¹⁶ and said, “I swear by myself,^(A) declares the Lord, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son,^{(B) 17} I will surely bless you^(C) and make your descendants^(D) as numerous as the stars in the sky^(E) and as the sand on the seashore.^(F) Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies,^{(G) 18} and through your offspring^[a] all nations on earth will be blessed,^[b](H) because you have obeyed me.”^(I)

⁵ Then I will fulfill the oath I swore^(A) to your ancestors, to give them a land flowing with milk and honey’^(B)—the land you possess today.”

I answered, “Amen,^(C) Lord.”

¹² If you pay attention to these laws and are careful to follow them, then the Lord your God will keep his covenant of love with you, as he swore to your ancestors.^(A)

¹⁶ People swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument.^{(A) 17} Because God wanted to make the unchanging^(B) nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised,^(C) he confirmed it with an oath.

The Certainty of God’s Promise

¹³ When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself,^(A)

⁸ But it was because the Lord loved^(A) you and kept the oath he swore^(B) to your ancestors that he brought you out with a mighty hand^(C) and redeemed^(D) you from the land of slavery,^(E) from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt.

³ Stay in this land for a while,^(A) and I will be with you^(B) and will bless you.^(C) For to you and your descendants I will give all these lands^(D) and will confirm the oath I swore to your father Abraham.^(E)