Hebrews 6:17
Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath:
Hebrews 6:17 in other translations
| 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. |
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| 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; |
| YLT | in which God, more abundantly willing to shew to the heirs of the promise the immutability of his counsel, did interpose by 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, |
| BBE | So that when it was God's desire to make it specially clear to those who by his word were to have the heritage, that his purpose was fixed, he made it more certain with an oath; |
| Webster | Wherein God, willing more abundantly to show to the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: |
What does Hebrews 6:17 mean?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain
Barnes' Notes
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 whom the promise of life pertained; that is, all who were interested in the promises made to Abraham--thus embracing the heirs of salvation now.
The immutability of his counsel. His fixed purpose, he meant to show, in the most solemn manner, that his purpose would not change. The plans of God never change; and all the hope which we can have of heaven is founded on the fact that his purpose is immutable. If he changed his plans; if he was controlled by caprice; if he willed one thing to-day and another thing tomorrow, who could confide in him or who would have any hope of heaven? No one would know what to expect; and no one could put confidence in him. The farmer ploughs and sows because he believes that the laws of nature are settled and fixed; the mariner ventures into unknown seas because the needle points in one direction; we plant an apple-tree because we believe it will produce apples, a peach because it will produce peaches, a pear because it will produce a pear. But suppose there were no settled laws--that all was governed by caprice--who would know what to plant? Who then would plant anything? So in religion. If there were nothing fixed and settled, who would know what to do? If God should change his plans by caprice, and save one man by faith today and condemn another for the same faith tomorrow; or if he should pardon a man today and withdraw the pardon tomorrow, what security could we have of salvation? How grateful, therefore, should we be, that God has an immutable counsel, and that this is confirmed by a solemn oath! No one could honour a God that had not such an immutability of purpose; and all the hope which man can have of heaven is in the fact that He is unchanging.
Confirmed it by an oath. Marg. Interposed himself. Tindal and Coverdale, "added an oath." The Greek is, "interpose with an oath"-- εμεσιτευσενορκω. The word here used-- μεσιτευω --means, to mediate or intercede for one; and then to intervene or interpose. The meaning here is, that he interposed an oath between himself and the other party by way of a confirmation or pledge.
(b) "heirs" Rom 8:17, He 11:9 (c) "immutability" Rom 11:29 (1) "confirmed it" "interposed himself"
Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain
Adam Clarke's Commentary
Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Hebrews 6:11-20
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…
Hebrews 6:17 in the original Greek
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Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).
Cross references for Hebrews 6:17
- Proverbs 19:21
There are many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the Lord, that shall stand.
- Hebrews 6:18
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:
- Isaiah 55:11
So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
- Isaiah 14:24
The Lord of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand:
- Hebrews 11:9
By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:
- Psalms 110:4
The Lord hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.
- Psalms 33:11
The counsel of the Lord standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.
- John 10:10
The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
- 1 Peter 1:3
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
- 1 Peter 3:7
Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.
- Isaiah 55:7
Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
- Malachi 3:6
For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.
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Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Ps 36:8; So 5:1; Isa 55:7; Joh 10:10; 1Pe 1:3
the heirs.
12; 11:7,9; Ro 8:17; Ga 3:29; Jas 2:5; 1Pe 3:7
the immutability.
18; Job 23:13,14; Ps 33:11; Pr 19:21; Isa 14:24,26,27; 46:10
Isa 54:9,10; 55:11; Jer 33:20,21,25,26; Mal 3:6; Ro 11:29; Jas 1:17
confirmed it. Gr. interposed himself.
16; Ge 26:28; Ex 22:11
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain
Context
- Hebrews 6:16
For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife.
- Hebrews 6:17
Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath:
- Hebrews 6:18
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:
Hebrews 6:17 in other languages
| Spanish Reina-Valera 1909 | Por lo cual, queriendo Dios mostrar más abundantemente á los herederos de la promesa la inmutabilidad de su consejo, interpuso juramento; |
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| French Bible J.N. Darby 1885 | Et Dieu, voulant en cela montrer plus abondamment aux héritiers de la promesse l’immutabilité de son conseil, est intervenu par un serment, |
| German Elberfelder 1871 | worin Gott, da er den Erben der Verheißung die Unwandelbarkeit seines Ratschlusses überschwenglicher beweisen wollte, mit einem Eide ins Mittel getreten ist, |
| Latin Clementine Vulgate | In quo abundantius volens Deus ostendere pollicitationis hæredibus, immobilitatem consilii sui, interposuit jusjurandum: |