^6:13Now when God made his promise to Abraham, since he could swear by no one greater, he swore by himself, ^6:14saying, “Surely I will bless you greatly and multiply your descendants abundantly.”¹²^6:15And so by persevering, Abraham¹³ inherited the promise. ^6:16For people¹⁴ swear by something greater than themselves,¹⁵ and the oath serves as a confirmation to end all dispute.¹⁶

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Footnotes

12 Grk “in blessing I will bless you and in multiplying I will multiply you,” the Greek form of a Hebrew idiom showing intensity. A quotation from Gen 22:17.
13 Grk “he”; in the translation the referent (Abraham) has been specified for clarity.
14 The plural Greek term ἄνθρωποι (anthrōpoi) is used here in a generic sense, referring to both men and women, and is thus translated “people.”
15 Grk “by something greater”; the rest of the comparison (“than themselves”) is implied.
16 Grk “the oath for confirmation is an end of all dispute.”

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself, saying, “Surely I will bless you and multiply you.” And thus Abraham, having patiently waited, obtained the promise. For people swear by something greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself, saying, “I will surely bless you and give you many descendants.” And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised.

People swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater to swear by, he swore by himself: I will indeed bless you, and I will greatly multiply you. And so, after waiting patiently, Abraham obtained the promise. For people swear by something greater than themselves, and for them a confirming oath ends every dispute.

NLTNew Living Translation

For example, there was God’s promise to Abraham. Since there was no one greater to swear by, God took an oath in his own name, saying:

“I will certainly bless you,

and I will multiply your descendants beyond number.”

Then Abraham waited patiently, and he received what God had promised.

Now when people take an oath, they call on someone greater than themselves to hold them to it. And without any question that oath is binding.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater to swear by, he swore by himself, saying,

“Surely I will greatly bless you, and I will greatly multiply you.”

And so, by persevering, he obtained the promise. For people swear by what is greater than themselves, and the oath for confirmation is the end of all dispute for them.

KJV 1900King James Version

For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself, Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee. And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife.

Public Domain