possession of such a high priest is the pastoral force of the whole letter (cf. 4:14; 10:21).
ἀρχιερέαhigh priestAccusativedirect objectἀρχιερεύς: 'high priest, chief priest' (ἀρχι- + ἱερεύς); the central christological title of Hebrews.
ὃςwhoNominativerelative pronoun (subject of ἐκάθισεν)
ἐκάθισενsat downAor Act Indic 3 Sg · καθίζωmain verb (rel. clause)→ constative aoristκαθίζω: 'sit down, be seated'; the seated posture (unlike the standing Levites, 10:11) signals a finished work — an allusion to Psalm 110:1.
ἐνatpreposition + dative (place)
δεξιᾷright handDativedat. of place (locative)δεξιά: '(the) right hand/side'; the place of honor and royal authority — the Psalm-110 enthronement at God's right.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle
θρόνουthroneGenitivegenitive (of the throne — possession/relation)θρόνος: 'throne'; the seat of divine sovereignty beside which the Son is seated.
τῆςof theGenitivearticle
μεγαλωσύνηςMajestyGenitiveattributive genitive (reverential periphrasis for God)μεγαλωσύνη: 'majesty, greatness'; a reverent circumlocution for God himself (cf. 1:3), avoiding the divine name.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (place)
τοῖςtheDativearticle
οὐρανοῖςheavensDativedat. of placeοὐρανός: 'heaven'; the plural locates the throne in the heavenly realm, the true sphere of Christ's ministry.
2
τῶν ἁγίων λειτουργὸς καὶ τῆς σκηνῆς τῆς ἀληθινῆς, ἣν ἔπηξεν ὁ κύριος, οὐκ ἄνθρωπος.
a minister of the holy places and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, not man.
Apposition / further descriptionasyndetonIn apposition to the enthroned high priest: he serves in the real, heaven-built sanctuary — the original of which the earthly tent is only a copy.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle
ἁγίωνholy placesGenitiveobjective genitive (sphere of ministry)ἅγια (neut. pl.): 'the holy things / holy places, sanctuary'; the heavenly counterpart of the tabernacle's sacred precincts.
λειτουργὸςministerNominativenominative in apposition to the subject of v.1λειτουργός: 'minister, public servant'; in cultic contexts the officiating priest who renders λειτουργία (sacred service).
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
τῆςof theGenitivearticle
σκηνῆςtabernacleGenitiveobjective genitive (parallel to τῶν ἁγίων)σκηνή: 'tent, tabernacle'; the dwelling/sanctuary — here the heavenly true tent, not the wilderness shrine.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle
ἀληθινῆςtrueGenitiveattributive adjectiveἀληθινός: 'true, genuine, real' (as opposed to a copy); the authentic original of which the earthly is the shadow.
ἣνwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἔπηξεν)
ἔπηξενpitched / set upAor Act Indic 3 Sg · πήγνυμιmain verb (rel. clause)→ constative aoristπήγνυμι: 'fix, fasten, pitch (a tent)'; the proper verb for erecting a tabernacle (cf. LXX Exod 33:7), here ascribed to the Lord.
ὁtheNominativearticle
κύριοςLordNominativesubject of ἔπηξενκύριος: 'Lord'; here God himself as the builder of the true sanctuary — the divine architect, not Moses or any artisan.
οὐκnotnegative particle
ἄνθρωποςmanNominativenominative (negated alternative subject)ἄνθρωπος: 'human being, man'; the antithesis underscores the divine, non-handmade origin of the heavenly tent (cf. 9:11, 24).
3
Πᾶς γὰρ ἀρχιερεὺς εἰς τὸ προσφέρειν δῶρά τε καὶ θυσίας καθίσταται· ὅθεν ἀναγκαῖον ἔχειν τι καὶ τοῦτον ὃ προσενέγκῃ.
For every high priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices; hence it is necessary that this one also have something to offer.
Ground / inferenceγάρA grounding principle (every priest must have something to offer) yields an inference (ὅθεν): this high priest too must have an offering — preparing for the 'better sacrifice' developed in ch. 9.
ΠᾶςeveryNominativeattributive adjectiveπᾶς: 'every, all'; the universal premise about the priestly office.
γὰρforexplanatory conjunction
ἀρχιερεὺςhigh priestNominativesubjectἀρχιερεύς: 'high priest'; here generically of the office, the major premise for the inference about Christ.
εἰςforpreposition + accusative (purpose)
τὸtheAccusativearticle (substantizes inf.)
προσφέρεινto offerPres Act Inf · προσφέρωarticular infinitive of purpose→ present (characteristic activity)προσφέρω: 'bring to, present, offer' (πρός + φέρω); the technical verb for presenting sacrifices at the altar.
δῶράgiftsAccusativedirect object of προσφέρεινδῶρον: 'gift, offering'; the general term for offerings presented to God.
τεbothcorrelative particle (τε … καί)
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
θυσίαςsacrificesAccusativedirect object (coordinate)θυσία: 'sacrifice, slain offering'; specifically blood-offerings, paired with δῶρα to cover the whole cultic round.
