Lexical Summary ametathetos: Unchangeable, immutable Original Word: ἀμετάθετος Strong's Exhaustive Concordance immutable. From a (as a negative particle) and a derivative of metatithemi; unchangeable, or (neuter as abstract) unchangeability -- immutable(-ility). see GREEK a see GREEK metatithemi HELPS Word-studies 276 ametáthetos (an adjective, derived from 1 /A "not" and 3346 /metatíthēmi, "to change position") – properly, no-change-of-position (form); hence, immutable, unchangeable, (unalterable). [276 (ametáthetos) also means immutable in the P Oxy (III. 482, NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom alpha (as a neg. prefix) and metatithémi Definition immutable, unchangeable NASB Translation unchangeable (1), unchangeableness (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 276: ἀμετάθετοςἀμετάθετος, (μετατίθημι), not transposed, not to be transferred; fixed, unalterable: Hebrews 6:18; τό ἀμετάθετον as a substantive, immutability, Hebrews 6:17. (3Macc. 5:1; Polybius, Diodorus, Plutarch.) Topical Lexicon Scriptural ContextThe adjective appears only in Hebrews 6:17-18 where the writer sets out to bolster wavering believers. God “confirmed it with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to Him for refuge might have strong encouragement to seize the hope set before us” (Hebrews 6:17-18). The word frames the entire argument: if God’s promise and God’s oath are each incapable of alteration, then the salvation secured in Jesus Messiah is forever trustworthy. Link with the Abrahamic Covenant Hebrews 6 deliberately echoes Genesis 22:16-18, reminding readers that the Lord bound Himself to Abraham “by Myself I have sworn.” The covenant blessings promised—descendants, land, universal blessing through the Seed—find their fulfillment in Christ (Galatians 3:16). By calling that oath “unchangeable,” the epistle shows that the cross does not replace God’s earlier word; it completes it. Thus New Covenant believers inherit a hope that is historically rooted, covenantal, and guaranteed. Theological Significance: Divine Immutability Other passages affirm that the Lord’s nature and purpose are fixed: “I, the Lord, do not change” (Malachi 3:6); “with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning” (James 1:17). Hebrews 6 gathers these strands into one decisive declaration. Immutability is not abstract philosophy but the ground of redemption: if God could vacillate, then the cross, the resurrection, and every promise of forgiveness would be provisional. By using this rare adjective, the writer underscores that God’s character, counsel, and commitments are permanently aligned. Christ’s Priestly Work Anchored in the Unchangeable Oath The “hope that enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain” (Hebrews 6:19) is linked directly to Jesus, “a high priest forever in the order of Melchizedek” (Hebrews 6:20). The unalterable divine oath makes Christ’s priesthood perpetual. Consequently, intercession (Hebrews 7:25), once-for-all atonement (Hebrews 9:12), and the believer’s access to the throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16) rest on an immutable foundation. Assurance, Perseverance, and Pastoral Care 1. Spiritual security. Because the promise cannot be revoked, believers may “draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith” (Hebrews 10:22). Historical and Doctrinal Development Early church fathers like Athanasius appealed to Hebrews 6 when defending the eternity and constancy of the Son against Arianism. Medieval theologians employed the passage in articulating the immutability of divine decrees. Reformation confessions cited it to affirm the certainty of election and the perseverance of the saints. Throughout history, the text has safeguarded the church against views that portray God as fickle or capricious. Integration with Broader Biblical Themes • Covenant faithfulness: Numbers 23:19; Psalm 105:8-10 Ministry Applications Preaching: Present God’s promises as rock-solid, contrasting them with the shifting claims of culture. Counseling: Direct doubting hearts to the twin certainties of promise and oath, encouraging repentance from self-reliance and rest in divine reliability. Worship: Songs and prayers that exalt God’s faithfulness (for example, “Great Is Thy Faithfulness”) echo the adjective’s force, turning doctrine into doxology. Discipleship: Teach new believers to anchor assurance in God’s character rather than emotional fluctuation. Conclusion Though occurring only twice, the term in Hebrews 6:17-18 magnetically draws together the entire biblical witness to God’s steadfastness. It assures every generation that the same God who swore to Abraham has, in Christ, secured an unalterable salvation and an indestructible hope. Forms and Transliterations αμεταθετον αμετάθετον ἀμετάθετον αμεταθετων αμεταθέτων ἀμεταθέτων ametatheton ametathetōn ametathéton ametathétōn ametáthetonLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Hebrews 6:17 Adj-ANSGRK: ἐπαγγελίας τὸ ἀμετάθετον τῆς βουλῆς NAS: of the promise the unchangeableness of His purpose, KJV: of promise the immutability of his INT: promise the unchangeableness of the counsel Hebrews 6:18 Adj-GNP Strong's Greek 276 |
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