the Week of Proper 22 / Ordinary 27
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King James Version
Hebrews 9:17
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For a covenant is valid only when men are dead, for it is never in force while the one who made it lives.
For a covenant is valid only when men are dead, for it is never in force while the one who made it lives.
Only after death is the will of the departed put into effect.
For a testament has effect after death; for what power has it while the man who made it is living?
For a testament [is] of force when men are dead, since it is in no way of force while the testator is alive.)
For a will is in force where there has been death, for it is never in force while he who made it lives.
For a testament is of force after men are dead; otherwise it is of no strength while the testator liveth.
And a will is only of force in the case of a deceased person, being never of any avail so long as he who made it lives.
For a Testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all whilest the Testatour liueth.
For a covenant is affirmed over those dead, since it never has force when he who has covenanted is living.
For a Testamet taketh auctorite whan men are deed: for it is no value, as longe as he that made it is alyue.
because a testament has no effect till after the demise: it not being in force while the testator is alive.
for a will and testament takes effect [only] at death, since it is never in force as long as the one who made it is alive.
For a testament is of force where there hath been death: for it doth never avail while he that made it liveth.
For a will takes effect only at death, since it is not in force as long as the one who made it is alive.
For the testament taketh auctoritie when men are deed: For it is of no value as longe as he that made it is alive.
For a testament is of force where there has been death: for it does never avail while he that made it lives.
For a testament [is] of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.
for a covenant over dead victims [is] stedfast, since it is no force at all when the covenant-victim liveth,
A will means nothing while the person is alive; it can be used only after the person dies.
For a will takes effect only at death, since it carries no force while the one who made it is alive.
because a will does not take effect until the one who made it has died; it cannot be executed while he is still alive.
In other words, a will doesn't go into effect as long as the one who made it is still alive.
since a will goes into effect only upon death; it never has force while its maker is still alive.
For a will takes effect only at death, since it is not in force as long as the one who made it is alive.
For the Testament is confirmed when men are dead: for it is yet of no force as long as he that made it, is aliue.
For a testament is of force after men are dead, otherwise it is useless so long as its maker lives.
For a will is valid only when people die, since it is never in force while the one who made it is living.
For a will is in force where there has been death, for it is never in force while he who made it lives.
For a will is in force only when somebody has died, since it never takes effect as long as the one who made it is alive.Galatians 3:15;">[xr]
For upon death only is it confirmed; because while he who made it lived there is no value in it.
For it is valid, only of a deceased [fn] ; because it hath no use, so long as the maker of it liveth.
For a testament is in force after men are dead, since it has no power at all while the testator lives.
The will goes into effect only after the person's death. While the person who made it is still alive, the will cannot be put into effect.
That piece of paper means nothing as long as he is alive. It is good only when he dies.
For a testament is of force where there hath been death: for doth it ever avail while he that made it liveth?
For a will takes effect only at death, since it is not in force as long as the one who made it is alive.
For, a covenant over dead persons, is firm, - since it is not then of force when he is living that hath covenanted.
For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is as yet of no strength, whilst the testator liveth.
For a will is in force concerning those who are dead, since it is never in force when the one who made the will is alive.
For a testament is confirmed when men are dead: for it is yet of no value, as long as he that maketh the testamet is alyue.
A will means nothing while the one who wrote it is still living. It can be used only after that person's death.
For a covenant is valid only when people are dead, for it is never in force while the one who made it lives.
for a will means nothing while the person who made it is alive; it goes into effect only after his death.
For a testament is confermed in deed men; ellis it is not worthe, while he lyueth, that made the testament.
Contextual Overview
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
Genesis 48:21, John 14:27,*Gr: Galatians 3:15
Reciprocal: Luke 22:20 - This Hebrews 9:20 - testament Hebrews 13:20 - covenant
Gill's Notes on the Bible
For a testament is of force after men are dead,.... The necessity of Christ's death is here urged, from the nature and force of a testament or will, among men, which does not take place, and cannot be executed, till a man is dead.
Otherwise it is of no strength at all whilst the testator liveth; no claim can be made by the legatees for the part they have in it, nor can any disposition be made by the executor of it; not that hereby is suggested, that the testament or will of God was uncertain and precarious till the death of Christ, and subject to change and alteration as men's wills are till they die; nor that the inheritance could not be enjoyed by the Old Testament saints; for it is certain, it was entered upon by them before the death of Christ; but the sense is, that there was a necessity of it, that the saints right unto it, upon the foot of justice, might be evident by it.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
For a testament - Such an arrangement as God enters into with man; see the remarks on Hebrews 9:16.
Is of force - Is ratified, or confirmed - in the same way as a deed or compact is confirmed by affixing a seal.
After men are dead - ἐπὶ νεκροῖς epi nekrois. “Over the dead.” That is, in accordance with the view given above, after the animal is dead; or over the body of the animal slain for sacrifice, and to confirm the covenant. “For a covenant is completed or confirmed over dead sacrifices, seeing it is never of force as long as the victim set apart for its ratification is still living.” ms. notes of Dr. JohnP. Wilson. To this interpretation it is objected, that “νεκροῖς nekrois - “nekrois” - means only “dead men;” but human beings surely were not sacrificed by the Jews, as a mediating sacrifice in order to confirm a covenant.” Prof. Stuart in loc. In regard to this objection, and to the proper meaning of the passage, we may remark:
(1) That the word “men” is not in the Greek, nor is it necessarily implied, unless it be in the use of the Greek word rendered “dead.” The proper translation is, “upon, or over the dead.” The use of the word “men” here by our translators would seem to limit it to the making of a will.
(2) It is to be presumed, unless there is positive proof to the contrary, that the Greeks and Hebrews used the word “dead” as it is used by other people, and that it “might” refer to deceased animals, or vegetables, as well as to human beings. A sacrifice that had been offered was dead; a tree that had fallen was dead; an animal that had been torn by other wild animals was dead. It is “possible” that a people might have one word to refer to “dead men,” and another to “dead animals,” and another to “dead vegetables:” but what is the evidence that the Hebrews or the Greeks had such words?
(3) What is the meaning of this very word - νεκρός nekros - “nekros” - in Hebrews 6:1; Hebrews 9:14, of this very Epistle when it is applied to works - “dead works” - if it never refers to anything but people? compare James 2:17, James 2:20, James 2:26; Ephesians 2:1, Ephesians 2:5; Revelation 3:1. In Ecclesiastes 9:4, it is applied to a dead lion. I suppose, therefore, that the Greek phrase here will admit of the interpretation which the “exigency of the place” seems to demand, and that the idea is, that a covenant with God was ratified over the animals slain in sacrifice, and was not considered as confirmed until the sacrifice was killed.
Otherwise - Since - ἐπεί epei. That is, unless this takes place it will be of no force.
It is of no strength - It is not “strong” - ἰσχύει ischuei - it is not confirmed or ratified. “While the testator liveth.” Or while the animal selected to confirm the covenant is alive. It can be confirmed only by its being slain. A full examination of the meaning of this passage Hebrews 9:16-17 may be found in an article in the Biblical Repository, vol. 20, pp. 51-71, and in Prof. Stuart’s reply to that article. Bib. Repos. 20, pp. 356-381.
