For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself,
When God made that promise to Abraham, there was literally no one higher than him to swear by, so he swore by himself.
God's promises are backed by the highest authority in existence: himself.
📚 Historical Context
In the Old Testament, God made a solemn promise to Abraham in Genesis 22, assuring him of abundant blessings and descendants as a reward for his faith and obedience. Since there was no higher authority than God Himself to swear by, He confirmed this promise by taking an oath in His own name, emphasizing the unchangeable nature of His word. The book of Hebrews, written to encourage early Jewish Christians facing persecution, uses this example to highlight God's faithfulness and reliability in keeping His covenants.
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