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Oath

Original Hebrew / Aramaic / Greek connected to this term

How to read this: there is rarely one magic “true meaning” hidden behind an English word. A lexicon records a word’s semantic range. The intended meaning is narrowed by grammar, sentence, author, historical usage and context.

HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H423

אָלָה

a.lah — oath

1) oath 2) oath of covenant 3) curse 3a) from God 3b) from men 4) execration

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GREEK · G3727

ὅρκος

horkos — oath

ὅρκος, -ου, ὁ [in LXX chiefly for שֶׁוַע, שִׁבְעָה and cogn. forms ;] an oath: Mat.14:7 26:72, Luk.1:73, Act.2:30, Heb.6:16-17, Jas.5:12; p1., Mat.5:33 (LXX) Mat.14:9, Mrk.6:26.† (AS)

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GREEK · G3728

ὁρκωμοσία

horkōmosia — oath

ὁρκωμοσία, -ας, ἡ (ὅρκος, ὄμνυμι; by metapl. for τὰ ὁρκωμόσια, asseverations on oath; see MM, xviii), [in LXX: Eze.17:18-19 (עָלָה) 1Es 9:93* ;] affirmation on oath, an oath: Heb.7:20-21, 28.† (AS)

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HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H518

אִם

im — if

: if/whether_or/though 1) if 1a) conditional clauses 1a1) of possible situations 1a2) of impossible situations 1b) oath contexts 1b1) no, not 1c) if...if, whether...or, whether...or...or 1d) when, whenever 1e) since 1f) interrogative particle 1g) but rather

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GREEK · G1487

εἰ

ei — if

εἰ, conjunctive particle, used in conditions and in indirect questions. I. Conditional, if; 1. with indic, expressing a general assumption; (a) pres.: before indic, pres., Mat.11:14, Rom.8:25, al.; before imperat., Mrk.4:23 9:22, Jhn.15:18, 1Co.7:9, al.; before fut. indic., Luk.16:31, Rom.8:11, al.; before pf. or aor., with negation in apodosis, Mat.12:26, Rom.4:14, al.; similarly, before impf., Luk.17:6, Jhn.8:39; before quæst., Mat.6:23, Jhn.5:47 7:23 8:46, 1Pe.2:20; (b) fut.: Mat.26:33, 1Pe.2:20; (with) pf.: Jhn.11:12, Rom.6:5, al.; (d) aor.: Luk.16:11 19:8, Jhn.13:32, 18:23, Rev.20:15, al. 2. Where the assumption is certain = ἐπεί: Mat.12:28, Jhn.7:4, Rom.5:17, al. 3. Of an unfulfilled condition, with indic, impf., aor. or plpf., before ἄν, with imp. or aor. (see: ἄν, I, i). 4. C. indic., after verbs denoting wonder, etc., sometimes, but not always, coupled with an element of doubt: Mrk.15:44, 1Jn.3:13, al. 5. C. indic., as in LXX (Num.14:3o, 1Ki.14:45, al. = Heb. אִם), in oaths, with the formula of imprecation understood in a suppressed apodosis (WM, 627; Burton, §272): Mrk.8:12, Heb.3:11" (LXX) 4:3 (LXX). 6. Rarely (cl.) with optative, to express a merely possible condition: Act.24:19 27:39, 1Co.14:10 15:37, I Pe3:14, 17. II. Interrogative, if, whether. 1. As in cl., in indir. questions after verbs of seeing, asking, knowing, saying, etc.: with indic. pres., Mat.26:63, Mrk.15:36, Act.19:2, 2Co.13:5, al.; fut., Mrk.3:2, Act.8:22, al.; aor., Mrk.15:44, 1Co.1:16, al.; with subjc. aor. (M, Pr., 194), Php.3:12. 2. As in LXX (= Heb. אִם and interrog. הֲ, Gen.17:17, al.; see WM, 639f.; Viteau, i, 22), in direct questions: Mrk.8:23 (Tr., WH, txt.), Luk.13:23, 22:49, Act.19:2, al. III. With other particles. 1. εἰ ἄρα, εἴγε, εἰ δὲ μήγε, see: ἄρα, γε. 2. εἰ δὲ καί, but if also: Luk.11:18; but even if, 1Co.4:7, 2Co.4:3 11:16. 3. εἰ δὲ μή, but if not, but if otherwise: Mrk.2:21, 22 Jhn.14:2, Rev.2:5, al. 4. εἰ καί, if even, if also, although: Mrk.14:29, Luk.11:8, 1Co.7:21, 2Co.4:16, Php.2:17, al. 5. καὶ εἰ, even if, see: καί 6. εἰ μή, if not, unless, except, but only: Mat.24:22, Mrk.2:26 6:5, Jhn.9:33, 1Co.7:17 (only), Gal.1:19 (cf. ἐὰν μή, 2:16; see Hort., Ja., xvi); ἐκτὸς εἰ μή, pleonastic (Bl., §65, 6), 1Co.14:5 15:2, 1Ti.5:19. 7. εἰ μήν = cl. ἦ μήν (M, Pr., 46), in oaths, surely (Eze.33:27, al.): Heb.6:14. 8. εἴ πως, if haply: Act.27:12, Rom.1:10. 9. εἴτε . . . εἴτε, whether . . . or; Rom.12:6-8, 1Co.3:22 13:8, al. (AS)

