NET Bible
"Now if he were on earth, he would not be a priest, since there are already priests who offer the gifts prescribed by the law."
— Hebrews 8:4, NET Bible
“For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law:”
“Now if he were on earth, he would not be a priest at all, seeing there are those who offer the gifts according to the law; ”
“For if he were on earth, he would not be a priest at all, seeing there are priests who offer the gifts according to the law;”
“If then he were on earth, he would not be a priest: seeing that there would be others to offer gifts according to the law.”
“If he had been on earth he would not have been a priest at all, because there are other priests who make the offerings ordered by the law;”
“For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law:”
The High Priest of a Better Covenant Now the main point of what we are saying is this: We have such a high priest, one who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven,
a minister in the sanctuary and the true tabernacle that the Lord, not man, set up.
For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices. So this one too had to have something to offer.
Now if he were on earth, he would not be a priest, since there are already priests who offer the gifts prescribed by the law.
The place where they serve is a sketch and shadow of the heavenly sanctuary, just as Moses was warned by God as he was about to complete the tabernacle. For he says,“See that you make everything according to the design shown to you on the mountain.”
But now Jesus has obtained a superior ministry, since the covenant that he mediates is also better and is enacted on better promises.
For if that first covenant had been faultless, no one would have looked for a second one.