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Selected Verse: Hebrews 6:13 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Heb 6:13	Strong Concordance	For [1063] when God [2316] made promise [1861] to Abraham [11], because [1893] he could [2192] swear [3660] by [2596] no [3762] greater [3187], he sware [3660] by [2596] himself [1438],
	King James	For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself,

Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
For--confirming the reasonableness of resting on "the promises" as infallibly sure, resting as they do on God's oath, by the instance of Abraham. "He now gives consolation, by the oath of God's grace, to those whom, in the second, third, and fourth chapters, he had warned by the oath of God's 'wrath.' The oath of wrath did not primarily extend its force beyond the wilderness; but the oath of grace is in force for ever" [BENGEL].

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

For--confirming the reasonableness of resting on "the promises" as infallibly sure, resting as they do on God's oath, by the instance of Abraham. "He now gives consolation, by the oath of God's grace, to those whom, in the second, third, and fourth chapters, he had warned by the oath of God's 'wrath.' The oath of wrath did not primarily extend its force beyond the wilderness; but the oath of grace is in force for ever" [BENGEL].

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
For when God made promise to Abraham - That he would bless him, and multiply his seed as the stars of heaven; Gen 22:16-17. The object of introducing this example here is, to encourage those to whom the apostle was writing to persevere in the Christian life, This he does by showing that God had given the highest possible assurance of his purpose to bless his people, by an oath. Reference is made to Abraham in this argument, probably, for two reasons: (1) To show the nature of the evidence which Christians have that they will be saved, or the ground of encouragement - being the same as that made to Abraham, and depending, as in his case, on the promise of God; and, (2) because the "example" of Abraham was just in point. He had persevered. He had relied firmly and solely on the promise of God. He did this when appearances were much against the fulfillment of the promise, and he thus showed the advantage of perseverance and fidelity in the cause of God. Because he could swear by no greater - There is no being greater than God. In taking an oath among people it is always implied that the appeal is to one of superior power, who is able to punish for its infraction. But this could not occur in the case of God himself. There was no greater being than himself, and the oath, therefore, was by his own existence. He sware by himself - Gen 22:16. "By myself have I sworn;" compare Isa 45:23. In an oath of this kind God pledges his veracity; declares that the event shall be as certain as his existence; and secures it by all the perfections of his nature. The usual form of the oath is, "As I live, saith the Lord;" see Num 14:21, Num 14:28; Eze 33:11.

Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886]
Illustration of the long-suffering of faith by the example of Abraham. The necessity for emphasizing this element of faith lay in the growing discouragement of the Jewish Christians at the long delay of Christ's second coming. Comp. ch. 11. Abraham became a sojourner in the land of the promise, looking for the heavenly city (Heb 11:9, Heb 11:10). All the instances cited in that chapter illustrate the long outlook of faith, involving patient waiting and endurance. The example of Abraham shows, first, that the promise of God is sure. Because he could swear by no greater (ἐπεὶ κατ' οὐδενὸς εἶχεν μείζονος ὀμόσαι) Lit. since he had (the power) to swear by no one greater. By himself (καθ' ἑαυτοῦ) Comp. Gen 22:16. N.T.o , but see lxx, Amo 6:8.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
For - Ye have abundant encouragement, seeing no stronger promise could be made than that great promise which God made to Abraham, and in him to us.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
When God made promise to Abraham - The promise referred to is that made to Abraham when he had offered his son Isaac on the altar, Gen 22:16-18 : "By myself have I sworn, saith the Lord; for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thy only son; that in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the seashore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed." Of this promise the apostle only quotes a part, as is generally the case, because he knew that his readers were well acquainted with the Scriptures of the Old Testament, and particularly with the law. He sware by himself - He pledged his eternal power and Godhead for the fulfillment of the promise; there was no being superior to himself to whom he could make appeal, or by whom he could be bound, therefore he appeals to and pledges his immutable truth and Godhead.

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¹¹ Say [0559] unto them, As I live [02416], saith [05002] the Lord [0136] GOD [03069], I have no pleasure [02654] in the death [04194] of the wicked [07563]; but that the wicked [07563] turn [07725] from his way [01870] and live [02421]: turn [07725] ye, turn [07725] ye from your evil [07451] ways [01870]; for why will ye die [04191], O house [01004] of Israel [03478]?

²⁸ Say [0559] unto them, As truly as [03808] I live [02416], saith [05002] the LORD [03068], as ye have spoken [01696] in mine ears [0241], so will I do [06213] to you:

²¹ But as truly [0199] as I live [02416], all the earth [0776] shall be filled [04390] with the glory [03519] of the LORD [03068].

²³ I have sworn [07650] by myself, the word [01697] is gone out [03318] of my mouth [06310] in righteousness [06666], and shall not return [07725], That unto me every knee [01290] shall bow [03766], every tongue [03956] shall swear [07650].

¹⁶ And said [0559], By myself have I sworn [07650], saith [05002] the LORD [03068], for because [03282] [0834] thou hast done [06213] this thing [01697], and hast not [03808] withheld [02820] thy son [01121], thine only [03173] son:
¹⁷ That in blessing [01288] I will bless [01288] thee, and in multiplying [07235] I will multiply [07235] thy seed [02233] as the stars [03556] of the heaven [08064], and as the sand [02344] which is upon the sea [03220] shore [08193]; and thy seed [02233] shall possess [03423] the gate [08179] of his enemies [0341];

⁸ The Lord [0136] GOD [03069] hath sworn [07650] by himself [05315], saith [05002] the LORD [03068] the God [0430] of hosts [06635], I abhor [08374] the excellency [01347] of Jacob [03290], and hate [08130] his palaces [0759]: therefore will I deliver up [05462] the city [05892] with all that is therein [04393].

¹⁰ For [1063] he looked for [1551] a city [4172] which hath [2192] foundations [2310], whose [3739] builder [5079] and [2532] maker [1217] is God [2316].

⁹ By faith [4102] he sojourned [3939] in [1519] the land [1093] of promise [1860], as [5613] in a strange country [245], dwelling [2730] in [1722] tabernacles [4633] with [3326] Isaac [2464] and [2532] Jacob [2384], the heirs with him [4789] of the same [846] promise [1860]: