Hebrews 9:17 because a will is in force only when somebody has died; it never takes effect while the one who made it is living.

◄ Hebrews 9:17 ►

Parallel Verses

New International Version
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
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 American Standard Bible
For a covenant is valid only when men are dead, for it is never in force while the one who made it lives.

King James Bible
For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
For a will is valid only when people die, since it is never in force while the one who made it is living.

International Standard Version
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.

American Standard Version
For a testament is of force where there hath been death: for it doth never avail while he that made it liveth.

Douay-Rheims Bible
For a testament is of force, after men are dead: otherwise it is as yet of no strength, whilst the testator liveth.

Darby Bible Translation
For a testament is of force when men are dead, since it is in no way of force while the testator is alive.)

Young's Literal Translation
for a covenant over dead victims is stedfast, since it is no force at all when the covenant-victim liveth,

Commentaries

Matthew Henry's Commentary

9:15-22 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 show the greatness of his mercy, proclaimed a covenant of grace. Nothing could be clean to a sinner, not even his religious duties; except as his guilt was done away by the death of a sacrifice, of value sufficient for that end, and unless he continually depended upon it. May we ascribe all real good works to the same all-procuring cause, and offer our spiritual sacrifices as sprinkled with Christ's blood, and so purified from their defilement.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

17. 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?"