Hebrews 7 · Verse 19

Hebrews 7:19

For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.
Hebrews 7:19, King James Version

Hebrews 7:19 in other translations

BSB(for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.
WEB(for the law made nothing perfect), and a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.
ASV(for the law made nothing perfect), and a bringing in thereupon of a better hope, through which we draw nigh unto God.
YLT(for nothing did the law perfect) and the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw nigh to God.
DARBY(for the law perfected nothing,) and the introduction of a better hope by which we draw nigh to God.
BBE(Because the law made nothing complete), and in its place there is a better hope, through which we come near to God.
WebsterFor the law made nothing perfect, but the introduction of a better hope did; by which we draw nigh to God.

What does Hebrews 7:19 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
19. For, &c.--justifying his calling the law weak and unprofitable (He 7:18). The law could not bring men to: true justification or sanctification before God, which is the "perfection" that we all need in order to be accepted of Him, and which we have in Christ. nothing--not merely "no one," but "nothing." The law brought nothing to its perfected end; everything in it was introductory to its antitype in the Christian economy, which realizes the perfection contemplated; compare "unprofitableness," He 7:18. did--rather connect with He 7:18, thus, "There takes place (by virtue of Psa 110:4) a repealing of the commandment (on the one hand), but (on the other) a bringing in afterwards (the Greek expresses that there is a bringing in of something over and above the law; a superinducing, or accession of something new, namely, something better than the good things which the pre-existing law promised [Wahl]) of a better hope," not one weak and unprofitable, but, as elsewhere the Christian dispensation is called, "everlasting," "true," "the second," "more excellent," "different," "living," "new," "to come," "perfect." Compare He 8:6, bringing us near to God, now in spirit, hereafter both in spirit and in body. we draw nigh unto God--the sure token of "perfection." Weakness is the opposite of this filial confidence of access. The access through the legal sacrifices was only symbolical and through the medium of a priest; that through Christ is immediate, perfect, and spiritual.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 19. For the law made nothing perfect. The Levitical, ceremonial law. It did not produce a perfect state; it did not do what was desirable to be done for a sinner. Heb 8:11. That law, as such, did not reconcile man to God; it did not make an atonement; it did not put away guilt; in one word, it did not restore things to the condition in which they were before the law was broken and man became a sinner. If man were saved under that system--as many undoubtedly were--it was not in virtue of any intrinsic efficacy which it possessed, but in virtue of that great Sacrifice which it typified.

But the bringing in of a better hope did. Marg. "But it was." The correct rendering is, probably, "but there is the bringing in of a better hope by which we have access to God." The law could not effect this. It left the conscience guilty, and sin unexpiated. But there is now the introduction of a better system by which we can approach a reconciled God. The "better hope" here refers to the more sure and certain expectation of heaven introduced by the gospel. There is a better foundation for hope; a more certain way of obtaining the Divine favour than the law could furnish.

By the which. By which better hope; that is, by means of the ground of hope furnished by the gospel--to wit, that God is now reconciled, and that we can approach him with the assurance that he is ready to save us.

We draw nigh unto God. We have access to him. Rom 5:1; Rom 5:2.

(1) "the bringing" "but it was" (d) "which we draw" Rom 3:20

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 19 For the law made nothing perfect - It completed nothing; it was only the outline of a great plan, the shadow of a glorious substance; see on Heb 7:11 (note). It neither pardoned sin, nor purified the heart, nor gave strength to obey the moral precepts. Ουδεν, nothing, is put here for ουδενα, no person. But the bringing in of a better hope - The original is very emphatic, επεισαγωγη, the superintroduction, or the after introduction; and this seems to be put in opposition to the προαγουσα εντολη, the preceding commandment, or former Levitical law, of Heb 7:18. This went before to prepare the way of the Lord; to show the exceeding sinfulness of sin, and the strict justice of God. The better hope, which referred not to earthly but to spiritual good, not to temporal but eternal felicity, founded on the priesthood and atonement of Christ, was afterwards introduced for the purpose of doing what the law could not do, and giving privileges and advantages which the law would not afford. One of these privileges immediately follows: - By the which we draw nigh unto God - This is a sacerdotal phrase: the high priest alone could approach to the Divine presence in the holy of holies; but not without the blood of the sacrifice, and that only once in the year. But through Christ, as our high priest, all believers in him have an entrance to the holiest by his blood; and through him perform acceptable service to God. The better hope means, in this place, Jesus Christ, who is the author and object of the hope of eternal life, which all his genuine followers possess. He is called our hope, 1Tim 1:1; Col 1:27.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Hebrews 7:11-25

The priesthood and law by which perfection could not come, are done away; a Priest is risen, and a dispensation now set up, by which true believers may be made perfect. That there is such a change is plain. The law which made the Levitical priesthood, showed that the priests were frail, dying creatures, not able to save their own lives, much less could they save the souls of those who came to them. But the High…

Read the full comment on Hebrews 7:11-25 →

Hebrews 7:19 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

οὐδὲνoudenno [thing]G3762
γὰρgarforG1063
ἐτελείωσενeteleiōsenperfectedG5048
ὁhotheG3588
νόμος,nomoslaw —G3551
ἐπεισαγωγὴepeisagōgē[the] introductionG1898
δὲdethenG1161
κρείττονοςkreittonosof a betterG2908
ἐλπίδοςelpidoshopeG1680
δι᾽di᾽throughG1223
ἧςhēswhichG3739
ἐγγίζομενengizomenwe draw nearG1448
τῷtō<the>G3588
θεῷ.theōto God.G2316

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Hebrews 7:19

  • Acts 13:39

    And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.

  • Hebrews 4:16

    Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

  • Hebrews 9:9

    Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;

  • Romans 8:3

    For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

  • Hebrews 6:18

    That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:

  • Romans 5:2

    By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

  • Hebrews 10:1

    For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.

  • Hebrews 11:40

    God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

  • Psalms 73:28

    But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all thy works.

  • John 14:6

    Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

  • Hebrews 10:19-22

    Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; And having an high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

  • Hebrews 8:6

    But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
the law.
11; 9:9; Ac 13:39; Ro 3:20,21; 8:3; Ga 2:16
made.[Ouden eteleiosen,] completed nothing; it was the introduction, but not the completion.
the bringing in. or, it was the bringing in.
Ga 3:24
a better.
6:18; 8:6; 11:40; Joh 1:17; Ro 8:3; Col 1:27; 1Ti 1:1
we.
4:16; 10:19-22; Ps 73:28; Joh 14:6; Ro 5:2; Eph 2:13-18; 3:12

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Hebrews 7:18

    For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.

  • Hebrews 7:19

    For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.

  • Hebrews 7:20

    And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest:

Read all of Hebrews 7

Hebrews 7:19 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Porque nada perfeccionó la ley; mas hízolo la introducción de mejor esperanza, por la cual nos acercamos á Dios.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		(car la loi n’a rien amené à la perfection), et introduction d’une meilleure espérance par laquelle nous approchons de Dieu.
German
Elberfelder 1871		und die Einführung einer besseren Hoffnung, durch welche wir Gott nahen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		nihil enim ad perfectum adduxit lex: introductio vero melioris spei, per quam proximamus ad Deum.