New English Translation
Hebrews 6:17
17In the same way God wanted to demonstrate more clearly to the heirs of the promise that his purpose was unchangeable, and so he intervened with an oath,
Hebrews 6:17 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath:
- New International Version (NIV)Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath.
- English Standard Version (ESV)So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath,
- New King James Version (NKJV)Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath,
Context of Hebrews 6:17
15And so by persevering, Abraham inherited the promise. 16For people swear by something greater than themselves, and the oath serves as a confirmation to end all dispute. In the same way God wanted to demonstrate more clearly to the heirs of the promise that his purpose was unchangeable, and so he intervened with an oath, 18so that we who have found refuge in him may find strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us through two unchangeable things, since it is impossible for God to lie. 19We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, sure and steadfast, which reaches inside behind the curtain,
Read all of Hebrews 6Hebrews 6:17 word by word
ἐν ᾧ περισσότερον βουλόμενος ὁ θεὸς ἐπιδεῖξαι τοῖς κληρονόμοις τῆς ἐπαγγελίας τὸ ἀμετάθετον τῆς βουλῆς αὐτοῦ ἐμεσίτευσεν ὅρκῳ,Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Whereinἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- Whereinὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
- Godὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
- willingβούλομαιboulomai · to planG1014
- more abundantlyπερισσόςperissos · excessiveG4053
- to shewἐπιδείκνυμιepideiknumi · to show/proveG1925
- unto the heirsκληρονόμοςklēronomos · heirG2818
- of promiseἐπαγγελίαepaggelia · promiseG1860
- the immutabilityἀμετάθετοςametathetos · unchangeableG276
- of hisαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- counselβουλήboulē · planG1012
- confirmedμεσιτεύωmesiteuō · to guaranteeG3315
- by an oathὅρκοςhorkos · oathG3727
Cross-references for Hebrews 6:17
- Psalms 36:8They are filled with food from your house, and you allow them to drink from the river of your delicacies.
- Isaiah 55:7The wicked need to abandon their lifestyle and sinful people their plans. They should return to the Lord, and he will show mercy to them, and to their God, for he will freely forgive them.
- John 10:10The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come so that they may have life, and may have it abundantly.
- 1 Peter 1:3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he gave us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
- Hebrews 6:12so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and perseverance inherit the promises.
- Hebrews 11:7By faith Noah, when he was warned about things not yet seen, with reverent regard constructed an ark for the deliverance of his family. Through faith he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.
- Romans 8:17And if children, then heirs (namely, heirs of God and also fellow heirs with Christ) – if indeed we suffer with him so we may also be glorified with him.
- Galatians 3:29And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to the promise.
- James 2:5Listen, my dear brothers and sisters! Did not God choose the poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom that he promised to those who love him?
- 1 Peter 3:7Husbands, in the same way, treat your wives with consideration as the weaker partners and show them honor as fellow heirs of the grace of life. In this way nothing will hinder your prayers.
- Hebrews 6:18so that we who have found refuge in him may find strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us through two unchangeable things, since it is impossible for God to lie.
- Job 23:13But he is unchangeable, and who can change him? Whatever he has desired, he does.
- Psalms 33:11The Lord’s decisions stand forever; his plans abide throughout the ages.
- Proverbs 19:21There are many plans in a person’s mind, but it is the counsel of the Lord which will stand.
- Isaiah 14:24The Lord who commands armies makes this solemn vow: “Be sure of this: Just as I have intended, so it will be; just as I have planned, it will happen.
- Isaiah 46:10who announces the end from the beginning and reveals beforehand what has not yet occurred, who says, ‘My plan will be realized, I will accomplish what I desire,’
Commentaries on Hebrews 6:17
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17The heirs of promise - All the believing posterity of Abraham, and the nations of the earth or Gentiles in general. The immutability of his counsel - His unchangeable purpose, to call the Gentiles to salvation by Jesus Christ; to justify every penitent by faith; to accept faith in Christ for justification in place of personal righteousness; and finally to bring every persevering believer, whether Jew or Gentile, to eternal glory.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 17Wherein God - On account of which; or since an oath had this effect, God was willing to appeal to it in order to assure his people of salvation. Willing more abundantly - In the most abundant manner, or to make the case as sure as possible. It does not mean more abundantly than in the case of Abraham, but that he was willing to give the most ample assurance possible. Coverdale renders it correctly, “very abundantly.” The heirs of promise - The heirs to…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. 1717. Wherein--that is, Which being the case among men, God, in accommodation to their manner of confirming covenants, superadded to His sure word His oath: the "TWO immutable things" (He 6:18). willing ... counsel--Greek, "willing ... will"; words akin. Expressing the utmost benignity [Bengel]. more abundantly--than had He not sworn. His word would have been amply enough; but, to make assurance doubly sure, He "interposed with an oath" (so the Greek)…Read the comment
Topics related to Hebrews 6:17
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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