Bible verse
because a will does not take effect until the one who made it has died; it cannot be executed while he is still alive.
Hebrews 9:17 · BSB
The verses around it, from Hebrews 9.
13 For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that their bodies are clean,
14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God, purify our consciences from works of death, so that we may serve the living God!
15 Therefore Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, now that He has died to redeem them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.
16 In the case of a will, it is necessary to establish the death of the one who made it,
17 because a will does not take effect until the one who made it has died; it cannot be executed while he is still alive.
18 That is why even the first covenant was not put into effect without blood.
19 For when Moses had proclaimed every commandment of the law to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats, along with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll and all the people,
20 saying, “This is the blood of the covenant, which God has commanded you to keep.”
21 In the same way, he sprinkled with blood the tabernacle and all the vessels used in worship.
KJV
For a testament [is] of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.
ASV
For a testament is of force where there hath been death: for it doth never avail while he that made it liveth.
ERV
For a testament is of force where there hath been death: for doth it ever avail while he that made it liveth?
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Scripture quotations are from the Berean Standard Bible, which is free of copyright restrictions for use on websites. Read the full Bible on Great Faith.