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


In Context

14 How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!

15 For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance--now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.

16 In the case of a will, it is necessary to prove the death of the one who made it,

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

18 This is why even the first covenant was not put into effect without blood.

19 When Moses had proclaimed every commandment of the law to all the people, he took the blood of calves, together with water, scarlet wool and branches of hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll and all the people.

Hebrews 9:17 in Other Translations

The King James Version of the Holy Bible

9:17For a testament [is] of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.

The Douay-Rheims Version of the Holy Bible

9:17For a testament is of force, after men are dead: otherwise it is as yet of no strength, whilst the testator liveth.

The American Standard Version of the Holy Bible

9:17For a testament is of force where there hath been death: for it doth never avail while he that made it liveth.

The Darby Bible Translation of the Holy Bible

9:17For a testament is of force when men are dead, since it is in no way of force while the testator is alive.)

The English Revised Version of the Holy Bible

9:17For a testament is of force where there hath been death: for doth it ever avail while he that made it liveth?

The Webster Bible Translation of the Holy Bible

9:17For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.

The World English Bible Translation of the Holy Bible

9:17For a will is in force where there has been death, for it is never in force while he who made it lives.

The Young's Literal Translation of the Holy Bible

9:17for a covenant over dead victims is stedfast, since it is no force at all when the covenant-victim liveth,

The American King James Version of the Holy Bible

9:17For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator lives.