HEB 6:17 Parallel Verse View

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Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor, cyan:dative/indirect object.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT in which God, intending even more to show to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable quality of his purpose, mediated it with an oath

UST In a similar way, God wanted to demonstrate very clearly to those who would receive what he promised that he would not change what he intended to do. So, he guaranteed what he promised, just like humans do.

BSB So 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.

BLB in which God, desiring to show more abundantly the unchangeableness of His purpose to the heirs of the promise, guaranteed it by an oath,

AICNT In which God, desiring to show more abundantly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable nature of his purpose, interposed with an oath,

OEB And therefore God, in his desire to show, with unmistakable plainness, to those who were to enter on the enjoyment of what he had promised, the unchangeableness of his purpose, bound himself with an oath.

WEBBE In this way God, being determined to show more abundantly to the heirs of the promise the immutability of his counsel, interposed with an oath,

WMBB (Same as above)

NET In the same way God wanted to demonstrate more clearly to the heirs of the promise that his purpose was unchangeable, and so he intervened with an oath,

LSV in which God, more abundantly willing to show to the heirs of the promise the immutability of His counsel, interposed by an oath,

FBV That's why God wanted to demonstrate more clearly to those who would inherit the promise that he would never ever change his mind.

TCNT So when God wanted to show the unchangeable nature of his purpose even more clearly to the heirs of the promise, he guaranteed it with an oath,

T4T So, when God wanted to demonstrate very clearly ◄to us/to those people► who would receive what he had promised that he would not change what he had purposed to do, he solemnly guaranteed that he would declare himself guilty if he did not do what he promised.

LEB In the same way God, because he[fn] wanted to show even more to the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of his resolve, guaranteed it with an oath,

6:17 *Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“wanted”) which is understood as causal

BBE So that when it was God's desire to make it specially clear to those who by his word were to have the heritage, that his purpose was fixed, he made it more certain with an oath;

Moff God, in his desire to afford the heirs of the Promise a special proof of the solid character of his purpose, interposed with an oath;

Wymth In the same way, since it was God's desire to display more convincingly to the heirs of the promise how unchangeable His purpose was,

ASV Wherein God, being minded to show more abundantly unto the heirs of the promise the immutability of his counsel, interposed with an oath;

DRA Wherein God, meaning more abundantly to shew to the heirs of the promise the immutability of his counsel, interposed an oath:

YLT in which God, more abundantly willing to shew to the heirs of the promise the immutability of his counsel, did interpose by an oath,

Drby Wherein [fn]God, willing to shew more abundantly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of his purpose, intervened by an oath,

6.17 Elohim

RV Wherein God, being minded to shew more abundantly unto the heirs of the promise the immutability of his counsel, interposed with an oath:
(Wherein God, being minded to show more abundantly unto the heirs of the promise the immutability of his council/counsel, interposed with an oath: )

SLT In which God, willing more abundantly to show to the heirs of the promise the firmness of his counsel, he intervened by an oath:

Wbstr Wherein God, willing more abundantly to show to the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath:

KJB-1769 Where in God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath:
(Where in God, willing more abundantly to show unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his council/counsel, confirmed it by an oath: )

KJB-1611 Wherein God willing more abundantly to shewe vnto the heyres of promise the immutabilitie of his counsell, [fn]confirmed it by an oath:
(Wherein God willing more abundantly to show unto the heyres of promise the immutabilitie of his council/counsel, confirmed it by an oath:)

6:17 Gr. interposed himselfe by an oath.

Bshps Wherein God wyllyng very aboundauntly to shewe vnto the heires of promise, the stablenesse of his counsayle, confirmed by an oth:
(Wherein God willing very abundantly to show unto the heires of promise, the stableness of his counsayle, confirmed by an oath:)

Gnva So God, willing more aboundantly to shew vnto the heires of promise the stablenes of his counsell, bound himselfe by an othe,
(So God, willing more abundantly to show unto the heires of promise the stablenes of his council/counsel, bound himself by an oath, )

Cvdl But God, wyllinge very abundauntly to shewe vnto the heyres of promes the stablenes of his councell, added an ooth
(But God, wyllinge very abundantly to show unto the heyres of promes the stablenes of his councell, added an oath)

TNT So god willynge very aboundanly to shewe vnto the heyres of promes the stablenes of his counsayle he added an othe
(So god willing very aboundanly to show unto the heyres of promes the stablenes of his counsayle he added an oath )