καθίσταταιis appointedPres Pass Indic 3 Sg · καθίστημιmain verb→ gnomic presentκαθίστημι: 'appoint, constitute, set in office'; the passive denotes the divine institution of the priestly office (cf. 5:1; 7:28).
ὅθενhenceinferential adverb (consequence)ὅθεν: 'whence, from which, therefore'; a favorite Hebrews connective drawing a consequence (cf. 2:17; 7:25).
ἀναγκαῖονnecessaryNominativepredicate adjective (impersonal, w/ implied ἐστιν)ἀναγκαῖος: 'necessary, indispensable'; the logical necessity following from the universal premise.
ἔχεινto havePres Act Inf · ἔχωinfinitive (subject of ἀναγκαῖον)→ present (state)ἔχω: 'have, possess'; the necessity is that this priest possess something to present.
τιsomethingAccusativeindefinite pronoun (object of ἔχειν)τις: 'someone, something'; the indefinite leaves the offering unnamed here, anticipating Christ's self-offering (9:14).
καὶalsoadverbial/ascensive conjunction
τοῦτονthis oneAccusativedemonstrative (accusative subject of ἔχειν)οὗτος: 'this'; the accusative subject of the infinitive — 'that this one also have.'
ὃwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of προσενέγκῃ)
προσενέγκῃhe might offerAor Act Subj 3 Sg · προσφέρωsubjunctive (relative clause of purpose)→ constative aoristπροσφέρω: 'offer, present'; the aorist subjunctive in a final relative clause — 'something which he may offer.'
4
εἰ μὲν οὖν ἦν ἐπὶ γῆς, οὐδ' ἂν ἦν ἱερεύς, ὄντων τῶν προσφερόντων κατὰ νόμον τὰ δῶρα·
Now if he were on earth, he would not even be a priest, since there are those who offer the gifts according to the law;
Contrary-to-fact conditionμὲν οὖνA second-class condition locates Christ's priesthood off the earthly stage: earth's altar is already staffed by the Levitical priests, so his ministry must be heavenly. The μέν awaits its δέ in v.6.
εἰifconditional conjunction (2nd-class protasis)εἰ + impf. (with ἄν in apodosis): marks a contrary-to-fact condition — 'if he were [but he is not].'
μὲνindeedparticle (μέν … δέ, answered in v.6)
οὖνnow / theninferential/transitional conjunction
ἦνhe wereImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (protasis)→ contrary-to-fact imperfectεἰμί: 'be'; the imperfect in the protasis signals the unreal supposition.
ἐπὶonpreposition + genitive (place)
γῆςearthGenitiveobject of ἐπί (place)γῆ: 'earth, land'; the earthly sphere, contrasted with the heavens of v.1 — Christ's priesthood is not earthbound.
οὐδ'not evennegative adverb (οὐδέ, emphatic)οὐδέ: 'and not, not even'; intensifies the denial — he would not even qualify as a priest on earth.
ἂνwouldmodal particle (apodosis of unreal condition)ἄν: the particle of contingency marking the apodosis as hypothetical/unreal.
ἦνhe would beImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (apodosis)→ contrary-to-fact imperfect
ἱερεύςpriestNominativepredicate nominativeἱερεύς: 'priest'; the general term — on earth the office is filled by Aaron's line, leaving no room for him there.
ὄντωνthere beingPres Act Ptc · Gen Pl Masc · εἰμίgenitive absolute (causal)→ present (concurrent state)εἰμί: 'be'; opens a genitive-absolute clause giving the reason — 'since there are those who…'
τῶνthe onesGenitivearticle (substantizes ptc.)
προσφερόντωνwho offerPres Act Ptc · Gen Pl Masc · προσφέρωsubstantival participle (subject of gen. abs.)→ customary presentπροσφέρω: 'offer, present'; the Levitical priests who continually present the offerings.
κατὰaccording topreposition + accusative (standard/norm)
νόμονlawAccusativeobject of κατά (norm)νόμος: 'law'; the Mosaic legislation that regulates the earthly cult.
τὰtheAccusativearticle
δῶραgiftsAccusativedirect object of προσφερόντωνδῶρον: 'gift, offering'; the prescribed sacrifices of the Levitical system.
5
οἵτινες ὑποδείγματι καὶ σκιᾷ λατρεύουσιν τῶν ἐπουρανίων, καθὼς κεχρημάτισται Μωϋσῆς μέλλων ἐπιτελεῖν τὴν σκηνήν· Ὅρα γάρ φησιν, ποιήσεις πάντα κατὰ τὸν τύπον τὸν δειχθέντα σοι ἐν τῷ ὄρει·
who serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, just as Moses was instructed when about to complete the tabernacle: "See," he says, "that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain."
Relative characterization + Scripture proofοἵτινεςThe earthly priests serve only a 'copy and shadow' of heaven, proven from God's command to Moses (Exod 25:40): the tabernacle was patterned on a heavenly original — so the original ministry is the real one.
οἵτινεςwhoNominativerelative pronoun (qualitative; subject)ὅστις: 'whoever, such as'; the qualitative relative — 'men of the sort who…' characterizing the Levitical priests.
