What Does Hebrews 7:19 Mean in the King James?
For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
Here, perfection is arrival at the goal, and its proof is nearness to God.
THE MEANING
The law does not bring your life to its intended completion; the better hope does. Through that hope, you draw near to God, so completion shows up as an open way into nearness.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the belief that you must complete yourself by rule-keeping before you can come near God.
THE ROOT
ἐτελείωσεν
eteleiōsen
GROWS FROM
τελειόω
teleioō
Bring to completion, to the intended end or goal.
The Greek verb can mean bringing something to its goal, while English “perfect” can sound like never making a flaw. The verse joins completion to nearness: what the law cannot bring to its goal, the better hope does by opening approach to God.
ALSO GROWS
telos: End, goal, or outcome.
τέλος
It names completion as reaching an endpoint, which gives “perfect” a sense deeper than flawlessness.
teleios: Complete, mature, or brought to its goal.
τέλειος
This related word illuminates the verse’s contrast between an unfinished effort and a life brought to completion.
ἐγγίζομεν
engizomen
GROWS FROM
ἐγγίζω
engizō
Come near, approach, draw close.
“draw nigh” in this verse is engizomen. The word makes the result of hope an approach toward God. Completion is not an abstract status here; it is expressed as nearness.
ALSO GROWS
engys: Near, close at hand.
ἐγγύς
The shared nearness vocabulary frames approach as movement toward closeness.
ēngiken: Has drawn near, has come close.
ἤγγικεν
This form shows the same root naming nearness as an arrival, echoing the way hope brings approach within reach.
THE PATTERN
Godward nearness is opened as a gift and received through trust.
Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple.By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory 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.THE THREAD
For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.Hebrews 10:14 uses the same Greek verb family for bringing to completion: what the law cannot bring to its goal, one offering completes. That repeated root makes the better hope concrete as the ground for drawing near.
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