God’s Oath and Our Hope, the Anchor of the Soul
Hebrews 6:13-20
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Heb.6.13 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- γαρ: PART
- Αβρααμ: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- επαγγειλαμενος: VERB,perf,pass,ptc,nom,sg,m
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- θεος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- επει: CONJ
- κατ᾽ουδενος: PREP+PRON,gen,sg,m
- ειχεν: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,sg
- μειζονος: ADJ,gen,sg,m
- ομοσαι: VERB,aor,act,inf
- ωμοσεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- καθ᾽εαυτου: PREP+REFL,gen,sg,m
Parallels
- Genesis 22:16-18 (verbal): God's promise and oath to Abraham after the binding of Isaac—LXX/Hebrew language records God swearing by himself to bless and multiply Abraham's offspring, the verbal source Hebrews cites.
- Genesis 12:2-3 (thematic): The initial promise to Abraham to make him a great nation and bless all peoples; Hebrews 6:13 invokes the Abrahamic promise as foundational for God's oath.
- Romans 4:13-21 (thematic): Paul's exposition of God's promise to Abraham and Abraham's faith — treats the same promise/trust dynamic that Hebrews appeals to when citing God’s oath to Abraham.
- Hebrews 6:17-18 (structural): Immediate continuation in Hebrews: the author develops the argument from God’s swearing to Abraham to show the immutability of God’s counsel, explicitly citing the confirmation by an oath.
Alternative generated candidates
- For when God made the promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself,
- For when God made a promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself,
Heb.6.14 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- λεγων·Ει: PART,pres,act,nom,sg,m
- μην: PART,neg
- ευλογων: PART,pres,act,nom,sg,m
- ευλογησω: VERB,fut,act,ind,1,sg
- σε: PRON,acc,sg,2
- και: CONJ
- πληθυνων: PART,pres,act,nom,sg,m
- πληθυνω: VERB,fut,act,ind,1,sg
- σε·: PRON,acc,2,sg
Parallels
- Genesis 22:17 (quotation): Hebrews 6:14 directly quotes the promise to Abraham: 'I will surely bless you and will surely multiply you,' which is the source text for the verse.
- Genesis 26:4 (allusion): God repeats the promise of blessing and multiplication to Isaac ('I will make your offspring as the stars of heaven'), echoing the same covenantal formula applied to Abraham.
- Genesis 28:14 (thematic): The promise to Jacob that his offspring will be numerous and all nations blessed parallels the theme of divine blessing and multiplication found in Heb 6:14.
- Acts 3:25 (quotation): Peter cites the Abrahamic promise ('In your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed')—linking the Old Testament promise quoted in Hebrews to New Testament proclamation.
- Galatians 3:16 (verbal): Paul interprets the 'seed' of the promise as singular (Christ), showing how the Abrahamic blessing/multiplication language is reinterpreted in the New Testament context referenced by Hebrews.
Alternative generated candidates
- saying, "Surely I will bless you and multiply you."
- saying, 'Surely I will bless you and I will multiply you.'
Heb.6.15 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- ουτως: ADV
- μακροθυμησας: PART,aor,act,nom,sg,m
- επετυχεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- επαγγελιας: NOUN,gen,sg,f
Parallels
- Genesis 21:1-2 (structural): Narrative fulfillment of the promise to Abraham and Sarah—illustrates the concrete event of 'obtaining the promise' to which Hebrews alludes.
- Romans 4:18-21 (thematic): Paul describes Abraham's patient hope and unwavering faith that God would fulfill his promise—same theme of persevering faith until receipt of the promise.
- Hebrews 11:11-12 (thematic): Hebrews' own recounting of Abraham's faith and the fulfillment of the promise (Isaac's birth), connecting patient faith with receiving God's promise.
- Hebrews 10:36 (verbal): Explicit instruction that endurance/patience is required 'so that you may receive the promise'—a direct doctrinal parallel to 6:15's causal link between patience and obtaining the promise.
- James 5:7-8 (thematic): Exhortation to patient endurance while waiting for the promised future (the coming Lord/harvest), echoing the virtue of patience in awaiting God's promised fulfillment.
Alternative generated candidates
- So after patiently waiting he obtained the promise.
- And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.