ὑποδείγματιcopyDativedat. of reference / direct object of λατρεύουσινὑπόδειγμα: 'copy, example, sketch, pattern'; here the earthly replica (not the original) of the heavenly sanctuary (cf. 9:23).
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
σκιᾷshadowDativedat. (coordinate with ὑποδείγματι)σκιά: 'shadow'; the insubstantial outline cast by the heavenly reality (cf. 10:1; Col 2:17) — present but not the substance.
λατρεύουσινthey servePres Act Indic 3 Pl · λατρεύωmain verb (rel. clause)→ customary presentλατρεύω: 'serve, worship, render cultic service'; their priestly ministry is directed to (or located in) the copy, not the original.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle
ἐπουρανίωνheavenly thingsGenitivegenitive (the copy and shadow 'of' the heavenly)ἐπουράνιος: 'heavenly, celestial' (ἐπί + οὐρανός); the heavenly realities of which the earthly cult is a mere copy.
καθὼςjust ascomparative conjunction (introduces proof)καθώς: 'just as, according as'; introducing the Scriptural warrant for the copy/original distinction.
κεχρημάτισταιwas instructed / warnedPerf Pass Indic 3 Sg · χρηματίζωmain verb (comparative clause)→ intensive perfect (abiding force of the oracle)χρηματίζω: 'give a divine response/instruction, warn by oracle'; the perfect stresses the standing, still-valid divine directive.
ΜωϋσῆςMosesNominativesubjectΜωϋσῆς: Moses; the mediator who built the tabernacle by divine blueprint.
μέλλωνbeing aboutPres Act Ptc · Nom Sg Masc · μέλλωadverbial ptc. (temporal)→ present (imminent action)μέλλω: 'be about to, intend'; with the infinitive marks the impending act — 'when he was about to.'
ἐπιτελεῖνto completePres Act Inf · ἐπιτελέωcomplementary infinitive (w/ μέλλων)→ present (process)ἐπιτελέω: 'finish, accomplish, erect' (ἐπί + τελέω); to bring the tabernacle fully to completion.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle
σκηνήνtabernacleAccusativedirect object of ἐπιτελεῖνσκηνή: 'tent, tabernacle'; the wilderness shrine Moses constructed.
ὍραseePres Act Impv 2 Sg · ὁράωimperative (citation of Exod 25:40)→ present imperative (attentive command)ὁράω: 'see, take heed'; the divine command opening the quotation — 'see to it that…'
γάρforexplanatory conjunction (introduces citation)
φησινhe saysPres Act Indic 3 Sg · φημίverb of saying (citation formula)→ present (citation)φημί: 'say, declare'; the parenthetical 'he says' marking direct quotation — the subject is God speaking in Scripture.
ποιήσειςyou shall makeFut Act Indic 2 Sg · ποιέωmain verb (imperatival future, citation)→ imperatival futureποιέω: 'make, do'; the future with imperatival force in the LXX command — 'you are to make.'
πάνταeverythingAccusativedirect object of ποιήσειςπᾶς: 'all, everything'; the whole tabernacle and its furnishings, down to the details.
κατὰaccording topreposition + accusative (norm)
τὸνtheAccusativearticle
τύπονpatternAccusativeobject of κατά (norm)τύπος: 'type, model, pattern, blueprint'; the heavenly model shown to Moses — the original to which the copy conforms.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (attributive, w/ ptc.)
δειχθένταshownAor Pass Ptc · Acc Sg Masc · δείκνυμιattributive participle (modifies τύπον)→ constative aoristδείκνυμι: 'show, point out, display'; the pattern was divinely exhibited to Moses, not invented by him.
σοιto youDativedat. of indirect object (w/ δειχθέντα)
ἐνonpreposition + dative (place)
τῷtheDativearticle
ὄρειmountainDativedat. of placeὄρος: 'mountain'; Sinai, where Moses saw the heavenly pattern — the locus of revelation.
6
νυνὶ δὲ διαφορωτέρας τέτυχεν λειτουργίας, ὅσῳ καὶ κρείττονός ἐστιν διαθήκης μεσίτης, ἥτις ἐπὶ κρείττοσιν ἐπαγγελίαις νενομοθέτηται.
But as it is, he has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as he is also the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises.
Contrast (answering the μέν of v.4)νυνὶ δέThe δέ that the μέν of v.4 awaited: as things really stand, Christ's heavenly ministry is more excellent — and the measure of its superiority is the better covenant he mediates. The keyword κρείττων ('better') governs the rest of the letter.
νυνὶbut now / as it isadverb (logical, not temporal)νυνί: 'now'; here logical — 'as the case actually stands,' answering the unreal condition of v.4.
δὲbutadversative conjunction (answers μέν of v.4)
διαφορωτέραςmore excellentGenitivecomparative adjective (attributive)διάφορος (compar. διαφορώτερος): 'differing, superior, more excellent'; cf. 1:4 of the Son's name — surpassing in kind.
τέτυχενhe has obtainedPerf Act Indic 3 Sg · τυγχάνωmain verb→ intensive perfect (abiding possession)τυγχάνω: 'obtain, attain, happen upon'; the perfect marks the secured, enduring result — he has and holds this ministry.
