Parallel Verses

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 Version

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

Holman 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.

A Conservative Version

For a covenant is effective with the dead, since it is never enforced while the man who made the covenant lives.

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.

Amplified

for a will and testament takes effect [only] at death, since it is never in force as long as the one who made it is alive.

An Understandable Version

For a will is in force [only] when there has been a death; for it is not in effect as long as the one who made it is [still] alive.

Anderson New Testament

for a testament goes into effect after men are dead: seeing that it has no validity at all while the testator lives.

Bible in Basic English

For a testament has effect after death; for what power has it while the man who made it is living?

Common New Testament

For a will is in force only when somebody has died, since it never takes effect while the one who made it is living.

Daniel Mace New Testament

because a testament has no effect till after the demise: it not being in force while the testator is alive.

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.)

Godbey New Testament

for a covenant is valid in case of the dead: since it has no force while the covenanter lives.

Goodspeed New Testament

for a will is valid only in the case of a person who is dead; it has no force as long as the testator is alive.

John Wesley New Testament

For a testament is of force after men are dead; otherwise it is of no strength while the testator liveth.

Julia Smith Translation

For a will is firm by the dead: since it has no power when he having willed lives.

King James 2000

For a will is in force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the maker lives.

Lexham Expanded Bible

For a will [is] in force concerning those who are dead, since [it is] never in force when the one who made the will is alive.

Modern King James verseion

For a covenant is affirmed over those dead, since it never has force when The one covenanting is living.

Modern Spelling Tyndale-Coverdale

For the testament taketh authority when men are dead: For it is of no value as long as he that made it is alive.

Moffatt New Testament

A will only holds in cases of death; it is never valid so long as the testator is alive.

Montgomery New Testament

For a testament is only of force in case of the dead, being never valid so long as the testator lives.

NET Bible

For a will takes effect only at death, since it carries no force while the one who made it is alive.

New Heart 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.

Noyes New Testament

for a testament is of force after men are dead, since it is of no force while the testator is living.

Sawyer New Testament

For a covenant is strong for the dead, since it is never strong [unalterable] when the covenant-maker lives;

The Emphasized Bible

For, a covenant over dead persons, is firm, - since it is not then of force when he is living that hath covenanted.

Thomas Haweis New Testament

For a testament is valid when men are dead; for else it is of no efficacy whilst the testator is alive.

Twentieth Century New Testament

For such a Covenant takes effect only upon death, it does not come into force as long as the testator is alive.

Webster

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

Weymouth New Testament

And a will is only of force in the case of a deceased person, being never of any avail so long as he who made it lives.

Williams New Testament

For a will is valid only after a man is dead, since it has no force whatever while the one who made it is alive.

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.

Worrell New Testament

For a testament over dead persons is of force; since it is never valid while the testator is living.

Worsley New Testament

For a testament is valid after men are dead, but is of no force while the testator is living.

Youngs Literal Translation

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

Interlinear

English(KJV)
Strong's
Root Form
Definition
Usage
For
γάρ 
Gar 
for, , not tr
Usage: 825

διαθήκη 
Diatheke 
Usage: 29

is of force
βέβαιος 
Bebaios 
Usage: 9

ἐπί 
Epi 
on, in, upon, unto, to,
Usage: 644

νεκρός 
Nekros 
Usage: 105

ἐπεί 
Epei 
Usage: 26

it is of
ἰσχύω 
Ischuo 
can , be able, avail, prevail, be whole, cannot , can do, may,
Usage: 19

no
μήποτε μήποτε 
mepote 
lest, lest at any time, whether or not, lest haply , if peradventure, no ... not at all, not tr
Usage: 12

ἰσχύω 
Ischuo 
can , be able, avail, prevail, be whole, cannot , can do, may,
Usage: 19

at all
μήποτε μήποτε 
mepote 
lest, lest at any time, whether or not, lest haply , if peradventure, no ... not at all, not tr
Usage: 12

ὅτε ὅτε ἥτε τοτε 
Hote 
Usage: 86

the testator
διατίθεμαι 
Diatithemai 
Usage: 5

Context Readings

The Heavenly Ministry Of The New Covenant

16 For where a covenant is, there must of necessity be the death of the one who made it. 17 For a covenant is valid only when men are dead, for it is never in force while the one who made it lives. 18 Therefore even the first covenant was not inaugurated without blood.

Cross References

Galatians 3:15

Brethren, I speak in terms of human relations: even though it is only a man’s covenant, yet when it has been ratified, no one sets it aside or adds conditions to it.

Genesis 48:21

Then Israel said to Joseph, “Behold, I am about to die, but God will be with you, and bring you back to the land of your fathers.

John 14:27

Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.

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Word Concordance

King James Version Public Domain

Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers.

International Standard Version Copyright © 1996-2008 by the ISV Foundation.

New American Standard Bible Copyright ©1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org

American Standard Version Public Domain

NET Bible copyright © 1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. NetBible

Basic English, produced by Mr C. K. Ogden of the Orthological Institute - public domain