Hebrews 6:16 “Men swear by someone greater than themselves, and their oath serves as…”

Hebrews 6:16

Men swear by someone greater than themselves, and their oath serves as a confirmation to end all argument.

Berean Standard Bible

Other translations

King James Version

For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife.

World English Bible

For men indeed swear by a greater one, and in every dispute of theirs the oath is final for confirmation.

American Standard Version

For men swear by the greater: and in every dispute of theirs the oath is final for confirmation.

Geneva Bible 1599

For men verely sweare by him that is greater then themselues, and an othe for confirmation is among them an ende of all strife.

Darby Translation

For men indeed swear by a greater, and with them the oath is a term to all dispute, as making matters sure.

Young's Literal Translation

for men indeed do swear by the greater, and an end of all controversy to them for confirmation [is] the oath,

Bible in Basic English

For men at all times make their oaths by what is greater; and any argument is ended by the decision of the oath.

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Cross references

“swear”

Hebrews 6:13 Genesis 14:22 Genesis 21:23 Matthew 23:20–22

Hebrews 6:13 · BSB

When God made His promise to Abraham, since He had no one greater to swear by, He swore by Himself,

Genesis 14:22 · BSB

But Abram replied to the king of Sodom, “I have raised my hand to the LORD God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth,

Genesis 21:23 · BSB

Now, therefore, swear to me here before God that you will not deal falsely with me or my children or descendants. Show to me and to the country in which you reside the same kindness that I have shown to you.”

Matthew 23:20–22 · BSB

So then, he who swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it.

“an oath”

Exodus 22:11 Genesis 31:53 Joshua 9:15–20 Ezekiel 17:16–20 2 Samuel 21:2 Genesis 21:30

Exodus 22:11 · BSB

an oath before the LORD shall be made between the parties to determine whether or not the man has taken his neighbor’s property. The owner must accept the oath and require no restitution.

Genesis 31:53 · BSB

May the God of Abraham and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge between us.” So Jacob swore by the Fear of his father Isaac.

Joshua 9:15–20 · BSB

And Joshua made a treaty of peace with them to let them live, and the leaders of the congregation swore an oath to them.

Ezekiel 17:16–20 · BSB

‘As surely as I live,’ declares the Lord GOD, ‘he will die in Babylon, in the land of the king who enthroned him, whose oath he despised and whose covenant he broke.

2 Samuel 21:2 · BSB

At this, David summoned the Gibeonites and spoke to them. (Now the Gibeonites were not Israelites, but a remnant of the Amorites. The Israelites had taken an oath concerning them, but in his zeal for Israel and Judah, Sa…

Genesis 21:30 · BSB

He replied, “You are to accept the seven ewe lambs from my hand as my witness that I dug this well.”

Cross references adapted from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0) and the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

In context

15And so Abraham, after waiting patiently, obtained the promise.

17So 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.

Read Hebrews 6