For he finds fault with them when he says: “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will establish a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah,
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse highlights that God's "finding fault" isn't just with the old covenant itself, but with the people who failed to uphold it. This points to the critical need for a new covenant not just for better terms, but because of human unfaithfulness. The emphasis here is on the human failure that necessitates God's gracious intervention with a new, internal covenant.
For he finds fault with them when he says: “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will establish a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah,
English Standard Version (ESV)
The author of Hebrews is arguing that Jesus is the mediator of a far superior covenant than the one God made with Israel at Mount Sinai. To prove this, the author quotes from the prophet Jeremiah, who foretold a future "new covenant." This quote highlights the inadequacy of the old covenant, which the people continually broke, leading God to find fault with them.
The writer of Hebrews says God 'finds fault' with the old covenant. But who or what is actually being blamed? The text hints at a deeper issue than just a flawed agreement.
The phrasing "finding fault with them" (μεμφόμενος αὐτούς) can be understood in a couple of ways, and the context of Jeremiah 31 helps clarify.
Either way, the emphasis is on a failure that necessitates a new arrangement. God isn't surprised by this; He anticipated it and promised a solution.
The prophecy speaks of a 'new' covenant. What makes it 'new,' and why is this promise so significant for both ancient Israel and us today?
The promise of a 'new covenant' (διαθήκη καινή) is central to this passage and the entire message of Hebrews. It's 'new' not because God's desire to relate to humanity is new, but because of its mode of administration and its ultimate fulfillment in Christ.
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Understand the original words
kyrios · Greek Noun
The supreme authority and creator of all things, who reveals Himself to humanity. Used here in the sense of the LORD (Yahweh), the personal, covenant-keeping name of God.
The promise of a new covenant, found in Jeremiah's prophecy during the exile, wasn't just a hopeful prediction; it was a divine response to the repeated failures of Israel and Judah to uphold their agreement with God under the Mosaic Law. The author of Hebrews uses this prophecy to assure his readers that the new covenant in Christ is God's ultimate solution to human sin and the inadequacy of the old system.
c. 622 BC
Josiah's Reforms in Judah
King Josiah discovers the Book of the Law and initiates extensive religious reforms, centralizing worship and purging idolatry. This event highlights the perceived failure of the people to uphold the existing covenant.
c. 597 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon conquers Jerusalem and deports King Jehoiachin and many of the prominent citizens, including the prophet Ezekiel. This marks a significant judgment for covenant unfaithfulness.
586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple
Nebuchadnezzar destroys Jerusalem and its Temple, ending the Southern Kingdom of Judah and exiling most of its population to Babylon. This event represents the ultimate failure of the Mosaic Covenant.
c. 550-500 BC— this verse
Jeremiah's Prophecies Circulated
The prophecies of Jeremiah, including the promise of a new covenant (Jeremiah 31:31-34), are being shared among the exiles in Babylon and potentially within Judah. These words offer hope amidst desolation.
c. AD 30-33
Jesus' Ministry and the New Covenant
Jesus inaugurates the new covenant through his life, death, and resurrection, fulfilling the promises made in Jeremiah's prophecy.
c. AD 60-65
The Writing of Hebrews
The author of Hebrews writes to Jewish Christians, likely facing persecution or assimilation pressures, to demonstrate the superiority of Christ and the new covenant over the old system.
This is the original prophecy from Jeremiah that the author of Hebrews is quoting, directly establishing the basis for the new covenant described.
Hebrews 8:10This verse immediately follows the quote and elaborates on the 'new covenant' by detailing its internal nature: God's laws written on hearts and minds.
Jeremiah 31:29-30These preceding verses in Jeremiah show God's 'fault-finding' with the people for their sin and the consequences, directly setting up the need for the new covenant.
Hebrews 9:15This passage directly links the new covenant to Christ's death as the mediator, explaining its effectiveness in providing redemption.
Galatians 3:15-18This passage discusses the continuity and differences between the Abrahamic covenant and the Law, offering a similar theological perspective on covenant progression.
ellicottHebrews 8:8: "For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:"
(8) Finding fault with them. —Not, “with it,” but with those through whom the covenant had failed. The following quotation ( Hebrews 8:8-12 ) is taken from Jeremiah 31:31-34 . It is the crowning point of that collection of prophecies which is brought together in Heb 30-33, descriptive of the hope and salvation of Israe…
vincentHebrews 8:8: "For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:"
For finding fault with them (μεμφόμενος αὐτοὺς)Them signifies the possessors of the first covenant. The prophet says what follows by way of blame. The passage cited is Jeremiah 38:31-34, lxx (A.V. Jeremiah 31:31-34). The writer assumes that Jeremiah's new covenant means the Christian covenant.I will make (συντελέσω…
This verse highlights that God's "finding fault" isn't just with the old covenant itself, but with the people who failed to uphold it. This points to the critical need for a new covenant not just for better terms, but because of human unfaithfulness. The emphasis here is on the human failure that necessitates God's gracious intervention with a new, internal covenant.
The author of Hebrews is arguing that Jesus is the mediator of a far superior covenant than the one God made with Israel at Mount Sinai. To prove this, the author quotes from the prophet Jeremiah, who foretold a future "new covenant." This quote highlights the inadequacy of the old covenant, which the people continually broke, leading God to find fault with them.
The author of Hebrews is arguing that Jesus is the mediator of a far superior covenant than the one God made with Israel at Mount Sinai. To prove this, the author quotes from the prophet Jeremiah, who foretold a future "new covenant." This quote highlights the inadequacy of the old covenant, which the people continually broke, leading God to find fault with them.
"For he finds fault with them when he says:
“Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord,
when I will establish a new covenant with the house of Israel
and with the house of Judah," — This verse highlights that God's "finding fault" isn't just with the old covenant itself, but with the *people* who failed to uphold it. This points to the critical need for a new covenant not just f…
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Last reviewed October 2026