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HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H7650

שָׁבַע

sha.va — to swear

1) to swear, adjure 1a) (Qal) sworn (participle) 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to swear, take an oath 1b2) to swear (of Jehovah by Himself) 1b3) to curse 1c) (Hiphil) 1c1) to cause to take an oath 1c2) to adjure

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HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H8267

שֶׁ֫קֶר

she.qer — deception

1) lie, deception, disappointment, falsehood 1a) deception (what deceives or disappoints or betrays one) 1b) deceit, fraud, wrong 1b1) fraudulently, wrongfully (as adverb) 1c) falsehood (injurious in testimony) 1c1) testify falsehood, false oath, swear falsely 1d) falsity (of false or self-deceived prophets) 1e) lie, falsehood (in general) 1e1) false tongue 1f) in vain

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HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H631

אָסַר

a.sar — to bind

1) to tie, bind, imprison 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to tie, bind 1a2) to tie, harness 1a3) to bind (with cords) 1a4) to gird (rare and late) 1a5) to begin the battle, make the attack 1a6) of obligation of oath (figurative) 1b) (Niphal) to be imprisoned, bound 1c) (Pual) to be taken prisoner

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GREEK · G591

ἀποδίδωμι

apodidōmi — to pay

ἀπο-δίδωμι [in LXX for מָכַר, שׁוּב hi., נָתַן, שָׁלֵם pi., etc. ;] to give up or back, restore, return: Mat.27:58, Luk.4:20 9:42 19:8; esp. of wages, debts, oaths, etc. (MM, see word), to render what is due, to pay (Deiss., LAE, 334 f.): absol., Mat.18:25, 28, Luk.7:42. with accusative, Mat.5:26 18:29-30, 34 20:8 21:41 22:21, Mrk.12:17, Luk.10:35 12:59 20:25, Rom.13:7, Heb.12:11, Rev.22:2; ὅρκους, Mat.5:33 (cf. Num.30:3, Deu.23:21 al.); of conjugal duty, τ. ὀφειλήν, 1Co.7:3; ἀμοιβάς, 1Ti.5:4; μαρτύριον, to give (as in duty bound) testimony, Act.4:33; λόγον, to render account, Mat.12:36, Luk.16:2, Act.19:40, Heb.13:17, 1Pe.4:5; hence of requital, recompense, both in good and bad sense, Mat.6:4, 6 6:18 16:27, Rom.2:6, 2Ti.4:8 4:14 Rev.18:6 22:12; κακὸν ἀντὶ κακοῦ, Rom.12:17, 1Th.5:15, 1Pe.3:9. Mid., to give up of one's own, hence to sell (fr. Hdt. on): with accusative of thing(s), Act.5:8, Heb.12:16; with accusative of person(s), Act.7:9 (cf. ἀνταποδίδωμι) .† (AS)

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GREEK · G1535

εἴτε

eite — whether

εἴτε, see: εἰ. εἰ, conjunctive particle, used in conditions and in indirect questions. I. Conditional, if; 1. with indic, expressing a general assumption; (a) pres.: before indic, pres., Mat.11:14, Rom.8:25, al.; before imperat., Mrk.4:23 9:22, Jhn.15:18, 1Co.7:9, al.; before fut. indic., Luk.16:31, Rom.8:11, al.; before pf. or aor., with negation in apodosis, Mat.12:26, Rom.4:14, al.; similarly, before impf., Luk.17:6, Jhn.8:39; before quæst., Mat.6:23, Jhn.5:47 7:23 8:46, 1Pe.2:20; (b) fut.: Mat.26:33, 1Pe.2:20; (with) pf.: Jhn.11:12, Rom.6:5, al.; (d) aor.: Luk.16:11 19:8, Jhn.13:32, 18:23, Rev.20:15, al. 2. Where the assumption is certain = ἐπεί: Mat.12:28, Jhn.7:4, Rom.5:17, al. 3. Of an unfulfilled condition, with indic, impf., aor. or plpf., before ἄν, with imp. or aor. (see: ἄν, I, i). 4. C. indic., after verbs denoting wonder, etc., sometimes, but not always, coupled with an element of doubt: Mrk.15:44, 1Jn.3:13, al. 5. C. indic., as in LXX (Num.14:3o, 1Ki.14:45, al. = Heb. אִם), in oaths, with the formula of imprecation understood in a suppressed apodosis (WM, 627; Burton, §272): Mrk.8:12, Heb.3:11" (LXX) 4:3 (LXX). 6. Rarely (cl.) with optative, to express a merely possible condition: Act.24:19 27:39, 1Co.14:10 15:37, I Pe3:14, 17. II. Interrogative, if, whether. 1. As in cl., in indir. questions after verbs of seeing, asking, knowing, saying, etc.: with indic. pres., Mat.26:63, Mrk.15:36, Act.19:2, 2Co.13:5, al.; fut., Mrk.3:2, Act.8:22, al.; aor., Mrk.15:44, 1Co.1:16, al.; with subjc. aor. (M, Pr., 194), Php.3:12. 2. As in LXX (= Heb. אִם and interrog. הֲ, Gen.17:17, al.; see WM, 639f.; Viteau, i, 22), in direct questions: Mrk.8:23 (Tr., WH, txt.), Luk.13:23, 22:49, Act.19:2, al. III. With other particles. 1. εἰ ἄρα, εἴγε, εἰ δὲ μήγε, see: ἄρα, γε. 2. εἰ δὲ καί, but if also: Luk.11:18; but even if, 1Co.4:7, 2Co.4:3 11:16. 3. εἰ δὲ μή, but if not, but if otherwise: Mrk.2:21, 22 Jhn.14:2, Rev.2:5, al. 4. εἰ καί, if even, if also, although: Mrk.14:29, Luk.11:8, 1Co.7:21, 2Co.4:16, Php.2:17, al. 5. καὶ εἰ, even if, see: καί 6. εἰ μή, if not, unless, except, but only: Mat.24:22, Mrk.2:26 6:5, Jhn.9:33, 1Co.7:17 (only), Gal.1:19 (cf. ἐὰν μή, 2:16; see Hort., Ja., xvi); ἐκτὸς εἰ μή, pleonastic (Bl., §65, 6), 1Co.14:5 15:2, 1Ti.5:19. 7. εἰ μήν = cl. ἦ μήν (M, Pr., 46), in oaths, surely (Eze.33:27, al.): Heb.6:14. 8. εἴ πως, if haply: Act.27:12, Rom.1:10. 9. εἴτε . . . εἴτε, whether . . . or; Rom.12:6-8, 1Co.3:22 13:8, al. (AS)

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GREEK · G3660

ὄμνυμι

omnumi — to swear

ὀμνύω (so Hdt. and some Att.. writers) and ὄμνυμι (so generally in Att.. prose and always in Trag.; Mrk.14:71, -ύναι), [in LXX chiefly for שָׁבַע ni. ;] to swear, affirm by oath: Mat.26:74, Mrk.14:71, Heb.7:21; before εἰ (q.v), Heb.3:11 4:3; with dative of person(s), Mrk.6:23; id. with inf., Heb.3:18; before ὅρκῳ, Act.2:30; ὀ. ὅρκον, πρός, with accusative of person(s) (cl.), Luk.1:73; with accusative (of that by which one swears; cl., see MM, xviii), Jas.5:12; before κατά, with genitive (LXX; Bl., § 34, 1), Heb.6:13, 16; before ἐν (εἰς), as in Heb. (El., § 39, 4), Mat.5:34, 36 23:16, 18 23:20-22 Rev.10:6 (Bl., § 70, 3).† (AS)

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HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H7614

שְׁבָא

she.va — Sheba

A man of the Cushites living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.10.7; son of: Raamah (H7484); brother of: Dedan (H1719B); also called Sabean at Job.1.15; 3x § Sheba = "seven" or "an oath" 1) son of Joktan and a descendant of Seth 2) son of Raamah, grandson of Cush, and a descendant of Ham 3) son of Jokshan, the son of Abraham by Keturah 4) a nation in southern Arabia

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HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H8304