λειτουργίαςministryGenitivegenitive object of τέτυχενλειτουργία: 'ministry, (priestly) service'; the cultic service Christ renders, here as a high priest (cf. λειτουργός, v.2).
ὅσῳby as much asDativedat. of measure/degree (correlative)ὅσος: 'as much as'; the dative of degree of difference — the ministry is superior in the same measure that its covenant is better (cf. 1:4).
καὶalsoadverbial conjunction
κρείττονόςbetterGenitivecomparative adjective (attributive)κρείττων: 'better, superior'; the signature word of Hebrews (a better hope, covenant, promises, sacrifices, country).
ἐστινhe isPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (copula)→ stative present
διαθήκηςcovenantGenitiveobjective genitive (w/ μεσίτης)διαθήκη: 'covenant, testament, disposition'; the LXX rendering of Heb. berit — God's binding arrangement with his people.
μεσίτηςmediatorNominativepredicate nominativeμεσίτης: 'mediator, go-between' (from μέσος, 'middle'); the one who stands between the parties to establish the covenant (cf. 9:15; 12:24).
ἥτιςwhichNominativerelative pronoun (qualitative; subject)ὅστις: 'which (of such a kind)'; the qualitative relative — 'a covenant which, being what it is…'
ἐπὶonpreposition + dative (basis/condition)
κρείττοσινbetterDativecomparative adjective (attributive)κρείττων: 'better'; the new covenant's promises surpass the old in their content (forgiveness, knowledge of God, inner renewal).
ἐπαγγελίαιςpromisesDativeobject of ἐπί (basis on which enacted)ἐπαγγελία: 'promise'; God's pledged blessings — here the better promises that found the new covenant (spelled out in vv.10–12).
νενομοθέτηταιhas been enactedPerf Pass Indic 3 Sg · νομοθετέωmain verb (rel. clause)→ intensive perfect (settled, abiding enactment)νομοθετέω: 'enact as law, legislate, establish by statute' (νόμος + τίθημι); the covenant is legally instituted by God — the perfect marks its standing validity.
7
Εἰ γὰρ ἡ πρώτη ἐκείνη ἦν ἄμεμπτος, οὐκ ἂν δευτέρας ἐζητεῖτο τόπος.
For if that first covenant had been faultless, no place would have been sought for a second.
Ground (contrary-to-fact condition)γάρA second-class condition grounds the need for a better covenant: had the first been faultless, no second would have been sought. The very search (proved by Jeremiah) exposes the first covenant's inadequacy.
Εἰifconditional conjunction (2nd-class protasis)εἰ + impf. (with ἄν in apodosis): a contrary-to-fact condition — 'if it had been [but it was not].'
γὰρforexplanatory conjunction
ἡtheNominativearticle
πρώτηfirstNominativeattributive adjective (subject; διαθήκη implied)πρῶτος: 'first, former'; the first covenant (the Sinai/Mosaic arrangement), with διαθήκη understood from v.6.
ἐκείνηthatNominativedemonstrative adjective (anaphoric)ἐκεῖνος: 'that (one)'; the remote demonstrative distances the old covenant — 'that former one.'
ἦνhad beenImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (protasis)→ contrary-to-fact imperfect
ἄμεμπτοςfaultlessNominativepredicate adjectiveἄμεμπτος: 'blameless, without fault' (ἀ- + μέμφομαι); the old covenant was not 'faulty' in itself but inadequate — hence v.8's 'finding fault.'
οὐκnotnegative particle
ἂνwouldmodal particle (apodosis of unreal condition)
δευτέραςfor a secondGenitiveattributive genitive (a second one's place)δεύτερος: 'second'; a second covenant — its very being sought presupposes the first's insufficiency.
ἐζητεῖτοwould have been soughtImpf Pass Indic 3 Sg · ζητέωmain verb (apodosis)→ contrary-to-fact imperfectζητέω: 'seek, look for'; the passive — a place 'was being sought' for a replacement, which would be pointless if the first sufficed.
τόποςplace / occasionNominativesubject of ἐζητεῖτοτόπος: 'place'; here figuratively 'room, occasion, opportunity' — no occasion for a second covenant would have arisen.
8
μεμφόμενος γὰρ αὐτοὺς λέγει· Ἰδοὺ ἡμέραι ἔρχονται, λέγει κύριος, καὶ συντελέσω ἐπὶ τὸν οἶκον Ἰσραὴλ καὶ ἐπὶ τὸν οἶκον Ἰούδα διαθήκην καινήν,
For finding fault with them he says: "Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will conclude a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah,
Scripture proof (Jeremiah 31:31)γάρThe proof of the first covenant's inadequacy: God 'finds fault' and through Jeremiah (31:31–34, the longest OT citation in the NT) announces a covenant 'new' in kind with Israel and Judah.
μεμφόμενοςfinding fault withPres Mid Ptc · Nom Sg Masc · μέμφομαιadverbial ptc. (temporal/causal)→ present (concurrent)μέμφομαι: 'blame, find fault with'; cognate with ἄμεμπτος (v.7) — the fault, with the accusative αὐτούς, lies with the people, not the covenant per se.
