6:13 Now when God made his promise to Abraham, since he could swear by no one greater, he swore by himself, 6:14 saying, “Surely I will bless you greatly and multiply your descendants abundantly.” 1 6:15 And so by persevering, Abraham 2 inherited the promise. 6:16 For people 3 swear by something greater than themselves, 4 and the oath serves as a confirmation to end all dispute. 5 6:17 In the same way 6 God wanted to demonstrate more clearly to the heirs of the promise that his purpose was unchangeable, 7 and so he intervened with an oath, 6:18 so that we who have found refuge in him 8 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.
1 tn Grk “in blessing I will bless you and in multiplying I will multiply you,” the Greek form of a Hebrew idiom showing intensity.
2 tn Grk “he”; in the translation the referent (Abraham) has been specified for clarity.
3 tn The plural Greek term ἄνθρωποι (anqrwpoi) is used here in a generic sense, referring to both men and women, and is thus translated “people.”
4 tn Grk “by something greater”; the rest of the comparison (“than themselves”) is implied.
5 tn Grk “the oath for confirmation is an end of all dispute.”
6 tn Grk “in which.”
7 tn Or “immutable” (here and in v. 18); Grk “the unchangeableness of his purpose.”
8 tn Grk “have taken refuge”; the basis of that refuge is implied in the preceding verse.