Wycl In which thing God willynge to schewe plenteuouslier to the eiris of his biheest the sadnesse of his counsel,
(In which thing God willing to show plenteous/plentifullyer to the heirs of his behest/promise the sadness of his council/counsel,)

Luth Aber GOtt, da er wollte den Erben der Verheißung überschwenglich beweisen, daß sein Rat nicht wankete, hat er einen Eid dazugetan,
(But God, there he wanted the inheritance the/of_the promise(n) in_abundance prove, that be advice not wankete, has he a oath to_that/in_additiongetan,)

ClVg In quo abundantius volens Deus ostendere pollicitationis hæredibus, immobilitatem consilii sui, interposuit jusjurandum:[fn]
(In where abundantius willing God to_show pollicitationis theseredibus, immobilitatem advice self, interposuit to_swear_an_oath: )

6.17 In quo abundantius volens. Quasi diceret: Si autem homini, qui mendax est, per juramentum creditur, quanto magis Deo credendum est, qui mentiri non potest?

6.17 In where abundantius willing. As_if would_say: When/But_if however to_man, who/which liar it_is, through oath it_is_believed, how_much more to_God to_be_believed it_is, who/which mentiri not/no can?

UGNT ἐν ᾧ περισσότερον βουλόμενος ὁ Θεὸς ἐπιδεῖξαι τοῖς κληρονόμοις τῆς ἐπαγγελίας, τὸ ἀμετάθετον τῆς βουλῆς αὐτοῦ, ἐμεσίτευσεν ὅρκῳ,
(en hō perissoteron boulomenos ho Theos epideixai tois klaʸronomois taʸs epangelias, to ametatheton taʸs boulaʸs autou, emesiteusen horkōi,)

SBL-GNT ἐν ᾧ περισσότερον βουλόμενος ὁ θεὸς ἐπιδεῖξαι τοῖς κληρονόμοις τῆς ἐπαγγελίας τὸ ἀμετάθετον τῆς βουλῆς αὐτοῦ ἐμεσίτευσεν ὅρκῳ,
(en hō perissoteron boulomenos ho theos epideixai tois klaʸronomois taʸs epangelias to ametatheton taʸs boulaʸs autou emesiteusen horkōi,)

RP-GNT Ἐν ᾧ περισσότερον βουλόμενος ὁ θεὸς ἐπιδεῖξαι τοῖς κληρονόμοις τῆς ἐπαγγελίας τὸ ἀμετάθετον τῆς βουλῆς αὐτοῦ, ἐμεσίτευσεν ὅρκῳ,
(En hō perissoteron boulomenos ho theos epideixai tois klaʸronomois taʸs epangelias to ametatheton taʸs boulaʸs autou, emesiteusen horkōi,)

TC-GNT Ἐν ᾧ περισσότερον βουλόμενος ὁ Θεὸς ἐπιδεῖξαι τοῖς κληρονόμοις τῆς ἐπαγγελίας τὸ ἀμετάθετον τῆς βουλῆς αὐτοῦ, ἐμεσίτευσεν ὅρκῳ,
(En hō perissoteron boulomenos ho Theos epideixai tois klaʸronomois taʸs epangelias to ametatheton taʸs boulaʸs autou, emesiteusen horkōi, )

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 6:13–20: We can trust God’s promises because he does not lie

This section is the final part of the long appeal that the author began to make to his readers in 5:11. He urged them to keep on believing. He warned them not to give up what they believed. In this final section, he reminded them of God’s promise to Abraham, and he encouraged them that God always keeps his promises. We can come into God’s presence because Jesus, our high priest, is already there (6:20). He is a high priest like Melchizedek.

The last verse of this section is similar to 5:10, and connects this section to chapter 7. The author finished his long appeal to his readers in 6:20, and in 7:1 he continued his teaching about Jesus, our high priest.

Some other possible section headings are:

God always does what he promises to do

We can believe God because he always does what he said he would

Paragraph 6:16–20

In 6:16–20 the author continued to explain about God’s oath. In Greek, these verses are one long sentence, but English versions have divided it into shorter ones.The most solemn oath which the people of Israel used was “As (surely as) the Lord lives.”

6:17

In this verse the author applied what he said in 6:16 to God. God made a promise and then he also swore an oath. He used the oath to show people that he will surely do what he has promised.

6:17a

So when God wanted to make the unchanging nature of His purpose very clear

Similarly, God wanted to show very clearly that he will not change what he decided to do
In a similar way, God also wanted to strongly assure us that he will not change his plans/mind.

