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Hebrews 7:19

(for the law made nothing perfect), and a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.

World English Bible · Public Domain

Parallel Translations

  • WEB World English Bible

    (for the law made nothing perfect), and a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.

  • TYNDALE Tyndale New Testament (1534)

    For the lawe made nothynge parfecte: but was an introduccion of a better hope by which hope we drawe nye vnto god.

  • GNV Geneva Bible (1599)

    For the Law made nothing perfite, but the bringing in of a better hope made perfite, whereby we drawe neere vnto God.

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Cross-references (22)

Passages linked to Hebrews 7:19 in the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, ordered by reader-vote popularity; verse text shown in World English Bible.

  • Acts 13:39 and by him everyone who believes is justified from all things, from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.
  • Hebrews 4:16 Let’s therefore draw near with boldness to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace for help in time of need.
  • Hebrews 9:9 This is a symbol of the present age, where gifts and sacrifices are offered that are incapable, concerning the conscience, of making the worshiper perfect,
  • Romans 8:3 For what the law couldn’t do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God did, sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh;
  • Romans 5:2 through whom we also have our access by faith into this grace in which we stand. We rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
  • Hebrews 6:18 that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we may have a strong encouragement, who have fled for refuge to take hold of the hope set before us.
  • Hebrews 10:1 For the law, having a shadow of the good to come, not the very image of the things, can never with the same sacrifices year by year, which they offer continually, make perfect those who draw near.
  • Hebrews 11:40 God having provided some better thing concerning us, so that apart from us they should not be made perfect.
  • Psalms 73:28 But it is good for me to come close to God. I have made the Lord Yahweh my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.
  • John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me.
  • Romans 3:20-21 Because by the works of the law, no flesh will be justified in his sight; for through the law comes the knowledge of sin. But now apart from the law, a righteousness of God has been revealed, being testified by the law and the prophets;
  • Galatians 2:16 yet knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the law, because no flesh will be justified by the works of the law.
  • Ephesians 2:13-18 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off are made near in the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who made both one, and broke down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in his flesh the hostility, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man of the two, making peace, and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, having killed the hostility through it. He came and preached peace to you who were far off and to those who were near. For through him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father.
  • Hebrews 7:25 Therefore he is also able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, seeing that he lives forever to make intercession for them.
  • Hebrews 8:6 But now he has obtained a more excellent ministry, by so much as he is also the mediator of a better covenant, which on better promises has been given as law.
  • Hebrews 10:19-22 Having therefore, brothers, boldness to enter into the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by the way which he dedicated for us, a new and living way, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh, and having a great priest over God’s house, let’s draw near with a true heart in fullness of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and having our body washed with pure water,
  • John 1:17 For the law was given through Moses. Grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.
  • Galatians 3:24 So that the law has become our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
  • Ephesians 3:12 In him we have boldness and access in confidence through our faith in him.
  • Colossians 1:27 to whom God was pleased to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
  • 1 Timothy 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ according to the commandment of God our Savior and the Lord Jesus Christ our hope;
  • Hebrews 7:11 Now if perfection was through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people have received the law), what further need was there for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, and not be called after the order of Aaron?

Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)

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Explain this verse (14 sources)

Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.

John Calvin 1540 · Public Domain 19. For the Law made nothing perfect, etc. As…

19. For the Law made nothing perfect, etc. As he had spoken rather harshly of the Law, he now mitigates or, as it were, corrects that asperity; for he concedes to it some utility, as it had pointed out the way which leads at length to salvation. It was, however, of such a kind as to be far short of perfection. The Apostle then reasons thus: The Law was only a beginning; then something more perfect was necessarily, to follow; for it is not fit that God’s children should always continue in childish elements. By the word bringing in, or introduction, he means a certain preparation made by the Law, as children are taught in those elements which smooth the way to what is higher. But as the preposition ἐπὶ denotes a consequence, when one thing follows another; it ought, as I think, to be thus rendered, “but added was an introduction into a better hope.” For he mentions two introductions, according to my view; the first by Melchisedec as a type; and the second by the Law, which was in time later. Moreover, by Law he designates the Levitical priesthood, which was superadded to the priesthood of Melchisedec.

By a better hope is to be understood the condition of the faithful under the reign of Christ; but he had in view the fathers, who could not be satisfied with the state in which they were then, but aspired to higher things. Hence that saying, “Many kings and prophets desired to see the things which ye see.” (Luke 10:24.) They were therefore led by the hand of the Law as a schoolmaster, that they might advance farther.

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By the which we draw nigh, etc. There is to be understood here an implied contrast between us and the fathers; for in honor and privilege we excel them, as God has communicated to us a full knowledge of himself, but he appeared to them as it were afar off and obscurely. And there is an allusion here made to the tabernacle or the temple; for the people stood afar off in the court, nor was there a nearer access to the sanctuary opened to any one except to the priests; and into the interior sanctuary the highest priest only entered; but now, the tabernacle being removed, God admits us into a familiar approach to himself, which the fathers were not permitted to have. Then he who still holds to the shadows of the Law, or seeks to restore them, not only obscures the glory of Christ, but also deprives us of an immense benefit; for he puts God at a great distance from us, to approach whom there is a liberty granted to us by the Gospel. And whosoever continues in the Law, knowingly and willingly deprives himself of the privilege of approaching nigh to God.

John Calvin's Commentaries (1540-1563) — public domain. Text from the Calvin Translation Society English edition (1840s-50s) via the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (ccel.org). Calvin's coverage is partial (roughly two-thirds of the Bible); uncommented books and verses are honest gaps, never fabricated. The 19th-century editor's footnotes and remarks are omitted so the notes are faithfully Calvin's own voice.

John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain 19 For the law made nothing perfect, but the…
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain For the law made nothing perfect: the proof of…
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain And inasmuch as not without an oath,.... Our version…
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain For the law - Taken by itself, separate from…
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain Verse 19. For the law made nothing perfect] It…
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain For the law made nothing perfect - The Levitical,…
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain For, &c.--justifying his calling the law weak and unprofitable…
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain 19. Law made nothing perfect—Explaining the weakness of the…
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain 19. the law made nothing perfect] This is illustrated…
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain The inability and capability of the Law.
B. W. Johnson 1891 · Public Domain 19. For the law made nothing perfect. The law…
C. I. Scofield 1917 · Public Domain (See Scofield "Mat 5:48").
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 7:19-28 The weakness of the priesthood under the old…

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