Neither the Greek text nor the meaning of the words which introduce the quotation is quite certain.
There is fairly equal manuscript evidence for two texts: (1) “he says, having found fault with them,” and (2) “he says to them, having found fault.” The difference in meaning is slight. In any case, “them” is “the people of the first covenant just mentioned.” The finding of fault is ultimately directed to the people, though in the Greek, as in Good News Translation and Revised Standard Version, the people are addressed in the third person throughout. God finds fault with his people may be expressed as “God blames his people.” If necessary, this may be expressed in some languages as direct discourse; for example, “God says to his people, ‘You have done wrong.’ ”
The expression rendered finds fault with seems strange in introducing a quotation which is mainly a promise rather than a condemnation. However, finds fault with or “blames” is certainly the meaning. The same rare Greek verb is found in 2 Maccabees 2.7 (reprimanded).
He says … says the Lord: the repetition of says is in the text: the first says introduces the quotation, and the second says is part of the quotation. Some common language translations avoid the repetition in various ways; for example, Bijbel in Gewone Taal has “but God criticizes his people with these words: ‘The days are coming,’ says the Lord….” There may be some complication or misunderstanding involved if the quotation is introduced as coming from God, and then within the quotation the expression says the Lord occurs. This might suggest that God is quoting the Lord or possibly, in this context, quoting Jesus. It may therefore be necessary in some languages to omit the expression says the Lord and in this way avoid the impression that there are two persons involved in this declaration.
The days are coming cannot always be expressed literally since “days” do not “come.” The closest equivalent may be “it will happen that” or “… in the future.” Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch has “the time is near.”
Draw up a new covenant: draw up is not a technical term in Greek but a common word meaning “conclude, complete, establish.” On the meaning and translation of covenant, see Appendix B and comments on 7.22. I will draw up a new covenant may be expressed as “I will make a new agreement.” The Greek for new suggests not only “fresh” but “different.”
People (see note on 7.14) is literally “house,” as in verse 10a. “With the people(s) of Israel and Judah” could be clearer, since only one new covenant is to be made.
In the phrases the people of Israel and the people of Judah, the preposition of marks a relation of apposition; in other words, the one group of people are Israel and the other group of people are Judah. Therefore a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah may need to be expressed as “a new covenant with the people who are Israel and with the people who are Judah,” or simply “… with Israel and Judah.”
The argument of verses 9-10 needs to be made clear in translation. The new covenant will not be like the old for two reasons: on the one hand, because the old covenant has been broken; and on the other hand, because the new covenant will be written on people’s hearts and therefore cannot be broken.
Quoted with permission from Ellingworth, Paul and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on The Letter of the Hebrews. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1983. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .