ἀμετά-θετος G0276
unchangeable, unalterable, immutable
This adjective describes what cannot be changed or altered. Both occurrences appear in Hebrews 6 regarding God's promise to Abraham. Verse 17 states that God, desiring to show the heirs of promise the ἀμετάθετον τῆς βουλῆς αὐτοῦ—unchangeable character of his purpose—guaranteed it with an oath. Verse 18 speaks of two ἀμετάθετα πράγματα—unchangeable things—in which it is impossible for God to lie. The author builds assurance on God's immutability: his purposes and promises cannot change, providing unshakeable hope for believers.
Senses
1. sense 1 — The immutability theme is consistent: Spanish 'inmutable/inmutables,' French 'immuable,' German 'unveränderlich' (unchangeable). Both verses occur within a single argument about the certainty of God's promise. The classical philosophical background of immutable knowledge and fate is here applied to the reliability of divine commitment—God's character ensures his promises cannot be revoked. 2×
AR["عَدَمَ-تَغَيُّرِ", "لَا-يَتَغَيَّرَانِ"]·ben["অপরিবর্তনীয়"]·DE["unveraenderlich"]·EN["unchangeable", "unchangeableness"]·FR["immuable"]·heb["אִי-שִׁנּוּי", "אִי-שִׁנּוּיִים"]·HI["अपरिवर्तनीय,", "अपरिवर्तनीयता"]·ID["tidak-dapat-diubah"]·IT["ametatheton", "ametathetōn"]·jav["mboten-éwah"]·KO["불변한", "불변함을"]·PT["imutabilidade", "imutáveis"]·RU["неизменность", "неизменных"]·ES["inmutable", "inmutables"]·SW["kutobadilika", "yasiyobadilika"]·TR["değişmez", "değişmezliğini"]·urd["نہ-بدلنے-والی"]
Related Senses
H4325 1. water, waters (582×)H6965b 1. Qal: to rise, arise, get up (432×)H2091 1. gold (the metal) (389×)H0068 1. stone, rock (material/object) (267×)H5178a 1. bronze/copper as metal (131×)H6083 1. dust, dry earth, soil (108×)H8313 1. burn, set fire to (94×)H2734 1. anger was kindled (82×)G5204 1. water (80×)H2822 1. darkness, absence of light (80×)G5457 1. light (illumination) (71×)G0450 1. rise, stand up (physical) (69×)H6965b 2. Qal: to stand firm, endure, be valid (50×)H6999a 2. burn sacrifice on altar (Hifil) (45×)H5553 1. rock, cliff (physical feature) (43×)H6965b 4. Hifil: to establish, confirm (covenant/kingdom/word) (40×)H1197a 1. burn, be on fire (39×)H4306 1. rain, showers (38×)H1653 1. rain, precipitation (34×)G4655 1. darkness (30×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
ἀμετά-θετος, ον, unalterable, immutable, κατάληψις, of knowledge, Refs 4th c.BC+; of fate, Chrysipp.Refs 2nd c.BC+, etc. adverb -τως, διακεῖσθαιRefs 1st c.BC+ __2 Grammars, not inflected, Refs 2nd c.AD+