γὰρforexplanatory conjunction
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativedirect object of μεμφόμενοςαὐτός: 'he, them'; the accusative reading directs the fault-finding at the people ('finding fault with them').
λέγειhe saysPres Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (citation formula)→ present (citation)λέγω: 'say'; God is the speaker of the Scripture — the present tense treats the prophetic word as a living utterance.
Ἰδοὺbeholddemonstrative particle (attention-getter)ἰδού: 'behold, look'; an interjection (frozen aor. impv. of ὁράω) summoning attention to the prophetic announcement.
ἡμέραιdaysNominativesubject of ἔρχονταιἡμέρα: 'day'; 'days are coming' is a prophetic formula introducing eschatological fulfillment.
ἔρχονταιare comingPres Mid Indic 3 Pl · ἔρχομαιmain verb (citation)→ futuristic presentἔρχομαι: 'come'; the vivid present for certain future arrival — the new-covenant era is on its way.
λέγειsaysPres Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωverb of saying (prophetic refrain)→ present (citation)λέγω: 'say'; the recurring 'says the Lord' (LXX for Heb. neʾum YHWH) stamps the oracle with divine authority.
κύριοςthe LordNominativesubject of λέγεικύριος: 'Lord'; the LXX rendering of the divine name YHWH — God himself as the covenant-maker.
καὶand / whencoordinating conjunction (consecutive)
συντελέσωI will conclude / consummateFut Act Indic 1 Sg · συντελέωmain verb (citation)→ predictive futureσυντελέω: 'complete, bring to fulfillment, conclude (a covenant)' (σύν + τελέω); the LXX verb here, stronger than mere 'make' — God will bring the covenant to its full realization.
ἐπὶwithpreposition + accusative (the covenant partners)
τὸνtheAccusativearticle
οἶκονhouseAccusativeobject of ἐπίοἶκος: 'house, household'; idiom for a people/dynasty — 'the house of Israel' = the covenant nation.
Ἰσραὴλof IsraelGenitivegenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Ἰσραήλ: Israel; the northern kingdom / covenant people, here paired with Judah for the whole nation reunited under the new covenant.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ἐπὶwithpreposition + accusative
τὸνtheAccusativearticle
οἶκονhouseAccusativeobject of ἐπί (coordinate)
Ἰούδαof JudahGenitivegenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Ἰούδας: Judah; the southern kingdom — Israel and Judah together signify the reunified people of God.
διαθήκηνcovenantAccusativedirect object of συντελέσωδιαθήκη: 'covenant'; the object God will bring to fulfillment — the long-promised new arrangement.
καινήνnewAccusativeattributive adjectiveκαινός: 'new (in kind/quality)' as opposed to νέος ('new in time'); the covenant is qualitatively different — the word that grounds v.13's argument.
9
οὐ κατὰ τὴν διαθήκην ἣν ἐποίησα τοῖς πατράσιν αὐτῶν ἐν ἡμέρᾳ ἐπιλαβομένου μου τῆς χειρὸς αὐτῶν ἐξαγαγεῖν αὐτοὺς ἐκ γῆς Αἰγύπτου, ὅτι αὐτοὶ οὐκ ἐνέμειναν ἐν τῇ διαθήκῃ μου, κἀγὼ ἠμέλησα αὐτῶν, λέγει κύριος·
not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; for they did not continue in my covenant, and I disregarded them, says the Lord.
Citation continued (contrast with old covenant)asyndetonThe new covenant is expressly unlike the Sinai covenant the fathers broke. The clause 'they did not continue… and I disregarded them' locates the failure in the people — the very fault of v.8.
οὐnotnegative particle
κατὰlike / according topreposition + accusative (standard/likeness)
τὴνtheAccusativearticle
διαθήκηνcovenantAccusativeobject of κατάδιαθήκη: 'covenant'; the Sinai covenant, set in pointed contrast to the new.
ἣνwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἐποίησα)
ἐποίησαI madeAor Act Indic 1 Sg · ποιέωmain verb (rel. clause)→ constative aoristποιέω: 'make'; here 'make a covenant' (a Semitic idiom rendering Heb. karat berit, 'cut a covenant').
τοῖςwith theDativearticle
πατράσινfathersDativedat. of association (covenant partners)πατήρ: 'father'; the exodus generation, the first parties to the Sinai covenant.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of relationship
ἐνonpreposition + dative (time)
ἡμέρᾳthe dayDativedat. of timeἡμέρα: 'day'; 'in the day when' = the time of the exodus deliverance.
ἐπιλαβομένουtook holdAor Mid Ptc · Gen Sg Masc · ἐπιλαμβάνομαιgenitive absolute (temporal)→ constative aoristἐπιλαμβάνομαι: 'take hold of, grasp' (mid.); the tender image of God grasping Israel's hand to lead them out — a gen. abs. with μου.
μουI / myGenitivegenitive (subject of gen. abs.)
τῆςtheGenitivearticle
χειρὸςhandGenitivegenitive object of ἐπιλαβομένουχείρ: 'hand'; the verb of grasping takes a genitive — 'took hold of their hand.'
