^{13 Ref} For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself,

^{14 Ref} Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.

^{15 Ref} And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.

^{16 Ref} For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife.

^{17 Ref} Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: