Hebrews 9:17
For a testament is of force, after men are dead: otherwise it is as yet of no strength, whilst the testator liveth.
Open Hebrews 9:17 in the Motif Searcher, word by word across all five texts →Show on the spiral →The verse in its languages
- Vulgate (Clementine)
- Testamentum enim in mortuis confirmatum est : alioquin nondum valet, dum vivit qui testatus est.
- Greek New Testament (SBLGNT)
- διαθήκη γὰρ ἐπὶ νεκροῖς βεβαία, ἐπεὶ μήποτε ἰσχύει ὅτε ζῇ ὁ διαθέμενος.
The Fathers on this verse
St John Chrysostom The Commentary and Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on Galatians and Ephesians, Galatians 3:1
“To speak after the manner of men” means to use human examples. Having founded his argument on the Scriptures, on the miracles wrought among themselves, on the sufferings of Christ, and on the Patriarch, he proceeds to common usages; and this he does invariably, in order to sweeten his discourse, and render it more acceptable and intelligible to the duller sort. Thus he argues with the Corinthians, “Who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? Who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not the fruit thereof?” ( 1 Cor. ix. 7 .) and again with the Hebrews, “For a testament is of force where there hath been death; for doth it ever avail while he that made it liveth?” ( Heb. ix. 17 .) One may find him dwelling with pleasure on such arguments. In the Old Testament God does the same thing in many instances, as, “Can a woman forget her sucking child?” ( Isa. xlix. …