16  For where a ¹⁵testament is, °there must also of necessity be the death of the °testator.
17  For a ¹⁵testament is °of force °after men are dead: otherwise it is of °no °strength at all while the ¹⁶testator liveth.
18  °Whereupon ¹²neither the first testament was °dedicated ⁷without blood.
19  For °when Moses had spoken every precept to all the ⁷people °according to °the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, °with water, and °scarlet °wool, and °hyssop, and ¹³sprinkled both the °book, and all the ⁷people,
20  Saying °"This is the blood of the ¹⁵testament which ¹⁴God hath °enjoined °unto you."
21  Moreover he ¹³sprinkled with blood both the ²tabernacle, and all the vessels of the °ministry.
22  And °almost all things are °by the law purged °with blood; and ⁷without °shedding of blood °is °no remission.

 ² tabernacle.  Greek skene, tent, which is used by the Septuagint to render the Hebrew mishkan (the structure) and 'ohel (the tent which covered it).  Compare Exodus 17:19, 21.
  ⁷ without = apart from.  Greek choris.
  ⁷ people.  Greek laos.  See Acts 2:47.
¹² Neither.  Greek oude.
¹³ sprinkling.  Greek rhantizo.  See Appendix 136. ix.
¹⁴ God.  Appendix 98. I. i. 1.
¹⁵ testament = covenant, as in verse 4.
    The preceding notes have been brought forward from earlier verses in this chapter for perspicacity.

16  there must, etc. = it is necessary that the death . . . be brought in.
testator = appointed (victim).  Greek diatithemi.  See 8:10.
17  of force = sure.  Greek bebaios.  See 6:19.
after, etc. = over (Greek epi) the dead (victims).  See Genesis 15:9-18. Jeremiah 34:18.
no . . . at all.  Greek me pote.
strength.  Greek ischuo.  Compare Appendix 172. 3.  The two covenants referred to above show the necessity of a victim being slain for the validity of a covenant, and the ceremony of passing between the parts thereof.  To the unconditional covenant with Abraham, Jehovah was the only party (Genesis 15:17, 18); in the other, note verses 18, 19. The passage here has nothing to do with a "will" or "will-making".
18  Whereupon, etc. = Wherefore not even.
dedicated = inaugurated.  Greek enkainizo.  Only here and 10:20.  Compare John 10:22.
19  when, etc.  Literally every command having been spoken (Greek laleo.  Appendix 121. 7) by (Greek hupo) Moses.  See 3:2.
according to.  Greek kata.  Appendix 104. x. 2.
the = Omit.
with.  Greek meta.  Appendix 104. xi. 1.
scarlet. Greek kokkinos. Only here; Matthew 27:28. Revelation 17:3, 4; 18:12, 16.
wool.  Greek erion.  Only here and Revelation 1:14.
hyssop.  Greek hussopos.  Only here and John 19:29.
book.  See Exodus 24:7.
20  This, etc.  Quoted from Exodus 24:8.
enjoined = commanded.
unto.  Greek pros.  Appendix 104. xv. 3.
21  ministry.  Greek leitourgia.  See 8:6.
22  almost.  Greek schedon.  See Acts 13:44.
by = according to.  Greek kata.  Appendix 104. x. 2.
with = in.  Greek en.  Appendix 104. viii.
shedding, etc.  Greek haimatekchusia.  Only here.
is.  Greek ginomai, to become.
no = not.  Appendix 105. I.
  ( Doctor Bullinger's companion column continues on to the next verse, but is not shown here in these web-pages.)