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession
ἐξαγαγεῖνto lead outAor Act Inf · ἐξάγωinfinitive of purpose→ constative aoristἐξάγω: 'lead out, bring out' (ἐκ + ἄγω); the exodus verb — God's purpose in taking their hand was deliverance.
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativedirect object of ἐξαγαγεῖν
ἐκout ofpreposition + genitive (separation)
γῆςthe landGenitiveobject of ἐκγῆ: 'land'; 'land of Egypt,' the place of bondage.
Αἰγύπτουof EgyptGenitivegenitive of apposition/identityΑἴγυπτος: Egypt; the house of slavery from which the old covenant's people were redeemed.
ὅτιbecausecausal conjunction
αὐτοὶtheyNominativesubject (emphatic pronoun)αὐτός: 'they (themselves)'; emphatic — the failure was theirs, underscoring the human fault of v.8.
οὐκnotnegative particle
ἐνέμεινανthey continuedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἐμμένωmain verb (causal clause)→ constative aoristἐμμένω: 'remain in, abide by, persevere' (ἐν + μένω); to stay faithful within the covenant's terms — which they did not.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (sphere)
τῇtheDativearticle
διαθήκῃcovenantDativeobject of ἐν (sphere)διαθήκη: 'covenant'; the covenant-bond they failed to keep.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession
κἀγὼand INominativesubject (crasis καί + ἐγώ, emphatic)κἀγώ: crasis of καὶ ἐγώ, 'and I'; God's response answering the people's unfaithfulness.
ἠμέλησαI disregardedAor Act Indic 1 Sg · ἀμελέωmain verb→ constative aoristἀμελέω: 'neglect, disregard, care nothing for' (ἀ- + μέλω); God's withdrawal of regard in response to covenant-breaking (LXX of Jer 31:32).
αὐτῶνthemGenitivegenitive object of ἠμέλησα
λέγειsaysPres Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωverb of saying (prophetic refrain)→ present (citation)λέγω: 'say'; the recurring 'says the Lord' closing this strophe of the oracle.
κύριοςthe LordNominativesubject of λέγει
10
ὅτι αὕτη ἡ διαθήκη ἣν διαθήσομαι τῷ οἴκῳ Ἰσραὴλ μετὰ τὰς ἡμέρας ἐκείνας, λέγει κύριος· διδοὺς νόμους μου εἰς τὴν διάνοιαν αὐτῶν, καὶ ἐπὶ καρδίας αὐτῶν ἐπιγράψω αὐτούς, καὶ ἔσομαι αὐτοῖς εἰς θεὸν καὶ αὐτοὶ ἔσονταί μοι εἰς λαόν.
For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: putting my laws into their mind, I will also write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Terms of the new covenant (1): internalized lawὅτιThe first promise of the new covenant: God's law inscribed not on stone but on mind and heart, sealing the covenant formula 'I will be their God, and they my people.'
ὅτιforcausal/explanatory conjunction
αὕτηthisNominativedemonstrative (subject; cataphoric)οὗτος: 'this'; forward-pointing — 'this is the covenant [namely]…'
ἡtheNominativearticle
διαθήκηcovenantNominativepredicate nominativeδιαθήκη: 'covenant'; the new covenant whose terms now follow.
ἣνwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of διαθήσομαι)
διαθήσομαιI will make / establishFut Mid Indic 1 Sg · διατίθημιmain verb (rel. clause)→ predictive futureδιατίθημι (mid.): 'arrange, dispose, make (a covenant)'; cognate with διαθήκη — the covenant-making verb proper (LXX).
τῷwith theDativearticle
οἴκῳhouseDativedat. of association (covenant partner)οἶκος: 'house, household'; the covenant people Israel.
Ἰσραὴλof IsraelGenitivegenitive of apposition (indeclinable)Ἰσραήλ: Israel; here the whole covenant people.
μετὰafterpreposition + accusative (time)
τὰςtheAccusativearticle
ἡμέραςdaysAccusativeobject of μετάἡμέρα: 'day'; 'after those days' = in the new-covenant age following the present order.
ἐκείναςthoseAccusativedemonstrative adjectiveἐκεῖνος: 'those'; the appointed days announced in v.8.
λέγειsaysPres Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωverb of saying (prophetic refrain)→ present (citation)λέγω: 'say'; the divine 'says the Lord' interjected again.
κύριοςthe LordNominativesubject of λέγει
διδοὺςputting / givingPres Act Ptc · Nom Sg Masc · δίδωμιadverbial ptc. (manner/means)→ present (concurrent)δίδωμι: 'give, put, place'; the participle (Semitic-style for a finite verb) — God 'putting' his laws within them.
