Hebrews 9:16

Hebrews 9:16 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.
• New International Version (NIV)In the case of a will, it is necessary to prove the death of the one who made it,
• English Standard Version (ESV)For where a will is involved, the death of the one who made it must be established.
• New King James Version (NKJV)For where there is a testament, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.

Context of Hebrews 9:16

14how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal [Holy] Spirit willingly offered Himself unblemished [that is, without moral or spiritual imperfection as a sacrifice] to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works and lifeless observances to serve the ever living God? 15For this reason He is the Mediator and Negotiator of a new covenant [that is, an entirely new agreement uniting God and man], so that those who have been called [by God] may receive [the fulfillment of] the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has taken place [as the payment] which redeems them from the sins committed under the obsolete first covenant. For where there is a will and testament involved, the death of the one who made it must be established, 17for 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. 18So even the first covenant was not put in force without [the shedding of] blood.

Hebrews 9:16 word by word

ὅπου γὰρ διαθήκη, θάνατον ἀνάγκη φέρεσθαι τοῦ διαθεμένου·Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Forγάρgar · forG1063
• whereὅπουhopou · where(-ever)G3699
• a testamentδιαθήκηdiathēkē · covenantG1242
• the deathθάνατοςthanatos · deathG2288
• of the testatorδιατίθημιdiatithemai · to make a covenantG1303
• ·ἀνάγκηanagkē · necessityG318
• ·φέρωpherō̄ · to bear/leadG5342
• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588

Commentaries on Hebrews 9:16

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16For where a testament is - A learned and judicious friend furnishes me with the following translation of this and the 17th verse: - "For where there is a covenant, it is necessary that the death of the appointed victim should be exhibited, because a covenant is confirmed over dead victims, since it is not at all valid while the appointed victim is alive." He observes, "There is no word signifying testator, or men, in the original. is not a substantive…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16For where a testament is - This is the same word - ́ diathēkē- which in Hebrews 8:6, is rendered “covenant.” For the general signification of the word, see note on that verse. There is so much depending, however, on the meaning of the word, not only in the interpretation of this passage, but also of other parts of the Bible, that it may be proper to explain it here more at length. The word - ́ diathēkē- occurs in the New Testament thirty-three times…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 15-22Verses 15-22 The solemn transactions between God and man, are sometimes called a covenant, here a testament, which is a willing deed of a person, bestowing legacies on such persons as are described, and it only takes effect upon his death. Thus Christ died, not only to obtain the blessings of salvation for us, but to give power to the disposal of them. All, by sin, were become guilty before God, had forfeited every thing that is good; but God, willing to…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 16-22The author explains a basic rule about wills or covenants (Hebrews 9:16–17). He then discusses it further, using the start of the first covenant as an example (9:18–22).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1616. A general axiomatic truth; it is "a testament"; not the testament. The testator must die before his testament takes effect (He 9:17). This is a common meaning of the Greek noun diathece. So in Lu 22:29, "I appoint (by testamentary disposition; the cognate Greek verb diatithemai) unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me." The need of death before the testamentary appointment takes effect, holds good in Christ's relation as MAN to us; Of…Read the comment

Topics related to Hebrews 9:16

• Blood
• Inheritance
• Jesus, the Christ
• Law
• Suffering
• Testament
• Will

In the dictionaries

• Altar
• Bear
• High priest
• Ordinance
• Remission
• Sanctuary
• Stand
• Tabernacle
• Washing
• Bible, the

Commentaries on Hebrews 9

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings