Hebrews 9:17

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.

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

  

b. YLT: For a covenant over dead victims is stedfast, since it is no force at all when the covenant-victim liveth,

d. Amplified Bible Classic: For a will and testament is valid and takes effect only at death, since it has no force or legal power as long as the one who made it is alive.

1. “For a testament is of force after men are dead…”

a. For [Strong: 1063 gár, gar; a primary particle; properly, assigning a reason (used in argument, explanation or intensification; often with other particles):—and, as, because (that), but, even, for, indeed, no doubt, seeing, then, therefore, verily, what, why, yet.]

b. [a] testament [Strong: 1242 diathḗkē, dee-ath-ay'-kay; from G1303; properly, a disposition, i.e. (specially) a contract (especially a devisory will):—covenant, testament.]

c. [is] of force [Strong: 949 bébaios, beb'-ah-yos; from the base of G939 (through the idea of basality); stable (literally or figuratively):—firm, of force, stedfast, sure.]

d. after [Strong: 1909 epí, ep-ee'; a primary preposition; properly, meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution (with the genitive case), i.e. over, upon, etc.; of rest (with the dative case) at, on, etc.; of direction (with the accusative case) towards, upon, etc.:—about (the times), above, after, against, among, as long as (touching), at, beside, × have charge of, (be-, (where-))fore, in (a place, as much as, the time of, -to), (because) of, (up-)on (behalf of), over, (by, for) the space of, through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), with.]

e. [men are] dead [Strong: 3498 nekrós, nek-ros'; from an apparently primary νέκυς nékys (a corpse); dead (literally or figuratively; also as noun):—dead.]

  

2. “...otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.”

a. otherwise [Strong: 1893 epeí, ep-i'; from G1909 and G1487; thereupon, i.e. since (of time or cause):—because, else, for that (then, -asmuch as), otherwise, seeing that, since, when.]

b. [it is of] no [Strong: 3379 mḗpote, may'-pot-eh; from G3361 and G4218; not ever; also if (or lest) ever (or perhaps):—if peradventure, lest (at any time, haply), not at all, whether or not.]

c. strength [Strong:  ischýō, is-khoo'-o; from G2479; to have (or exercise) force (literally or figuratively):—be able, avail, can do(-not), could, be good, might, prevail, be of strength, be whole, + much work.]

d. at all [Strong: 3379 mḗpote, may'-pot-eh; from G3361 and G4218; not ever; also if (or lest) ever (or perhaps):—if peradventure, lest (at any time, haply), not at all, whether or not.]

e. while [Strong: 3753 hóte, hot'-eh; from G3739 and G5037; at which (thing) too, i.e. when:—after (that), as soon as, that, when, while.]

  

f. the [Strong: 3588 ho ho, including the feminine he hay, and the neuter to to in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom):--the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.]

g. testator [Strong: 1303 diatíthemai, dee-at-ith'-em-ahee; middle voice from G1223 and G5087; to put apart, i.e. (figuratively) dispose (by assignment, compact, or bequest):—appoint, make, testator.]

h. liveth [Strong: 2198 záō, dzah'-o; a primary verb; to live (literally or figuratively):—life(-time), (a-)live(-ly), quick.]