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Hebrews 6:13

For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself,

KJV

τῷ γὰρ Ἀβραὰμ ἐπαγγειλάμενος ὁ θεός, ἐπεὶ κατ’ οὐδενὸς εἶχεν μείζονος ὀμόσαι, ὤμοσεν καθ’ ἑαυτοῦ,

Greek NT

Abrahæ namque promittens Deus, quoniam neminem habuit, per quem juraret, majorem, juravit per semetipsum,

Vulgate

For when God made promise to Abraham, since he could swear by none greater, he sware by himself,

ASV

For God making promises to Abraham, because he had no one greater by whom he might swear, swore by himself,

Douay-Rheims

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In this verse

People Abraham

In the original Greek

12 distinct Greek words appear in this verse.

γάρ
gar
conjunction · 1036×
θεός
theos
noun · 1311×
κατά
kata
preposition · 470×
μέγας
megas
adjective · 244×
οὐδείς
oudeis
adjective · 235×
Ἀβραάμ
abraam
noun · 73×
ἐπαγγέλλω
epaggello
verb · 15×
ἐπεί
epei
conjunction · 26×
ἑαυτοῦ
eautou
reflexive_pronoun · 316×
ἔχω
echo
verb · 707×
ὀμνύω
omnuo
verb · 26×
o
article · 19778×

Themes

Doctrines that cite this verse

Covenant

Historic Christian voices

5 passages from patristic writers, Reformers, and church catechisms citing this verse.

§2810In the promise to Abraham and the oath that accompanied it,71 God commits himself but without disclosing his name. He begins to reveal it to Moses and makes it known clearly before the eyes of the whole people when he saves them from the Egyptians: "he has triumphed gloriously."72 From the covenant of Sinai onwards, this people is "his own" and it is to be a "holy (or "consecra…
1. Having boldly reflected on the faults of the Hebrews, and sufficiently alarmed them, he consoles them, first, by praises, and secondly (which also is the stronger ground), by the [thought] that they would certainly attain the object of their hope. Moreover he draws his consolation, not from things future, but again from the past, which indeed would the rather persuade them. …

Cross-references

  • Deut 7:8 — But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen,
  • Deut 28:9 — The LORD shall establish thee an holy people unto himself, as he hath sworn unto thee, if thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, and walk in his ways.
  • Exod 32:13 — Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy servants, to whom thou swarest by thine own self, and saidst unto them, I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have spoken
  • Gal 3:17 — And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.
  • Gen 22:15 — And the angel of the LORD called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time,
  • Gen 22:16 — And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son:
  • Hab 3:9 — Thy bow was made quite naked, according to the oaths of the tribes, even thy word. Selah. Thou didst cleave the earth with rivers.
  • Heb 6:16 — For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife.
  • Heb 6:16 — For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife.
  • Heb 9:15 — And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive th
  • Heb 10:14 — For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
  • Isa 45:23 — I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.
  • Isa 45:23 — I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.
  • Isa 49:18 — Lift up thine eyes round about, and behold: all these gather themselves together, and come to thee. As I live, saith the LORD, thou shalt surely clothe thee with them all, as with an ornament, and bin
  • Jer 22:5 — But if ye will not hear these words, I swear by myself, saith the LORD, that this house shall become a desolation.
  • Jer 22:5 — But if ye will not hear these words, I swear by myself, saith the LORD, that this house shall become a desolation.
  • Jer 32:40 — And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me.
  • Jer 44:26 — Therefore hear ye the word of the LORD, all Judah that dwell in the land of Egypt; Behold, I have sworn by my great name, saith the LORD, that my name shall no more be named in the mouth of any man of
  • Jer 49:13 — For I have sworn by myself, saith the LORD, that Bozrah shall become a desolation, a reproach, a waste, and a curse; and all the cities thereof shall be perpetual wastes.
  • Luke 1:72 — To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant;
  • Luke 1:73 — The oath which he sware to our father Abraham,
  • Mic 7:20 — Thou wilt perform the truth to Jacob, and the mercy to Abraham, which thou hast sworn unto our fathers from the days of old.
  • Neh 1:5 — And said, I beseech thee, O LORD God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his commandments:
  • Ps 63:11 — But the king shall rejoice in God; every one that sweareth by him shall glory: but the mouth of them that speak lies shall be stopped.
  • Ps 89:35 — Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto David.
  • Ps 105:9 — Which covenant he made with Abraham, and his oath unto Isaac;
  • Ps 110:4 — The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.
  • Rom 9:4 — Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;