Hebrews 6:17

15 And so Abraham, after waiting patiently, obtained the promise.

16 Men swear by someone greater than themselves, and their oath serves as a confirmation to end all argument.

So when God wanted to make the unchanging nature of His purpose very clear to the heirs of the promise, He guaranteed it with an oath.

18 Thus by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be strongly encouraged.

19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain,

Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
So when God wanted to make the unchanging nature of His purpose very clear to the heirs of the promise, He guaranteed it with an oath.
KJV
Where in God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath:
WEB
In this way God, being determined to show more abundantly to the heirs of the promise the immutability of his counsel, interposed with an oath,
ASV
Wherein God, being minded to show more abundantly unto the heirs of the promise the immutability of his counsel, interposed with an oath;
DARBY
Wherein God, willing to shew more abundantly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of his purpose, intervened by an oath,
BLB
in which God, willing to show more abundantly the unchangeableness of His purpose to the heirs of the promise, guaranteed [it] by an oath,
ÅB
Derfor, da Gud ville enn mere vise løftets arvinger hvor uryggelig hans vilje var, gikk han imellom med en ed,
OTB
På samme måte ønsket Gud, for å gjøre den uforanderlige naturen av sitt formål veldig klart for arvingene til løftet, å bekrefte det med en ed,
B1930
Derfor, da Gud vilde enn mere vise løftets arvinger hvor uryggelig hans vilje var, gikk han imellem med en ed,

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Proverbs 19:21

    Many plans are in a man’s heart, but the purpose of the LORD will prevail.

    Read in context
  • Hebrews 6:18

    Thus by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be strongly encouraged.

    Read in context
  • Isaiah 55:11

    so My word that proceeds from My mouth will not return to Me empty, but it will accomplish what I please, and it will prosper where I send it.

    Read in context
  • Isaiah 14:24

    The LORD of Hosts has sworn: “Surely, as I have planned, so will it be; as I have purposed, so will it stand.

    Read in context
  • Hebrews 11:9

    By faith he dwelt in the promised land as a stranger in a foreign country. He lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise.

    Read in context
  • Psalms 110:4

    The LORD has sworn and will not change His mind: “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”

    Read in context
  • Psalms 33:11

    The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the purposes of His heart to all generations.

    Read in context
  • John 10:10

    The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come that they may have life, and have it in all its fullness.

    Read in context