Hebrews 6 13

Hebrews 6:13 kjv

For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself,

Hebrews 6:13 nkjv

For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself,

Hebrews 6:13 niv

When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself,

Hebrews 6:13 esv

For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself,

Hebrews 6:13 nlt

For example, there was God's promise to Abraham. Since there was no one greater to swear by, God took an oath in his own name, saying:

Hebrews 6 verses

Hebrews 6 13 Meaning

Hebrews 6:13 establishes the foundational certainty of God's promise to Abraham. It reveals that when God made a covenantal pledge, He ratified it by an unbreakable oath, appealing to the ultimate guarantor—Himself—because no being exists superior to Him by whom He could swear. This underscores the absolute immutability and reliability of God's word, providing an unshakeable basis for the hope of believers.

Hebrews 6 13 Context

Hebrews 6:13 is situated within a broader exhortation to spiritual maturity and perseverance in the Christian faith. The author has just issued a severe warning against apostasy (Heb 6:4-8), urging his readers to "press on to maturity" (Heb 6:1) and demonstrate "diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end" (Heb 6:11). The verse directly connects to the call for believers to imitate those "who through faith and patience inherit the promises" (Heb 6:12). By recalling God's interaction with Abraham, the author provides a concrete historical example and a theological grounding for the absolute certainty of God's promises, which, by extension, applies to the promises made to believers. The subsequent verses (Heb 6:14-20) expand on this foundational truth, emphasizing that God's oath, combined with His promise, forms "two unchangeable things" that provide a "strong encouragement" and a "sure and steadfast anchor of the soul" for those who have taken refuge in Christ.

The historical and cultural context underscores the weight of an oath. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, an oath was a solemn declaration invoking a higher power to guarantee a promise or statement. To violate an oath was to invite divine judgment. The uniqueness of God's oath lies in His supreme authority; since no higher power exists, He swore by Himself, effectively making His own perfect nature the ultimate pledge and guarantee of His word.

Hebrews 6 13 Word analysis

• For when (Ὅταν - Hotan): This introductory conjunction serves to provide a strong rationale or explanation for the preceding statement about inheriting the promises through faith and patience (Heb 6:12). It introduces a foundational historical and theological truth.

• God (ὁ Θεὸς - ho Theos): Refers to the singular, supreme divine being, emphasizing His omnipotence and absolute authority. The article 'ho' underlines "God Himself."

• made a promise (ἐπαγγελίαν ἐπαγγειλάμενος - epangelian epangeilamenos): This Greek construction, known as a cognate accusative (or Hebraism), literally means "promised a promise" or "made a promise by promising." It intensely emphasizes the act of promising, signifying the seriousness, deliberateness, and absolute certainty of God's commitment. It highlights that the promise was not a casual word but a solemn declaration.

• to Abraham (τῷ Ἀβραάμ - tō Abraam): The recipient of the promise, highlighting the patriarchal lineage of faith and the foundational nature of the Abrahamic Covenant, which is a pivotal point in God's redemptive plan and a precedent for future promises.

• because He could swear by no one greater (ἐπεὶ κατ’ οὐδενὸς μείζονος εἶχεν ὀμόσαι - epei kat' oudenos meizonos eichen omosai): This phrase underscores God's singular supremacy. An oath typically invokes a higher authority to ensure truthfulness and consequences for falsehood. Since God is the ultimate being, infinite in power, holiness, and truth, there is literally no one greater or higher than Him to invoke as a guarantor. This stresses His unique, unmatched sovereignty.

• He swore by Himself (ὤμοσε καθ’ ἑαυτοῦ - ōmose kath' heautou): This is the climax of the statement, revealing the divine nature of the guarantee. By swearing by Himself, God's own unchangeable character, perfect righteousness, infinite power, and unwavering truthfulness become the absolute pledge. There is no external authority needed, as God Himself is the ultimate and most trustworthy guarantor. It signifies the irrevocable and unbreakable nature of His promise.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "When God made a promise to Abraham": Establishes the divine initiative and the specific covenantal context for this oath, linking it to the patriarch of faith and foundational promises. It highlights that this was not a spontaneous action but a deliberate, momentous act.
  • "because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself": This phrase perfectly articulates God's unparalleled sovereignty and infinite self-sufficiency. It logically flows: because God is the absolute supreme being, His own perfect nature and immutable character serve as the only, and therefore strongest, possible guarantee for His word. This structure emphasizes that God's faithfulness is not merely a virtue but an inherent attribute, making His promises utterly trustworthy.

Hebrews 6 13 Bonus section

• The "Two Unchangeable Things": The oath given to Abraham is one of the two "unchangeable things" mentioned in Heb 6:18, alongside God's promise. These two elements (God's word of promise and His ratifying oath) serve as an indisputable double guarantee for believers.
• Foundation for Hope: The unchangeable nature of God's promise and oath provides "strong encouragement" (Heb 6:18) for those who "have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us." This hope is not uncertain but is a "sure and steadfast anchor of the soul" (Heb 6:19).
• Abraham's Patience and God's Faithfulness: The passage notes Abraham "patiently waited, and he obtained the promise" (Heb 6:15), drawing a direct line between human perseverance (encouraged in Heb 6:11-12) and the fulfillment of God's unshakeable word.
• Application to Christ's Priesthood: This understanding of God's oath directly supports the argument for Christ's superior Melchizedekian priesthood later in Hebrews, which was also established by an oath (Heb 7:20-21).

Hebrews 6 13 Commentary

Hebrews 6:13 acts as a powerful anchor for the believer's hope, illustrating God's unparalleled faithfulness through the example of His oath to Abraham. When God pledges His word, particularly when He takes an oath, the promise becomes eternally reliable. The fact that God swore by Himself underscores His unique sovereignty; there is no higher authority in the universe by whom He could appeal for validation, and therefore His own divine character becomes the ultimate guarantee. This implies that God's trustworthiness is not merely a decision, but an immutable aspect of His being. His omnipotence, omnipresence, perfect truthfulness, and unchanging nature stand behind every word He speaks, especially every promise He makes. For the believer, this means the hope offered by God's promises, ultimately fulfilled in Christ, is absolutely secure and unwavering, serving as a steadfast foundation for perseverance through trials.

For instance, just as a nation might guarantee a debt with its full national treasury, God guarantees His promises with His infinite divine essence. His commitment is as boundless and immutable as His very nature.