Heb.6.16 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ανθρωποι: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- γαρ: PART
- κατα: PREP
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- μειζονος: ADJ,gen,sg,m
- ομνυουσιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,pl
- και: CONJ
- πασης: ADJ,gen,sg,f
- αυτοις: PRO,dat,pl,3
- αντιλογιας: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- περας: NOUN,nom,sg,n
- εις: PREP
- βεβαιωσιν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- ορκος·: NOUN,nom,sg,m
Parallels
- Genesis 21:25-31 (thematic): Abraham and Abimelech make a sworn covenant to settle their dispute; an example of men swearing to confirm and end controversy.
- Genesis 26:26-31 (thematic): Isaac repeats a similar oath/covenant with Abimelech, showing the recurring practice of oaths between people to secure peace.
- Genesis 22:16-18 (allusion): God's promise to Abraham includes an oath ('by myself I have sworn'); Hebrews invokes this divine oath as the ultimate confirmation since God is the 'greater.'
- James 5:12 (thematic): New Testament instruction about oaths ('do not swear... let your yea be yea') engages the same cultural practice of oaths and highlights differing theological emphases about swearing.
Alternative generated candidates
- For men indeed swear by the greater, and an oath for confirmation puts an end to all dispute.
- For people indeed swear by someone greater; and an oath for confirmation puts an end to every dispute.
Heb.6.17 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- εν: PREP
- ω: PRON,dat,sg,m
- περισσοτερον: ADV,comp
- βουλομενος: VERB,pres,mid,ptc,nom,sg,m
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- θεος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- επιδειξαι: VERB,aor,act,inf
- τοις: ART,dat,pl,n
- κληρονομοις: NOUN,dat,pl,m
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- επαγγελιας: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- αμεταθετον: ADJ,acc,sg,n
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- βουλης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- εμεσιτευσεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- ορκω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
Parallels
- Genesis 22:16-18 (quotation): God's oath to Abraham guaranteeing the promise and offspring; Hebrews appeals to this covenantal oath as the concrete example of God's immutable purpose to the heirs of the promise.
- Hebrews 6:13-14 (structural): Immediate context: the author cites God's swearing to Abraham to illustrate why God confirmed the promise with an oath—directly setting up 6:17's point about demonstrating the unchangeableness of his purpose.
- Hebrews 7:21 (quotation): Later in Hebrews the author again invokes divine oath language (quoting Psalm 110:4) to vindicate Jesus' priesthood; both passages use God's oath to confirm and fix theological realities.
- Psalm 110:4 (quotation): Contains the formula 'The LORD has sworn' used elsewhere in Hebrews (e.g., 7:21); thematically parallels 6:17 in using divine oath language to establish an unchangeable divine decree.
- Numbers 23:19 (thematic): Affirms that God does not lie or change his mind like humans—used thematically to support the author's claim in 6:17 that God's promise and purpose are immutable and confirmed by an oath.
Alternative generated candidates
- Thus God, desiring to show more plainly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of his purpose, intervened with an oath,
- In this way God, desiring to show more clearly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of his purpose, guaranteed it with an oath,
Heb.6.18 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ινα: CONJ
- δια: PREP
- δυο: NUM,acc,pl,m
- πραγματων: NOUN,gen,pl,n
- αμεταθετων: ADJ,gen,pl,n
- εν: PREP
- οις: PRON,dat,pl,m
- αδυνατον: ADJ,nom,sg,n
- ψευσασθαι: VERB,aor,mid,inf
- θεον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- ισχυραν: ADJ,acc,sg,f
- παρακλησιν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- εχωμεν: VERB,pres,act,subj,1,pl
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- καταφυγοντες: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,pl,m
- κρατησαι: VERB,aor,act,inf
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- προκειμενης: VERB,pres,pass,part,gen,sg,f
- ελπιδος·: NOUN,gen,sg,f
Parallels
- Numbers 23:19 (verbal): Affirms the same truth that God is not like a human who lies — used in Hebrews to support the claim that it is impossible for God to lie.
- Genesis 22:16-18 (quotation): God's oath to Abraham (swearing by himself) is the example Hebrews cites earlier to show God confirmed his promise by an immutable oath, providing the basis for hope and encouragement.
