Bible Strands
Hebrews 6:13
When God made His promise to Abraham, since He had no one greater to swear by, He swore by Himself,
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The writer addresses Christian believers, following an exhortation in verse 12 to avoid spiritual sluggishness and imitate those who inherit promises through faith and patience.
The words — ἐπαγγειλάμενος (epangeilamenos) means "having made His promise," and ἐπεὶ (epei) translates as "since." These terms establish the temporal sequence and causal logic of the passage.
The thread — The narrative cross-references Genesis 22:15, where the angel calls to Abraham a second time, and aligns with the covenant oath recorded in Psalm 105:9 and Luke 1:73.
Why it lands — The text states that God swore by Himself because He possessed no greater authority, immediately quoting His pledge to bless and multiply Abraham's descendants in verse 14. Readers must accept that divine promises rest solely on God's own unchangeable character, requiring patient endurance rather than reliance on external guarantees.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself,
Cross-references
- Genesis 22:15 And the angel of the LORD called to Abraham from heaven a second time,
- Psalms 105:9 the covenant He made with Abraham, and the oath He swore to Isaac.
- Luke 1:73 the oath He swore to our father Abraham, to grant us
- Isaiah 45:23 By Myself I have sworn; truth has gone out from My mouth, a word that will not be revoked: Every knee will bow before Me, every tongue will swear allegiance.
- Micah 7:20 You will show faithfulness to Jacob and loving devotion to Abraham, as You swore to our fathers from the days of old.
- Jeremiah 22:5 But if you do not obey these words, then I swear by Myself, declares the LORD, that this house will become a pile of rubble.’”
- Hebrews 6:16 Men swear by someone greater than themselves, and their oath serves as a confirmation to end all argument.
- Jeremiah 49:13 For by Myself I have sworn, declares the LORD, that Bozrah will become a desolation, a disgrace, a ruin, and a curse, and all her cities will be in ruins forever.”
- Ezekiel 32:13 I will slaughter all her cattle beside the abundant waters. No human foot will muddy them again, and no cattle hooves will disturb them.