Swearing by the Greater Hebrews 6:16

The writer of Hebrews proclaimed that God “because he could swear by no greater, he swore by himself”, and His “promise” to “bless” and “multiply” Abraham was “obtained” after Abrahan had “patiently endured”. In chapter six and verse sixteen of Hebrews the writer shares how “men” “swear by the greater” where we read:

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

The verse begins, “For men verily swear by the greater:”. The writer began with the words, “For men” which means “because, since and on account of human beings whether male or female”, “verily” or “truly, certainly, surely and indeed” “swear” which means “affirm, promise and invoke with an oath” “by the greater” or “through and by means of the larger, elder or stronger”. When people make promises to each other, they sometimes “swear” they will keep them. These promises are invoked by someone or something “greater” than they are.

The verse goes on to say, “and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife.”. The writer continued with the words, “and an oath” or “a pledge or promise with sacred restraint” “for confirmation” which means “stability” “is to them” which refers to “the men from and to whom promises are made” “an end” or “an extremity, portion of space, boundary or frontier” “of all strife” which means “the total gainsaying, contradiction, opposition and rebellion”. People give “an oath” as proof they are telling the truth, and this puts an end to all “strife” or arguing.

When we think through these words in Hebrews, we see the writer's intention to have his readers consider how people “swear” by things greater than themselves as proof they will do as they say. They “swear” by their “mother's grave”, “the church” or “the Bible” to verify what they are saying is true, and these “greater things” are supposed to affirm and give support to their “promise”. Jesus Christ spoke “promises” when He was on earth such as, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16), and since Jesus can “swear” by no one “greater” we may have confidence, His “promise and “affirmation” is true, true, true.

Next time the writer shares how God “confirmed” His “promise by an oath”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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