12. so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and perseverance inherit the promises.
13. Now when God made his promise to Abraham, since he could swear by no one greater, he swore by himself,
14. saying, “Surely I will bless you greatly and multiply your descendants abundantly.”
15. And so by persevering, Abraham inherited the promise.
16. For people swear by something greater than themselves, and the oath serves as a confirmation to end all dispute.
17. 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,