In the case of a will
The term "will" here refers to a legal document that outlines the distribution of a person's estate after their death. In biblical times, a will, or testament, was a common legal practice, much like today. The Greek word used is "diathēkē," which can mean both "covenant" and "will." This dual meaning is significant in understanding the New Covenant established through Jesus Christ, as it implies both a legal and relational agreement. The concept of a will is also seen in the Old Testament, where God's covenants with His people often included promises that would be fulfilled in the future.

it is necessary to establish the death
The necessity of death to enact a will underscores the seriousness and finality of the covenant. In the context of Hebrews, this phrase highlights the importance of Jesus' sacrificial death to activate the New Covenant. The death of the testator (the one who made the will) is a legal requirement for the will to take effect, symbolizing the fulfillment of God's promises through Christ's death. This mirrors the sacrificial system of the Old Testament, where the death of an animal was required to atone for sin, pointing to the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus.

of the one who made it
The "one who made it" refers to the testator, in this case, Jesus Christ. His role as both the mediator and the testator of the New Covenant is central to the message of Hebrews. This phrase emphasizes the personal nature of the covenant; it is not just a legal transaction but a deeply relational act initiated by Christ Himself. Theologically, this connects to the idea of Jesus as the fulfillment of the law and the prophets, as He is both the author and the perfecter of faith. His death was necessary to bring the promises of the New Covenant into effect, offering eternal inheritance to believers.

1. The Author of Hebrews
Traditionally attributed to Paul, though the exact authorship is uncertain. The author writes to Jewish Christians, emphasizing the superiority of Christ and the New Covenant.

2. The Recipients
Jewish Christians who were familiar with the Old Testament laws and sacrificial system, facing pressure to revert to Judaism.

3. The Old Covenant
The agreement between God and Israel, established through Moses, involving laws and sacrifices.

4. The New Covenant
Instituted by Jesus Christ, emphasizing grace and faith, fulfilling the Old Covenant's promises.

5. The Death of Christ
Central to the New Covenant, His death is the event that enacts the "will" or testament, providing salvation and eternal inheritance.Understanding Covenants
The concept of a covenant in biblical terms is akin to a legal will, requiring the death of the testator to be enacted. This underscores the necessity of Christ's sacrificial death.

The Necessity of Christ's Death
Just as a will is only effective upon the death of the one who made it, the New Covenant required Christ's death to be activated, offering believers eternal life and inheritance.

The Assurance of Inheritance
Believers can have confidence in their spiritual inheritance because it is secured by the death and resurrection of Christ, much like a legal will guarantees an inheritance.

Living Under the New Covenant
Christians are called to live in the reality of the New Covenant, embracing the grace and freedom it provides, rather than reverting to the old ways of the law.