שְׂרָיָהוּ

se.ra.yah — Seraiah

A man living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 2Sa.8.17; father of: Elihoreph (H0456) and Ahijah (H0281); also called Shavsha at 1Ch.18.16; Sheva(Ketiv: Sheya) at 2Sa.20.25; Shisha at 1Ki.4.3; § Seraiah = "Jehovah is ruler" 1) the scribe or secretary of David 2) son of Azariah, father of Jehozadak, and the chief priest in the reign of king Zedekiah of Judah and at the time of the capture of Jerusalem 3) son of Tanhumeth the Netophathite and one of the men who went to Gedaliah, the governor over Judah appointed by Nebuchadnezzar, and gave their oath to serve the king of Babylon 4) a Judaite, son of Kenaz, brother of Othniel, and father of Joab 5) a Simeonite, father of Josibiah and grandfather of Jehu 6) a people of the province who returned from exile with Zerubbabel 6a) maybe the same as 10 7) son of Azariah and father of Ezra the priest and scribe 8) a priest who sealed the covenant with Nehemiah 9) a priest, son of Hilkiah in the time of Nehemiah 10) a priest or Levite who returned from exile with Zerubbabel 10a) probably a priest and the head of a family of priests after the exile. Maybe same as 6 11) son of Meraiah and messenger sent by the prophet Jeremiah to Babylon with a book of his writings 12) son of Azriel and one of the 3 men commanded by king Jehoiakim of Judah to seize Jeremiah and Baruch

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HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H8581

תַּעָב

ta.av — to abhor

1) to abhor, be abominable, do abominably 1a) (Niphal) to be abhorred, be detested 1a1) in the ritual sense 1a2) in the ethical sense 1b) (Piel) 1b1) to loathe, abhor, regard as an abomination 1b1a) in the ritual sense 1b1b) in the ethical sense 1b2) to cause to be an abomination 1c) (Hiphil) to make abominable, do abominably 1c1) in the ritual sense 1c2) in the ethical sense Also means: ta.av (תָּאַב "to loathe" H8374)

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GREEK · G3385

μήτι

mēti — surely not

μή-τι interrog. particle, expecting a negative answer: Mat.7:16 26:22, 25, Mrk.4:21 14:19, Luk.6:39, Jhn.8:22 18:35, Act.10:47, 2Co.12:18, Jas.3:11; in hesitant questions (see M, Pr., 170.), μ οὗτός ἐστιν, can this be, Mat.12:23, Jhn.4:29; μ. ἄρα, 2Co.1:17; On εἰ μήτι (Luk.9:13, cf. Bl., § 65, 6), see: εἰ.† εἰ, conjunctive particle, used in conditions and in indirect questions. I. Conditional, if; 1. with indic, expressing a general assumption; (a) pres.: before indic, pres., Mat.11:14, Rom.8:25, al.; before imperat., Mrk.4:23 9:22, Jhn.15:18, 1Co.7:9, al.; before fut. indic., Luk.16:31, Rom.8:11, al.; before pf. or aor., with negation in apodosis, Mat.12:26, Rom.4:14, al.; similarly, before impf., Luk.17:6, Jhn.8:39; before quæst., Mat.6:23, Jhn.5:47 7:23 8:46, 1Pe.2:20; (b) fut.: Mat.26:33, 1Pe.2:20; (with) pf.: Jhn.11:12, Rom.6:5, al.; (d) aor.: Luk.16:11 19:8, Jhn.13:32, 18:23, Rev.20:15, al. 2. Where the assumption is certain = ἐπεί: Mat.12:28, Jhn.7:4, Rom.5:17, al. 3. Of an unfulfilled condition, with indic, impf., aor. or plpf., before ἄν, with imp. or aor. (see: ἄν, I, i). 4. C. indic., after verbs denoting wonder, etc., sometimes, but not always, coupled with an element of doubt: Mrk.15:44, 1Jn.3:13, al. 5. C. indic., as in LXX (Num.14:3o, 1Ki.14:45, al. = Heb. אִם), in oaths, with the formula of imprecation understood in a suppressed apodosis (WM, 627; Burton, §272): Mrk.8:12, Heb.3:11" (LXX) 4:3 (LXX). 6. Rarely (cl.) with optative, to express a merely possible condition: Act.24:19 27:39, 1Co.14:10 15:37, I Pe3:14, 17. II. Interrogative, if, whether. 1. As in cl., in indir. questions after verbs of seeing, asking, knowing, saying, etc.: with indic. pres., Mat.26:63, Mrk.15:36, Act.19:2, 2Co.13:5, al.; fut., Mrk.3:2, Act.8:22, al.; aor., Mrk.15:44, 1Co.1:16, al.; with subjc. aor. (M, Pr., 194), Php.3:12. 2. As in LXX (= Heb. אִם and interrog. הֲ, Gen.17:17, al.; see WM, 639f.; Viteau, i, 22), in direct questions: Mrk.8:23 (Tr., WH, txt.), Luk.13:23, 22:49, Act.19:2, al. III. With other particles. 1. εἰ ἄρα, εἴγε, εἰ δὲ μήγε, see: ἄρα, γε. 2. εἰ δὲ καί, but if also: Luk.11:18; but even if, 1Co.4:7, 2Co.4:3 11:16. 3. εἰ δὲ μή, but if not, but if otherwise: Mrk.2:21, 22 Jhn.14:2, Rev.2:5, al. 4. εἰ καί, if even, if also, although: Mrk.14:29, Luk.11:8, 1Co.7:21, 2Co.4:16, Php.2:17, al. 5. καὶ εἰ, even if, see: καί 6. εἰ μή, if not, unless, except, but only: Mat.24:22, Mrk.2:26 6:5, Jhn.9:33, 1Co.7:17 (only), Gal.1:19 (cf. ἐὰν μή, 2:16; see Hort., Ja., xvi); ἐκτὸς εἰ μή, pleonastic (Bl., §65, 6), 1Co.14:5 15:2, 1Ti.5:19. 7. εἰ μήν = cl. ἦ μήν (M, Pr., 46), in oaths, surely (Eze.33:27, al.): Heb.6:14. 8. εἴ πως, if haply: Act.27:12, Rom.1:10. 9. εἴτε . . . εἴτε, whether . . . or; Rom.12:6-8, 1Co.3:22 13:8, al. (AS)

