Christian Standard Bible
Hebrews 6:18
18so that through two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to seize the hope set before us.
Hebrews 6:18 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:
- New International Version (NIV)God did this so that, 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 greatly encouraged.
- English Standard Version (ESV)so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us.
- New King James Version (NKJV)that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us.
Context of Hebrews 6:18
16For people swear by something greater than themselves, and for them a confirming oath ends every dispute. 17Because God wanted to show his unchangeable purpose even more clearly to the heirs of the promise, he guaranteed it with an oath, so that through two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to seize the hope set before us. 19We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain. 20Jesus has entered there on our behalf as a forerunner, because he has become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.
Read all of Hebrews 6Hebrews 6:18 word by word
ἵνα διὰ δύο πραγμάτων ἀμεταθέτων, ἐν οἷς ἀδύνατον ψεύσασθαι τὸν θεόν, ἰσχυρὰν παράκλησιν ἔχωμεν οἱ καταφυγόντες κρατῆσαι τῆς προκειμένης ἐλπίδος·Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Thatἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
- byδιάdia · through/because ofG1223
- twoδύοduo · twoG1417
- immutableἀμετάθετοςametathetos · unchangeableG276
- thingsπρᾶγμαpragma · thingG4229
- inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- whichὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
- impossibleἀδύνατοςadunatos · unableG102
- for Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
- to lieψεύδομαιpseudomai · to lieG5574
- we might haveἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
- aπαράκλησιςparaklēsis · encouragementG3874
- strongἰσχυρόςischuros · strongG2478
- who have fled for refugeὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- who have fled for refugeκαταφεύγωkatapheugō · to fleeG2703
- to lay holdκρατέωkrateō · to grasp/seizeG2902
- upon the hopeἐλπίςelpis · hopeG1680
- set before usπρόκειμαιprokeimai · to set beforeG4295
Cross-references for Hebrews 6:18
- Hebrews 3:11So I swore in my anger, “They will not enter my rest.”
- Hebrews 7:21but he became a priest with an oath made by the one who said to him: The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, “You are a priest forever.”
- Psalms 110:4The Lord has sworn an oath and will not take it back: “You are a priest forever according to the pattern of Melchizedek.”
- Matthew 24:35Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
- Numbers 23:19God is not a man, that he might lie, or a son of man, that he might change his mind. Does he speak and not act, or promise and not fulfill?
- 1 Samuel 15:29Furthermore, the Eternal One of Israel does not lie or change his mind, for he is not man who changes his mind.”
- Romans 3:4Absolutely not! Let God be true, even though everyone is a liar, as it is written: That you may be justified in your words and triumph when you judge.
- 2 Timothy 2:13if we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny himself.
- 1 John 1:10If we say, “We have not sinned,” we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
- 1 John 5:10The one who believes in the Son of God has this testimony within himself. The one who does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony God has given about his Son.
- Isaiah 51:12I — I am the one who comforts you. Who are you that you should fear humans who die, or a son of man who is given up like grass?
- Isaiah 66:10Be glad for Jerusalem and rejoice over her, all who love her. Rejoice greatly with her, all who mourn over her —
- Luke 2:25There was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, looking forward to Israel’s consolation, and the Holy Spirit was on him.
- Romans 15:5Now may the God who gives endurance and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, according to Christ Jesus,
- 2 Corinthians 1:5For just as the sufferings of Christ overflow to us, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.
- Philippians 2:1If, then, there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and mercy,
Commentaries on Hebrews 6:18
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 18That by two immutable things - The promise and oath of God: the promise pledged his faithfulness and justice; the oath, all the infinite perfections of his Godhead, for he sware by himself. There is a good saying in Beracoth on Exodus 32:13, fol. 32: Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy servants, to whom thou swarest by thine own self. "What is the meaning of by thine own self? Rab. Eleazar answered, Thus said Moses to the holy blessed God, Lord of…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 18That by two immutable things - What the “two immutable things” here referred to are, has been made a matter of question among commentators. Most expositors, as Doddridge, Whitby, Rosenmuller, Koppe, and Calvin, suppose that the reference is to the promise and the oath of God, each of which would be a firm ground of the assurance of salvation, and in each of which it would be impossible for God to lie. Prof. Stuart supposes that the reference is to “two…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 11-20Verses 11-20 The hope here meant, is a sure looking for good things promised, through those promises, with love, desire, and valuing of them. Hope has its degrees, as faith also. The promise of blessedness God has made to believers, is from God's eternal purpose, settled between the eternal Father, Son, and Spirit. These promises of God may safely be depended upon; for here we have two things which cannot change, the counsel and the oath of God, in which…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 17-18God also made a promise with an oath (a solemn promise), see Hebrews 7:20–22. This oath shows that God will never change his mind because it is impossible for God to lie (see Psalm 110:4). We who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us, similiar to people in the Old Testament who accidentally killed someone and sought refuge (Numbers 35:9–34; Deuteronomy 4:41–43). Christ is like a city of refuge, where believers find safety from God's anger…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1818. immutable--Translate, as in He 6:17, "unchangeable." impossible ... to lie--"ever to lie"; this is the force of the Greek aorist [Alford]. His not being able to deny Himself is a proof, not of weakness, but of strength incomparable. consolation--under doubts and fears, and so "encouragement," literally, "exhortation." fled for refuge--as if from a shipwreck; or, as one fleeing to one of the six cities of refuge. Kadesh, that is, holy, implies the…Read the comment
Topics related to Hebrews 6:18
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Hebrews 6
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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