Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

Hebrews 8:3

καθίσταται. “Is appointed.”

δῶρά τε καὶ θυσίας. See note on Hebrews 5:1.

καὶ τοῦτον. “That He too.” It would be better as in the R.V. to avoid introducing the word “man” which is not in the original, and to say “that this High Priest.”

ὃ προσενέγκῃ. In Attic prose relatives with the conj. mood usually have ἂν, but this is sometimes omitted in the N.T., James 2:10, ὅστις … τηρήσῃ; Matthew 10:33, ὅστις�. It is essential to the conception of a priest that he should have an offering,—the aorist denotes the one past act, not that there is a continual offering, or representation of the offering. Christ’s offering is mainly the blood of this one sacrifice, i.e. His vivifying life outpoured for, and imparted to, His people. The point is one of the extremest importance, and though the writer does not pause to explain what was the sacrifice which Christ offered as High Priest, he purposely introduces the subject here to prepare for his subsequent development of it in Hebrews 9:12; Hebrews 10:5-7; Hebrews 10:11-12. Similarly St Paul tells us “Christ … hath given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savour” (Ephesians 5:2).

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Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

Hebrews 8:3

Old Testament

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