νόμουςlawsAccusativedirect object of διδοὺςνόμος: 'law'; the plural here = God's commandments/statutes, now inwardly given rather than externally imposed.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (goal/location)
τὴνtheAccusativearticle
διάνοιανmindAccusativeobject of εἰς (goal)διάνοια: 'mind, understanding, faculty of thought'; the new covenant reaches the inner cognitive seat, not just outward conduct.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ἐπὶonpreposition + accusative (surface/goal)
καρδίαςheartsAccusativeobject of ἐπίκαρδία: 'heart'; in biblical anthropology the center of will, affection, and commitment — the law engraved there means transformed allegiance.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession
ἐπιγράψωI will writeFut Act Indic 1 Sg · ἐπιγράφωmain verb (citation)→ predictive futureἐπιγράφω: 'write upon, inscribe' (ἐπί + γράφω); the law inscribed on hearts, contrasted with the tablets of stone (cf. 2 Cor 3:3).
αὐτούςthemAccusativedirect object of ἐπιγράψω (= the laws)
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ἔσομαιI will beFut Mid Indic 1 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (copula, covenant formula)→ predictive futureεἰμί: 'be'; with εἰς + acc. (Semitic), 'I will be to them for a God' — the classic covenant formula (Exod 6:7; Lev 26:12).
αὐτοῖςto themDativedat. of advantage/possession
εἰςforpreposition + accusative (predicate, Semitic)
θεὸνGodAccusativepredicate accusative (εἰς + acc. = pred. nom.)θεός: 'God'; the covenant pledge — God himself belongs to them as their God.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
αὐτοὶtheyNominativesubject (emphatic pronoun)
ἔσονταίthey shall beFut Mid Indic 3 Pl · εἰμίmain verb (copula, covenant formula)→ predictive futureεἰμί: 'be'; the reciprocal half of the covenant formula — 'they shall be to me for a people.'
μοιto meDativedat. of advantage/possession
εἰςforpreposition + accusative (predicate, Semitic)
λαόνpeopleAccusativepredicate accusativeλαός: 'people'; the covenant people of God — the relational goal of the whole covenant (cf. 1 Pet 2:9–10).
11
καὶ οὐ μὴ διδάξωσιν ἕκαστος τὸν πολίτην αὐτοῦ καὶ ἕκαστος τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ, λέγων· Γνῶθι τὸν κύριον, ὅτι πάντες εἰδήσουσίν με ἀπὸ μικροῦ ἕως μεγάλου αὐτῶν,
And they shall not teach, each one his fellow citizen and each one his brother, saying, "Know the Lord," because all will know me, from the least of them to the greatest;
Terms of the new covenant (2): universal knowledge of GodκαὶThe second promise: immediate, universal knowledge of God renders the catechetical 'Know the Lord' unnecessary — all covenant members, least to greatest, know him directly.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
οὐnotnegative particle (w/ μή, emphatic)οὐ μή: the strongest Greek negation (double negative + aor. subj.) — 'they shall certainly not teach.'
μὴnotnegative particle (emphatic w/ οὐ)
διδάξωσινthey shall teachAor Act Subj 3 Pl · διδάσκωsubjunctive of emphatic negation (w/ οὐ μή)→ constative aorist (emphatic future denial)διδάσκω: 'teach, instruct'; the catechetical teaching of God's knowledge will be superfluous under the new covenant.
ἕκαστοςeach oneNominativesubject (distributive, in apposition)ἕκαστος: 'each, every one'; distributive — singling out each member of the community.
τὸνthe / hisAccusativearticle
πολίτηνfellow citizenAccusativedirect object of διδάξωσινπολίτης: 'citizen, fellow citizen' (from πόλις); a covenant-community member — the reading followed here over πλησίον ('neighbor').
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of relationship
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ἕκαστοςeach oneNominativesubject (distributive, coordinate)
τὸνthe / hisAccusativearticle
ἀδελφὸνbrotherAccusativedirect object (coordinate)ἀδελφός: 'brother'; here a fellow member of the covenant family, paralleling πολίτην.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of relationship
λέγωνsayingPres Act Ptc · Nom Sg Masc · λέγωadverbial ptc. (introduces direct speech)→ present (concurrent)λέγω: 'say'; the participle introduces the no-longer-needed exhortation.
ΓνῶθιknowAor Act Impv 2 Sg · γινώσκωimperative (quoted exhortation)→ ingressive aorist imperativeγινώσκω: 'know, come to know'; the quoted call to acquaintance with God — rendered obsolete when all already know him.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle
κύριονLordAccusativedirect object of Γνῶθικύριος: 'Lord'; the object of the knowledge — YHWH himself.
ὅτιbecausecausal conjunction
πάντεςallNominativesubject (substantival adjective)πᾶς: 'all'; the comprehensiveness of new-covenant knowledge — no member excluded.
εἰδήσουσίνwill knowFut Act Indic 3 Pl · οἶδαmain verb (causal clause)→ predictive futureοἶδα: 'know' (perfect with present sense; here future εἰδήσω); a settled, immediate knowledge of God belonging to all alike.
μεmeAccusativedirect object of εἰδήσουσιν
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (extent, starting point)
μικροῦthe leastGenitiveobject of ἀπό (substantival adj.)μικρός: 'small, least'; 'from least to greatest' is a merism for the whole community, irrespective of rank.
ἕωςtopreposition + genitive (extent, end point)
μεγάλουthe greatestGenitiveobject of ἕως (substantival adj.)μέγας: 'great, greatest'; the upper bound of the merism — the knowledge spans every social level.
