8:13 When he speaks of a new covenant, 4 he makes the first obsolete. Now what is growing obsolete and aging is about to disappear. 5
1 tn Grk “while it is said.”
2 tn Grk “today if you hear his voice.”
3 sn A quotation from Ps 95:7b-8.
4 tn Grk “when he says, ‘new,’” (referring to the covenant).
5 tn Grk “near to disappearing.”
6 tn The Greek word μεσίτης (mesith", “mediator”) in this context does not imply that Jesus was a mediator in the contemporary sense of the word, i.e., he worked for compromise between opposing parties. Here the term describes his function as the one who was used by God to enact a new covenant which established a new relationship between God and his people, but entirely on God’s terms.
7 sn Abel’s shed blood cried out to the Lord for justice and judgment, but Jesus’ blood speaks of redemption and forgiveness, something better than Abel’s does (Gen 4:10; Heb 9:11-14; 11:4).