Hebrews 6:18-19
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God's promise and oath are presented as two completely separate guarantees, not just two aspects of the same thing. This means that even if you were to somehow doubt one, the other remains an unbreakable anchor, providing the strongest possible encouragement to hold onto the hope set before you.
so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain,
English Standard Version (ESV)
The author is warning against spiritual stagnation and backsliding, urging readers to move past basic teachings toward maturity in faith. He emphasizes that God’s promise and oath, made through Jesus, are unchangeable guarantees of salvation, offering strong encouragement for believers who have sought refuge in Christ. This security is vital for those who have "fled for refuge" and are holding onto the hope of eternal life.
What makes God's promises so unbreakable? It’s not just one thing, but two powerful guarantees that leave no room for doubt.
The verse speaks of "two immutable things" that secure our hope. These are consistently understood by scholars as God's divine promise and His solemn oath.
These aren't just words; they are foundational truths rooted in God's very being, making it impossible for Him to break His commitment.
We don't just hear about God's promises; we actively respond. What does it look like to 'flee for refuge'?
The verse describes believers as those who have "fled for refuge." This imagery powerfully conveys our posture of faith:
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With God's guarantees in place and our response of faith, what is the amazing result?
The "two immutable things" and our act of fleeing for refuge lead to "strong encouragement." This isn't just a little pep talk; it's a profound, bolstering strength that affects our inner lives:
Understand the original words
adunaton pseusasthai theon · Greek Verb phrase
The ontological inability of God to state anything contrary to truth; truth is an essential attribute of His divine nature.
kataphugē · Greek Noun
A safe place to which one runs to escape danger or judgment; in a spiritual sense, it refers to finding safety in God's provision and character.
elpis · Greek Noun
The confident expectation of future good based on God’s promises; it is not a mere wish but a firm conviction of what God will perform.
esōteron tou katapetasmatos · Greek Noun phrase
The Most Holy Place in the Tabernacle/Temple, representing the immediate presence of God’s glory.
This verse draws directly from the Old Testament's framework of God's unchangeable promises, particularly His covenant with Abraham and the institution of cities of refuge. These Old Testament realities served as powerful, tangible examples of God's faithfulness, preparing the way for the ultimate, unchangeable assurance found in Jesus Christ's priesthood and the hope He offers to believers who have fled to Him for refuge.
c. 2000 BC
God's Promise to Abraham
God promises Abraham descendants and land, making a covenant with him. Later, God reaffirms this promise and adds an oath, swearing by himself, signifying its unchangeable nature.
c. 1400 BC
Cities of Refuge Established
Following the conquest of Canaan, six cities are designated as 'cities of refuge' for those who unintentionally killed someone, offering them protection from the avenger of blood.
c. 1000 BC
Davidic Covenant
God establishes an everlasting covenant with King David, promising that his line will rule forever. This reinforces the theme of God's unshakeable promises concerning His people and His kingdom.
c. AD 30
Jesus' Crucifixion and Resurrection
Jesus Christ is crucified and then resurrected, fulfilling God's ultimate promise of salvation. His ascension to heaven establishes His eternal priesthood.
c. AD 30-60— this verse
Early Church Ministry
The apostles and early believers preach the gospel, emphasizing Christ's sacrifice and resurrection as the basis for hope. Many face persecution and hardship.
This passage highlights God swearing by himself, demonstrating the immutability of His promise to Abraham, a foundational example of the 'two immutable things' that offer strong encouragement.
Numbers 23:19This verse directly states that God is not a human who lies or changes His mind, reinforcing the impossibility of God being untruthful mentioned in Hebrews 6:18.
Psalm 89:34-35This psalm speaks of God's faithfulness to David's line, even if descendants sin, showing that God will not annul His covenant, which echoes the unbreakable nature of God's promises and oaths.
Titus 1:2Paul directly refers to God as 'the hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began,' directly supporting the idea of God's truthful, unchangeable promises as a basis for hope.
Joshua 20:1-9This passage describes the cities of refuge established for those who accidentally killed someone, providing a clear Old Testament parallel to fleeing for safety and finding refuge in a divinely appointed place, just as believers flee to Christ for hope.
wesleyHebrews 6:18: "That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:"
6:18 That by two unchangeable things - His promise and his oath, in either, much more in both of which, it was impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation - Swallowing up all doubt and fear. Who have fled - After having been tossed by many storms. To lay hold on the hope set before us - On C…
pooleHebrews 6:18: "That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:"
That by two immutable things: another end of the Mediator’s oath is here added, God’s oath and a promise spoken to before, which are firm and stedfast to eternity; heaven and earth may pass away, but they cannot. In which it was impossible for God to lie, i.e. to cease to be himself, for essential truth to…
God's promise and oath are presented as two completely separate guarantees, not just two aspects of the same thing. This means that even if you were to somehow doubt one, the other remains an unbreakable anchor, providing the strongest possible encouragement to hold onto the hope set before you.
The author is warning against spiritual stagnation and backsliding, urging readers to move past basic teachings toward maturity in faith. He emphasizes that God’s promise and oath, made through Jesus, are unchangeable guarantees of salvation, offering strong encouragement for believers who have sought refuge in Christ. This security is vital for those who have "fled for refuge" and are holding onto the hope of eternal life.
The author is warning against spiritual stagnation and backsliding, urging readers to move past basic teachings toward maturity in faith. He emphasizes that God’s promise and oath, made through Jesus, are unchangeable guarantees of salvation, offering strong encouragement for believers who have sought refuge in Christ. This security is vital for those who have "fled for refuge" and are holding onto the hope of eternal life.
"so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a ho…" — God's promise and oath are presented as two completely separate guarantees, not just two aspects of the same thing. This means that even if you were to somehow doubt one, the other remains an unbreak…
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Last reviewed October 2026
