Lexical Summary mesiteuó: To mediate, to act as a mediator Original Word: μεσιτεύω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance confirm. From mesites; to interpose (as arbiter), i.e (by implication) to ratify (as surety) -- confirm. see GREEK mesites NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom mesités Definition to interpose, mediate NASB Translation interposed (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 3315: μεσιτεύωμεσιτεύω: 1 aorist ἐμεσίτευσα; (μεσίτης (cf. Winer's Grammar, p. 25 e.)); 1. to act as mediator, between litigating or covenanting parties; translated as to accomplish something by interposing between two parties, to mediate, (with the accusative of the result): τήν διαλυσιν, Polybius 11, 34, 3; τάς συνθήκας, Diodorus 19, 71; Dionysius Halicarnassus 9, 59; (cf. Philo de plant. Noë, 2:2 at the end). 2. as a μεσίτης is a sponsor or surety (Josephus, Antiquities 4, 6, 7 ταῦτα ὀμνυντες ἔλεγον καί τόν Θεόν μεσιτην ὧν ὑπισχνουντο ποιούμενοι (cf. Philo de spec. legg. 3:7 ἀοράτῳ δέ πράγματι πάντως ἀόρατος μεσιτευει Θεός etc.)), so μεσιτεύω comes to signify to pledge oneself, give surety: ὅρκῳ, Hebrews 6:17. Strong’s Greek 3315 describes an action of stepping between two parties in order to secure a matter by oath. The underlying picture is covenantal: an authoritative guarantor places Himself “in the middle” so that the promise can never be called into question. Scriptural Occurrence Hebrews 6:17 contains the lone use of the verb: “So when God wanted to make the unchanging nature of His purpose very clear to the heirs of the promise, He confirmed it with an oath”. Here, “confirmed” translates the verb in its aorist form, emphasizing a decisive, once-for-all act in salvation history. The Divine Oath as Covenant Guarantee The Epistle to the Hebrews is addressing believers tempted to drift from faith’s anchor. By recalling Genesis 22:16-18, the writer shows that God not only promised but also bound Himself by oath, thereby eliminating every possibility of failure. The verb conveys God’s self-commitment: He becomes both Promiser and Guarantor. Because He could swear by no one greater, He “interposed” by His own divine character, conveying absolute reliability. Relation to the Mediatorship of Christ Although the verb appears only once, its conceptual field intersects with the noun “mediator” (mesitēs, Hebrews 8:6; 9:15; 12:24; 1 Timothy 2:5). The divine oath of Hebrews 6 anticipates the incarnate Mediator who will stand between God and humanity in a yet more dramatic fashion, sealing the new covenant with His blood. Thus, the single occurrence of the verb becomes a theological bridge between God’s ancient self-oath to Abraham and the priestly ministry of Jesus Christ. Old Testament Parallels • Genesis 15:17-18 – God passes between the pieces, a visible enactment of “standing in the middle.” Historical Interpretation Early patristic writers saw in the verb a proof of divine condescension—God stooping to human legal forms so believers might rest secure. Reformers stressed the immutability of God’s counsel: the oath is not for God’s benefit but for the heirs’ assurance. In covenant theology, the term undergirds the doctrines of perseverance and assurance, showing that salvation rests on God’s self-binding word. Pastoral and Practical Implications 1. Assurance of Salvation – Believers may face doubt, but God’s oath stands as an unshakeable foundation (Hebrews 6:18). Related Themes • Immutability of God (Malachi 3:6; James 1:17) Summary Strong’s Greek 3315 showcases the moment when God Himself steps into the covenantal space, binding His promise with an oath. That single verb in Hebrews 6:17 forms a theological hinge: it looks back to Abraham, forward to Christ, and outward to every believer who now rests in the surety of an unbreakable divine pledge. |
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