Hebrews 9:17
“For a Testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all whilest the Testatour liueth.”
1611 King James Version (KJV)
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Hebrews 9:17 Context
15And for this cause hee is the Mediatour of the New Testament, that by meanes of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were vnder the first Testament, they which are called, might receiue the promise of eternall inheritance. 16For where a Testament is, there must also of necessitie bee the death of the Testatour. 17For a Testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all whilest the Testatour liueth. 18Whereupon, neither the first Testament was dedicated without blood. 19For when Moses had spoken euery precept to all the people according to the Law, he tooke the blood of Calues and of Goates, with water and scarlet wooll, and hysope, and sprinckled both the booke and all the people,
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Other Translations for Hebrews 9:17
For a testament [is] of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.
- King James Version
For a covenant is valid {only} when men are dead, for it is never in force while the one who made it lives.
- New American Standard Version (1995)
For a testament is of force where there hath been death: for it doth never avail while he that made it liveth.
- American Standard Version (1901)
For a testament has effect after death; for what power has it while the man who made it is living?
- Basic English Bible
For a testament [is] of force when men are dead, since it is in no way of force while the testator is alive.)
- Darby Bible
For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.
- Webster's Bible
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.
- Weymouth Bible
For a will is in force where there has been death, for it is never in force while he who made it lives.
- World English Bible
For a testament is confermed in deed men; ellis it is not worthe, while he lyueth, that made the testament.
- Wycliffe Bible
for a covenant over dead victims [is] stedfast, since it is no force at all when the covenant-victim liveth,
- Youngs Literal Bible
Wesley's Notes for Hebrews 9:17
9:17 After he is dead - Neither this, nor after men are dead is a literal translation of the words. It is a very perplexed passage.
People's Bible Notes for Hebrews 9:17
Heb 9:17 For a testament [is] of force after men are dead. As soon as a man dies, his last will and testament comes into force, but has no force whatever while he lives. The application of this is that Christ's testament, the new covenant, came into force when he died. The old covenant was in force to the cross; it was then "nailed to the cross" (Col 2:14), and Christ having died, the New Testament came into force. It has been urged against this view that the making of wills was not a custom of Israel. It was, however the custom of the whole Roman Empire, and Judea was now a Roman province. The Roman customs had made provinces of the empire familiar with the use of wills.