αὐτῶνof themGenitivepartitive genitive
12
ὅτι ἵλεως ἔσομαι ταῖς ἀδικίαις αὐτῶν, καὶ τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν αὐτῶν οὐ μὴ μνησθῶ ἔτι.
because I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.
Terms of the new covenant (3): definitive forgivenessὅτιThe climactic ground of the whole oracle: God's decisive forgiveness. This promise of sins remembered 'no more' becomes the linchpin of the argument that the repeated sacrifices are now superfluous (10:17–18).
ὅτιbecausecausal conjunctionὅτι: 'because'; this clause grounds the universal knowledge of v.11 — they know God because he has forgiven them.
ἵλεωςmercifulNominativepredicate adjectiveἵλεως: 'gracious, merciful, propitious'; God's favorable disposition toward sinners — cognate with ἱλαστήριον ('mercy seat,' 9:5).
ἔσομαιI will beFut Mid Indic 1 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (copula)→ predictive futureεἰμί: 'be'; God pledges his merciful disposition as a settled future reality.
ταῖςtoward theDativearticle
ἀδικίαιςiniquitiesDativedat. of reference (w/ ἵλεως)ἀδικία: 'unrighteousness, wrongdoing, iniquity'; the moral wrongs toward which God shows mercy.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
τῶνtheGenitivearticle
ἁμαρτιῶνsinsGenitivegenitive object of μνησθῶ (verb of remembering)ἁμαρτία: 'sin, failure, missing the mark'; the verb 'remember' takes a genitive — God will not call their sins to mind.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession
οὐnotnegative particle (w/ μή, emphatic)οὐ μή: emphatic negation + aor. subj. — 'I will by no means remember.'
μὴnotnegative particle (emphatic w/ οὐ)
μνησθῶI will rememberAor Pass Subj 1 Sg · μιμνῄσκομαιsubjunctive of emphatic negation (w/ οὐ μή)→ constative aorist (emphatic future denial)μιμνῄσκομαι: 'remember, call to mind'; biblical 'remembering' implies acting on — God's not-remembering means he will not hold their sins against them (cf. 10:17).
ἔτιanymoreadverb (time)ἔτι: 'still, yet, longer'; with the negation — 'no longer at all,' the finality of the forgiveness.
13
ἐν τῷ λέγειν Καινὴν πεπαλαίωκεν τὴν πρώτην· τὸ δὲ παλαιούμενον καὶ γηράσκον ἐγγὺς ἀφανισμοῦ.
In speaking of a new covenant, he has made the first one obsolete; and what is becoming obsolete and growing old is near to vanishing away.
Inference from the citationasyndetonThe author's verdict drawn from the single word 'new': by calling the covenant 'new,' God pronounced the first 'old' — and what is aging is on the verge of disappearing. The old order is obsolete by divine decree.
ἐνinpreposition + articular inf. (temporal/causal)ἐν τῷ + inf.: a temporal/causal idiom — 'in (the act of) saying,' i.e. 'when / by saying.'
τῷtheDativearticle (substantizes inf.)
λέγεινsayingPres Act Inf · λέγωarticular infinitive (object of ἐν)→ present (the act of saying)λέγω: 'say, call'; God's act of designating the covenant 'new' is itself the pronouncement of the old's obsolescence.
ΚαινὴνnewAccusativeaccusative (object of λέγειν; διαθήκην implied)καινός: 'new (in kind)'; the very word from v.8 (καινήν) — the author hangs his whole inference on its implication.
πεπαλαίωκενhe has made obsoletePerf Act Indic 3 Sg · παλαιόωmain verb→ consummative perfect (settled result)παλαιόω: 'make old, declare obsolete' (from παλαιός, 'old'); the perfect marks the abiding state — the first covenant stands declared old once for all.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle
πρώτηνfirstAccusativedirect object (substantival adj.; διαθήκην implied)πρῶτος: 'first, former'; the first covenant (as in v.7), now rendered antiquated.
τὸthe thingNominativearticle (substantizes ptc.)
δὲand / nowconnective conjunction (drawing the conclusion)
παλαιούμενονbecoming obsoletePres Pass Ptc · Nom Sg Neut · παλαιόωsubstantival participle (subject)→ present (process underway)παλαιόω: 'grow/be made old'; the present passive depicts an ongoing process of becoming obsolete.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
γηράσκονgrowing oldPres Act Ptc · Nom Sg Neut · γηράσκωsubstantival participle (coordinate subject)→ present (process underway)γηράσκω: 'grow old, age' (from γῆρας, 'old age'); the imagery of an aged thing near its end — vivid of the expiring old covenant.
ἐγγὺςnearadverb (predicate, w/ implied ἐστιν)ἐγγύς: 'near, close at hand'; impending — the old order is on the brink of disappearance.
ἀφανισμοῦvanishing awayGenitivegenitive (w/ ἐγγύς, of nearness)ἀφανισμός: 'disappearance, vanishing, abolition' (from ἀφανίζω, 'make unseen'); the final removal of the obsolete covenant — perhaps with the looming end of the temple cult in view.