King James Version

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.

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Greek

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διαθήκηdiathēkēa testamentδιαθήκηnoun, nominative, singular, feminine — “a testament”, the subject formG1242(a) a covenant between two parties, (b) (the ordinary, everyday sense [found a countless number of times in papyri]) a will, testament.This verse uses “testament”.a testamentγὰρgarforγάρconjunction — “for”G1063for.ἐπὶepiafterἐπίpreposition — “after”G1909on, to, against, on the basis of, at.afterνεκροῖςnekroismen are deadνεκρός (nekros)adjective, dative, plural, masculine — “men are dead”, the to- or for-formG3498(a) adj: dead, lifeless, subject to death, mortal, (b) noun: a dead body, a corpse.This verse uses “dead”.men are deadβεβαίαbebaiafirmβέβαιος (bebaios)adjective, nominative, singular, feminine — “firm”, the subject formG949firm, steadfast, enduring, sure, certain.This verse uses “firm”.ἐπεὶepeiotherwiseἐπείconjunction — “otherwise”G1893of time: when, after; of cause: since, because; otherwise: else.This verse uses “otherwise”.otherwiseμήποτεmēpotelest + πότε=whenμήποτεadverb — “lest + πότε=when”G3379Strong’s files this form under G4218 (ποτέ).noἰσχύειischueistrengthἰσχύω (ischuō)verb, present active indicative, 3rd person singular — “strength”, an ongoing or repeated actionG2480I have strength, am strong, am in full health and vigor, am able; meton: I prevail.strengthὅτεhotewhileὅτεconjunction — “while”G3753when, at which time.whileζῇzēlivethζάω (zaō)verb, present active indicative, 3rd person singular — “liveth”, an ongoing or repeated actionG2198I live, am alive.livethὁhotheὁarticle, nominative, singular, masculine — “the”, the subject formG3588the, the definite article.διαθέμενοςdiathemenosto make a covenantδιατίθεμαι (diatithemai)verb, aorist middle participle, nominative, singular, masculine — “to make a covenant”, a single actionG1303(a) I appoint, make (of a covenant), (b) I make (a will).This verse uses “make”.

Literal (Young’s Literal Translation)

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

Compare Public-Domain Translations

The King James Version remains the text of this page and the canonical URL.

American Standard Version (1901)

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

Young’s Literal Translation

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

World English Bible

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

Darby Translation

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

Douay-Rheims

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

American Standard Version (1901)

Young’s Literal Translation

World English Bible

Darby Translation

Douay-Rheims

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