Hebrews 9:17

Hebrews 9:17 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.
• New International Version (NIV)because a will is in force only when somebody has died; it never takes effect while the one who made it is living.
• English Standard Version (ESV)For a will takes effect only at death, since it is not in force as long as the one who made it is alive.
• New King James Version (NKJV)For a testament is in force after men are dead, since it has no power at all while the testator lives.

Context of Hebrews 9:17

15That is why he is the one who mediates a new covenant between God and people, so that all who are called can receive the eternal inheritance God has promised them. For Christ died to set them free from the penalty of the sins they had committed under that first covenant. 16Now when someone leaves a will, it is necessary to prove that the person who made it is dead. 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. 18That is why even the first covenant was put into effect with the blood of an animal. 19For after Moses had read each of God’s commandments to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats, along with water, and sprinkled both the book of God’s law and all the people, using hyssop branches and scarlet wool.

Hebrews 9:17 word by word

διαθήκη γὰρ ἐπὶ νεκροῖς βεβαία, ἐπεὶ μήποτε ἰσχύει ὅτε ζῇ ὁ διαθέμενος.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Forγάρgar · forG1063
• a testamentδιαθήκηdiathēkē · covenantG1242
• of forceβέβαιοςbebaios · firmG949
• afterἐπίepi · upon/to/againstG1909
• men are deadνεκρόςnekros · deadG3498
• otherwiseἐπείepei · sinceG1893
• it is ofἰσχύωischuō · be strongG2480
• noμήποτεmēpote mē pote · lestG3379
• whileὅτεhote ho te hē te tō te · whenG3753
• the testatorδιατίθημιdiatithemai · to make a covenantG1303
• livethζάωzaō · to liveG2198
• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588

Cross-references for Hebrews 9:17

• Genesis 48:21Then Jacob said to Joseph, “Look, I am about to die, but God will be with you and will take you back to Canaan, the land of your ancestors.
• John 14:27“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.
• Galatians 3:15Dear brothers and sisters, here’s an example from everyday life. Just as no one can set aside or amend an irrevocable agreement, so it is in this case.

Commentaries on Hebrews 9:17

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 17For 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 - ̓̀ ͂ 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…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. 1717. after--literally, "over," as we say "upon the death of the testators"; not as Tholuck, "on the condition that slain sacrifices be there," which the Greek hardly sanctions. otherwise--"seeing that it is never availing" [Alford]. Bengel and Lachmann read with an interrogation, "Since, is it ever in force (surely not) while the testator liveth?"Read the comment

Topics related to Hebrews 9:17

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

In the dictionaries

• Altar
• Bear
• Force
• High priest
• Ordinance
• Remission
• Sanctuary
• Stand
• Tabernacle
• Washing

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