So when God wanted to make the unchanging nature of His purpose very clear: The word So is more literally “in which.” It indicates that God also did what the author said that human beings do (6:16). Just as a human being swears an oath so that people will believe him, God also wanted his people to believe him. So he swore an oath to show his people that he will truly do what he promised them. Here is another way to translate this:

God…wanted to make this perfectly clear (GW)

the unchanging nature of His purpose: The Greek word which the BSB translates as the unchanging nature means “unchangeableness.” It is used to refer to something that will never change. Here it refers to what God decided and promised to do. His decision is permanent and remains the same forever. It cannot be changed. Another way to translate this part of the verse is:

he will certainly not change what he planned/decided

of His purpose: The phrase of His purpose means “of his will,” or “of what he wants.” In some languages it is more natural to translate the noun purpose as a verb: For example:

his plans for them

what he decided/intended to do for them

For more translation suggestions, see the General Comment on 6:17a–c at the end of 6:17c.

6:17b

to the heirs of the promise,

for the recipients of his promise.
I am speaking of us who will receive what he promised.

to the heirs of the promise: The phrase the heirs of the promise means “those who would later receive what God had promised.” It does not imply here that anyone will die so that others will inherit what they owned. In some languages it is more natural to translate the phrase in a different way. For example:

those who would receive what he was promisingTagbanwa back translation on TW.

of the promise: The phrase of the promise includes what God promised Abraham and also what God promised to all who believe in his Son.

6:17c

He guaranteed it with an oath.

Because of that, he confirmed his promise with an oath.
So he added an oath to what he promised in order to make the promise even more emphatic.

He guaranteed it with an oath: The clause “he confirmed it with an oath” means “he made his promise stronger by adding an oath.” The word it refers to his promise.

Other ways to translate the clause are:

made the promise stronger by adding/swearing an oath

confirmed the promise with an oath

General Comment on 6:17a–c

The author talks about several actions in this verse, and he also mentions reasons for those actions. It is important to use a natural order in your language to translate the actions and the reasons for them. For example:

^17cSo God added an oath ^17bfor those who would receive what he had promised, ^17abecause he wanted to show them very clearly that his purpose/will could not be changed.

^17aGod wanted to show very clearly ^17bto those who would inherit what he had promised, ^17athat he would not change his plans for them. ^17cSo he added an oath to what he had promised in order to make it stronger.

^17aGod would not change his plan. He wanted to make this perfectly clear ^17bto those who would receive his promise, ^17cso he took an oath. (GW)

6:17a–c

(reordered) It is impossible that God will change his plans for the people who received his promise. He wanted to show them very clearly that he would never fail to fulfill those plans. So he added an oath to his promise.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases

ἐν ᾧ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἐν ᾧ περισσότερον βουλόμενος ὁ Θεός ἐπιδεῖξαι τοῖς κληρονόμοις τῆς ἐπαγγελίας τό ἀμετάθετον τῆς βουλῆς αὐτοῦ ἐμεσίτευσεν ὅρκῳ)

The word which refers back to how humans “swear” with an oath (See: [6:16](../06/16.md)). The phrase in which means that what the author speaks about in this verse happens in that same context or way. In other words, God used an oath, just like humans do. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word or phrase that introduces something that happens according to a previously stated pattern. Alternate translation: [in which same way] or [in which pattern]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / infostructure

περισσότερον & ἐπιδεῖξαι

more_abundantly & ˓to˒_show

The phrase even more modifies to show. If it would be helpful in your language, you could rearrange the elements in this sentence to make clearer what even more modifies. Alternate translation: [to show even more]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

τοῖς κληρονόμοις τῆς ἐπαγγελίας

˱to˲_the heirs ˱of˲_the promise

The author speaks as if believers were children who would receive property that a parent passes on to their child when the parent dies. He means that believers receive the promise from God, even though God does not die. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [to those who were to receive the promise] or [to the recipients of the promise]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

τῆς ἐπαγγελίας

˱of˲_the promise

The word promise refers to the contents of the promise, or what God has “promised” to give. If it would be helpful in your language, you could clarify that the author is referring to the contents of this promise. Alternate translation: [of the things from the promise] or [of the things that God promised]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

τὸ ἀμετάθετον τῆς βουλῆς αὐτοῦ

If your language does not use abstract nouns for the ideas of quality and purpose, you could express the ideas by using verbs or in another natural way. Alternate translation: [that what he purposes is unchangeable] or [how unchangeable is what he plans]

Parallel HEB 6:17