Chapter
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Verse

Hebrews 9:16

ESV For where a will is involved, the death of the one who made it must be established.
NIV In the case of a will, it is necessary to prove the death of the one who made it,
NASB For where there is a covenant, there must of necessity be the death of the one who made it.
CSB Where a will exists, the death of the one who made it must be established.
NLT Now when someone leaves a will, it is necessary to prove that the person who made it is dead.
KJV For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.
NKJV For where there is a testament, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.

What does Hebrews 9:16 mean?

In this passage, the writer of Hebrews is explaining why the sacrifice of Jesus Christ is superior to that of the old covenant. Animal sacrifice can only do so much to cover human sin. In truth, those sacrifices can only provide ritual purity—they cannot remove the penalty of sin. Jesus, as a man (Hebrews 2:17–18), and one who is sinless (Hebrews 4:15), can offer a single, once-for-all sacrifice which actually covers the penalty for all human sin. This truth is not something which rejects the old covenant. Instead, this is a fulfillment of it. God's intent for the old covenant was as a sign and symbol of things to come (Hebrews 9:23–24).

This verse uses the same Greek word used for terms such as covenant and testament. However, in context, it refers to a slightly different idea. The ESV translates this term as a "will," which is less prone to confusion. The point being made here is that certain legal agreements only take effect upon the death of the one who wrote the will. Verses 16 and 17 both reference this point, leading to the writer's broader goal. The purpose of this statement is to show that sacrifice—represented by blood—has always been necessary to confirm a covenant with God, and to forgive sins. Once again, this demonstrates that the components of the old covenant were meant as symbols of the new covenant.
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