Faith and Obedience
The New Covenant calls for a response of faith and obedience, not as a means to earn salvation, but as a grateful response to the gift already given through Christ's death.(16) Testament.--As has been already pointed out, the greatest difference of opinion has existed in regard to the meaning of the Greek word diath?k? in this passage. (See Note on Hebrews 7:22.) It will be seen at once that the interpretation of this verse and the next entirely depends on that one question. If "testament" is the correct meaning of the Greek word, the general sense of the verses is well given in the Authorised version. A few commentators even agree with that version in carrying back the idea of testament into Hebrews 9:15, although in the other two places in which the word is joined with "Mediator" (Hebrews 8:6; Hebrews 12:24) they adhere to the ordinary rendering, "covenant." By most, however, it is held that a new thought is introduced in the present verse. The writer, it is urged, having spoken of a promise of an inheritance, (Hebrews 9:15), and a promise that cannot be made valid unless death take place, avails himself of the illustration which a second (and very common) meaning of the leading word affords; and though a covenant has hitherto been in his thoughts, he adds interest and force to his argument by calling up the analogy of a testament or will. It is further urged that this procedure will not seem unnatural if we reflect that the diath?k? between God and man is never exactly expressed by covenant, since it is not of the nature of a mutual compact between equals. (See Hebrews 7:22.) The position is chiefly defended by two arguments:--(1) Hebrews 9:16, being a general maxim, gives no intelligible sense in regard to a covenant, but is easy and natural as applied to a will. (2) A Greek word used in Hebrews 9:17, where the literal translation is "over (the) dead," cannot be used of sacrifices of slain animals, but of men only. This, we believe, is a fair statement of the case on the one side; and it may be fully acknowledged that, if Hebrews 9:16-17 stood alone, and if they were written of Gentile rather than Jewish usage, the case would be very strong. As it is, we are compelled to believe that the difficulties which this interpretation brings with it are beyond comparison more serious than those which it removes. (1) There is no doubt that in the overwhelming majority of New Testament passages the meaning covenant must be assigned. By many high authorities these verses are considered to contain the only exception. (2) In the LXX. the word is extremely common, both for the covenants of God and for compacts between man and man. (See Note on Hebrews 7:22). (3) The application of diath?k? in this Epistle rests on the basis of the Old Testament usage, the key passage being Jeremiah 31:31-34, quoted at length in Hebrews 8. With that quotation this passage is linked by the association of diath?k? with Mediator in Hebrews 9:15 and Hebrews 8:6, and with "the first" in Hebrews 9:15 and in Hebrews 8:13; Hebrews 9:1. (4) In the verses which follow this passage the meaning covenant must certainly return, as a comparison of Hebrews 9:20 with the verse of Exodus which it quotes (Exodus 24:8) will show. (5) It is true that the idea of "death" has appeared in Hebrews 9:15, but it is the death of a sin-offering; and there is no natural or easy transition of thought from an expiatory death to the death of a testator. And yet the words which introduce Hebrews 9:16; Hebrews 9:18 ("For" and "Wherefore") show that we are following the course of an argument. (6) Though to us Hebrews 9:16 may present a very familiar thought, we must not forget that to Jews dispositions by will were almost altogether unknown. Were it granted that a writer might for illustration avail himself of a second meaning which a word he is using might happen to bear, this liberty would only be taken if by that means familiar associations could be reached, and the argument or exhortation could be thus urged home. In an Epistle steeped in Jewish thought such a transition as that suggested would be inexplicable. There are other considerations of some weight which might be added; but these seem sufficient to prove that, even if the difficulties of interpretation should prove serious, we must not seek to remove them by wavering in our rendering of diath?k? in these verses. We believe, therefore, that the true translation of Hebrews 9:16-17, must be the following:--For where a covenant is, there must of necessity be brought in the death of the covenanter. For a covenant is of force when there hath been death (literally, over the dead); for hath it ever any strength while the covenanter liveth? In Hebrews 9:15 we have seen the two-fold reference of the death of Jesus, to the past and to the future. As High Priest He has offered Himself as a sin-offering to cleanse the conscience from dead works; the same offering is also looked on as a ransom redeeming from the penalty of past transgressions; and, still by means of His death, He has, as Mediator, established a new covenant. We are reminded at once of the words of Jesus Himself, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood" (1Corinthians 11:25). It is this very thought which the writer proceeds to develop: a covenant cannot be established without death--cannot exist at all. That amongst Jews and Greeks and Romans alike covenants were confirmed by sacrifice we need not pause to prove; of this usage we have the earliest example in Genesis 15. In such sacrifices, again, there is "brought in," or assumed the death of him who makes the covenant. There will not, perhaps, be much difficulty in accepting this as a maxim. The conflict of opinion really begins when we ask in what manner this is assumed. The usual answer is, that the death of victims is emblematic of the punishment which the contracting parties imprecated on themselves if they should break their compact. It may have been so amongst the Greeks and Romans, though this is doubtful.[11] Amongst the Jews, however, the analogy of their general sacrificial system, in which the victim represented the offerer, renders such an explanation very improbable. As to the precise idea implied in this representation, it is not easy to speak with certainty. It has been defined in two opposite ways. In the death of the victim each contracting party may be supposed to die either as to the future, in respect of any power of altering the compact (the covenant shall be as safe from violation through change of intention as if the covenanter were removed by death); or as to the past, to the former state of enmity each is now dead. It is not necessary for our argument to decide such a question as this. The only material points are, that a covenant must be established over sacrifices, and that in such a sacrifice "the death of him that made the covenant" must in some manner be "brought in" or assumed. There remains only the application to the particular covenant here spoken of. If this be taken as made between God and man, the sacrificial death of Jesus in man's stead ratified the covenant for ever, the former state of separation being brought to an end in "the reconciliation" of the gospel. The peculiar character of Hebrews 9:15, however (see above), seems rather to suggest that, as Jesus is set forth as High Priest and sacrifice, so He is both the Author of the covenant and the sacrifice which gives to it validity. In this case we see represented in His sacrifice the death of each "covenanter." (The transition from "Mediator" to Giver of the covenant is not greater than that which the other interpretation requires--a transition from a mediator of a testament to a testator.) There are minor points relating to details in the Greek which cannot be dealt with here. Of the two arguments quoted above, the former has, we hope, been fully met; though (it may be said in passing) it would be easier to give up Hebrews 9:16 as a general maxim, and to regard it as applying only to a covenant between God and sinful man, than to divorce the whole passage from the context by changing "covenant" into "will." One point of interest must not be omitted. There are coincidences of expression with Psalm 1:5 which make it very probable that that Psalm, memorable in the development of the teaching of the Old Testament, was distinctly in the writer's mind. This comparison is also of use in the explanation of some expressions in the original of these two verses. . . .

Parallel Commentaries ...


In the case of
Ὅπου (Hopou)
Adverb
Strong's 3699: Where, whither, in what place. From hos and pou; what(-ever) where, i.e. At whichever spot.

[a] will,
διαθήκη (diathēkē)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1242: From diatithemai; properly, a disposition, i.e. a contract.

[it is] necessary
ἀνάγκη (anankē)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 318: From ana and the base of agkale; constraint; by implication, distress.

to establish
φέρεσθαι (pheresthai)
Verb - Present Infinitive Middle or Passive
Strong's 5342: To carry, bear, bring; I conduct, lead; perhaps: I make publicly known. A primary verb.

[the] death
θάνατον (thanaton)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2288: Death, physical or spiritual. From thnesko; death.

of the [one who]
τοῦ (tou)
Article - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

made [it],
διαθεμένου (diathemenou)
Verb - Aorist Participle Middle - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 1303: (a) I appoint, make (of a covenant), (b) I make (a will). Middle voice from dia and tithemi; to put apart, i.e. dispose.


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NT Letters: Hebrews 9:16 For where a last will and testament (Heb. He. Hb)