8:1 sat down at the right hand Symbolizes a place of favor and authority.

throne of the Majesty in heaven God’s throne is in the heavenly temple (vv. 1; Isa 6:1; 66:1; Rev 7:15).

8:2 true tabernacle The earthly tabernacle represented the heavenly one. Thus, Jesus’ high priestly work occurred in the true tabernacle—the one built by God (Heb 8:5).

8:3 high priest is appointed See 5:1 and note.

something that he offers Refers to Jesus Himself; He is both priest and sacrifice. See 7:27; 9:11–14.

8:4 Now if he were on earth Jesus’ priestly work occurred in the heavenly sanctuary.

8:5 sketch The earthly tabernacle is a sketch (hypodeigma in Greek) of the true tabernacle (v. 2 and note). Elsewhere in the nt, the same Greek term is used to indicate human behavior that should be emulated or avoided (John 13:15; Heb 4:11; Jas 5:10; 2 Pet 2:6). The word also appears in reference to the shape or pattern of the temple (Heb 9:23; compare the Septuagint reading of Ezek 42:15).

make everything according to the pattern This citation from Exod 25:40 reinforces the idea that the earthly tabernacle reflects the heavenly tabernacle.

8:6 mediator Moses was the mediator of the Sinai covenant; likewise, Jesus is the mediator between God and humanity (1 Tim 2:5).

better covenant See Heb 8:8–13 and note; 9:11–14, 23–26.

better promises See note on vv. 8–13. Repetition of the Greek adjective kreittōn, meaning “better,” throughout Hebrews emphasizes the superiority of the new covenant Jesus enacted (1:4; 6:9; 7:7, 19, 22; 8:6; 9:23; 10:34; 11:16, 35, 40; 12:24).

8:7 first covenant had been faultless Covenants may be renewed, as was the case with Israel in the wilderness (see Exod 24:1–18; Deut 29:1–29).

8:8 finding fault with them God found fault with His people who were under the old covenant.

days are coming A stock phrase from Jeremiah that refers to the Day of Yahweh, a time of future judgment (e.g., Jer 7:32; 9:25; 19:6; 51:52) or blessing (e.g., Jer 16:14; 23:5, 7). This phrase recalls the opening of Hebrews (Heb 1:2). The latter days—those referred to within Jeremiah—arrived when Jesus was resurrected.

8:9 covenant which I made with their fathers Refers to the covenant God made with the Hebrew people when He saved them from Egypt (see Exod 24:1–8; Heb 9:18–20).

out of the land of Egypt Describes the exodus from Egypt, the paradigmatic act of salvation in the ot (Exod 14:30).

did not continue in my covenant Emphasizes Israel’s unfaithfulness. After the exodus, the Israelites complained about wanting to return to Egypt (e.g., Exod 15:24; 16:2, 7–8; 17:3; Num 14:2, 27). They also committed idolatry (Exod 32) and opted to elect their own leader, disregarding God’s choice of Moses and Aaron (Num 14:1–4).

I disregarded them Because the Israelites regularly demonstrated their distrust in God, He vowed to disinherit them (Num 14:11–12).

8:10 I will write them on their hearts God had instructed the Israelites to recite and discuss His commands (Deut 6:6–9). However, sin was written on their hearts (Jer 17:1). Thus, God declares that He will rewrite what is on their hearts (Jer 31:33). In this sense, the new covenant is a renewed covenant.

I will be their God Echoes the covenantal statement from the days of Moses (Exod 6:7; 29:45; Lev 26:12; Deut 26:17–18). The statement regularly appears with a call for a response of obedience from God’s people (Jer 7:23; 24:7; 30:22; Ezek 11:20; 37:27; Zech 8:8; 13:9).

8:11 they will all know Knowledge of God and His ways will be personal, not just national. Every believer is able to approach God confidently and directly because of Jesus’ mediating work (Heb 4:16; 7:25; 10:19–22; 12:22–24).

8:12 merciful toward their wrongdoings Because of Moses’ intercession, God responded mercifully when His people sinned (Num 14:13–20). They were punished for their unfaithfulness—banned from entering the promised land—but they were not destroyed.

I will not remember their sins any longer The old covenant included an annual reminder of sins (Heb 10:3 and note; on the Day of Atonement, see note on 9:7; note on 9:12). Under the new covenant, God no longer remembers the sins of His people—they receive forgiveness via Jesus’ work as high priest and His role as the sacrificial offering for their sins.

8:13 obsolete The Greek term used here describes something that is old or worn out.