- Titus 1:2 (verbal): Uses nearly identical language ('God, who cannot lie') to describe God's trustworthiness and the foundation for Christian hope and promised eternal life.
- 2 Corinthians 1:20-22 (thematic): Speaks of the certainty of God's promises and the giving of the Spirit as a guarantee — parallels Hebrews' argument that God's unchangeable pledge and oath give believers strong encouragement to hold fast to hope.
Alternative generated candidates
- so that by two unchangeable things — in which it is impossible for God to lie — we who have taken refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast the hope set before us.
- so that through two unchangeable things—by which it is impossible for God to lie—we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us.
Heb.6.19 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ην: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,sg
- ως: ADV
- αγκυραν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- εχομεν: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,pl
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- ψυχης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- ασφαλη: ADJ,acc,sg,f
- τε: CONJ
- και: CONJ
- βεβαιαν: ADJ,acc,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- εισερχομενην: PART,pres,mid,acc,sg,f
- εις: PREP
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- εσωτερον: ADJ,acc,sg,n
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- καταπετασματος: NOUN,gen,sg,n
Parallels
- Hebrews 6:18 (structural): Immediate context: v.18 presents God's unchangeable promise and oath as the basis for the 'hope' that v.19 calls an anchor of the soul.
- Hebrews 6:20 (thematic): Direct continuation: v.20 identifies Jesus as the 'forerunner' who has entered 'within the veil,' which v.19 describes as the destination of the anchor-like hope.
- Hebrews 9:12 (allusion): Parallels the imagery of entry into the inner sanctuary: Christ entered the holy place once for all by his own blood, securing access—echoing v.19's picture of hope entering 'into the inner chamber' (το ἔσωθεν τοῦ καταπετάσματος).
- Hebrews 9:24 (thematic): Related theme: Christ's heavenly ministry—he has entered into heaven itself to appear in God's presence on our behalf, corresponding to the anchor's entry 'within the veil' as assurance of access to God.
- Ephesians 1:13-14 (thematic): Conceptual parallel: the Spirit is described as a 'guarantee/pledge' (security) of our inheritance, resonating with v.19's language of a sure, steadfast hope that secures the believer.
Alternative generated candidates
- This hope we have as an anchor for the soul, both sure and steadfast, that reaches into the inner sanctuary behind the curtain,
- This hope we have as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure, which enters into the inner sanctuary behind the veil,
Heb.6.20 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- οπου: ADV,rel
- προδρομος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- υπερ: PREP
- ημων: PRON,gen,pl,1
- εισηλθεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- Ιησους: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- κατα: PREP
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- ταξιν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- Μελχισεδεκ: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- αρχιερευς: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- γενομενος: VERB,aor,mid,ptc,nom,sg,m
- εις: PREP
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- αιωνα: NOUN,acc,sg,m
Parallels
- Psalm 110:4 (quotation): Direct OT citation underlying Hebrews' claim: 'You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek,' which Hebrews applies to Jesus' eternal priesthood.
- Genesis 14:18-20 (allusion): Original appearance of Melchizedek (king of Salem, priest of God Most High) whom Hebrews treats as the archetypal priest to whom Jesus is compared.
- Hebrews 5:10 (verbal): Earlier statement in Hebrews that Jesus was 'designated by God a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek,' repeating the same designation used in 6:20.
- Hebrews 7:3 (allusion): Description of Melchizedek as 'without father or mother... resembling the Son of God' supports Hebrews' argument that Jesus' priesthood is unique and timeless, echoed in 6:20.
- Hebrews 7:24-28 (thematic): Extended argument that Jesus holds an indestructible, permanent priesthood 'forever,' paralleling 6:20's claim that he has become high priest for ever according to Melchizedek's order.
Alternative generated candidates
- where Jesus entered on our behalf as a forerunner, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.
- where the forerunner Jesus has entered on our behalf, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.
For when God made the promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself,
saying, "Surely I will bless you and I will multiply you." And thus, after patiently waiting, he obtained the promise.
For people swear by the greater, and an oath for confirmation puts an end to every dispute.
So, desiring to show more clearly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, God confirmed it with an oath,
that by two unchangeable things—the promise and the oath—in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast the hope set before us.
This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, which enters into the inner sanctuary behind the veil,
where Jesus has entered on our behalf as a forerunner, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.