Commentaries:
Robertson's Word Pictures (NT)
A testament (diaqhkh). The same word occurs for covenant (verse Hebrews 9:15) and will (verse Hebrews 9:16). This double sense of the word is played upon also by Paul in Galatians 3:15 f. We say today "The New Testament" (Novum Testamentum) rather than " The New Covenant." Both terms are pertinent.
That made it (tou diaqemenou). Genitive of the articular second aorist middle participle of diatiqhmi from which diaqhkh comes. The notion of will here falls in with klhronomia (inheritance, I Peter 1:4) as well as with qanatov (death).
Of force (bebaia). Stable, firm as in Hebrews 3:6, Hebrews 3:14.
Where there hath been death (epi nekroiv). "In the case of dead people." A will is only operative then.
For doth it ever avail while he that made it liveth? (epei mh pote isxuei ote zh o diaqemenos). This is a possible punctuation with mh pote in a question (John 7:26). Without the question mark, it is a positive statement of fact. Aleph and D read tote (then) instead of pote. The use of mh in a causal sentence is allowable (John 3:18, oti mh).
Other Robertson's Word Pictures (NT) entries containing Hebrews 9:16:
Matthew 26:28
Acts 3:25
Galatians 3:15
Hebrews 9:16
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