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HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H1339

בַּת־שֶׁ֫בַע

bat-she.va — Bathsheba

A woman living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 2Sa.11.3; daughter of: Eliam (H0463); married to David (H1732) and Uriah (H0223A); mother of: Shammua (H8051H), Shobab (H7727), Nathan (H5416) and Solomon (H8010); also called Bath-shua at 1Ch.3.5; Also named: bat-shu.a (בַּת־שׁוּעַ "Bath-shua" H1340) § Bath-sheba = "daughter of an oath" the wife of Uriah whom David had murdered, having had adulterous relations with her; subsequently wife of David and mother of Solomon, Shimea, Shobab, and Nathan

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HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H1603

גַּ֫עַל

ga.al — Gaal

A man living before Israel's Monarchy, first mentioned at Jdg.9.26; son of: Ebed (H5651) § Gaal = "loathing" son of Eved who aided the Shechemites in their rebellion against Abimelech

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HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H6973

קוּץ

quts — to loathe

1) to be grieved, loathe, abhor, feel a loathing or abhorrence or sickening dread 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to feel a loathing at, abhor 1a2) to feel a sickening dread 1b) (Hiphil) 1b1) to cause sickening dread 1b2) to cause loathing

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HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H1602

גָּעַל

ga.al — to abhor

1) to abhor, loathe, be vilely cast away, fall 1a) (Qal) to abhor, loathe 1b) (Niphal) to be defiled 1c) (Hiphil) to reject as loathsome, show aversion

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HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H422

אָלָה

a.lah — to swear

1) to swear, curse 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to swear, take an oath (before God) 1a2) to curse 1b) (Hiphil) 1b1) to put under oath, adjure 1b2) to put under a curse

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GREEK · G332

ἀναθεματίζω

anathematizō — to take an oath

ἀνα-θεματίζω (ἀνίθεμα), [in LXX chiefly for חָרַם hi. (Num.21:2, 1Ki.15:3, al.), 1Ma.5:5 ;] to devote to destruction, declare or invoke ana­thema: absol., Mrk.14:71; ἐαντόν, to bind oneself under a curse: Act.23:12, 14 23:21 (cf. καταναθεματίζω, and on the occurrence of the word in π., see Deiss., LAE, 92 f.; MM, VGT, see word).† (AS)

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HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H6962

קוּט

qut — to loath

1) to loathe, be grieved, feel a loathing 1a) (Qal) to feel a loathing 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to feel loathing against self 1b2) to detest 1c) (Hithpolel) to loathe oneself Also means: na.qat (נָקַט "to tire" H5354)

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Historical dictionary entry

A solemn appeal to God, permitted on fitting occasions (Deut. 6:13; Jer. 4:2), in various forms (Gen. 16:5; 2 Sam. 12:5; Ruth 1:17; Hos. 4:15; Rom. 1:9), and taken in different ways (Gen. 14:22; 24:2; 2 Chr. 6:22). God is represented as taking an oath (Heb. 6:16-18), so also Christ (Matt. 26:64), and Paul (Rom. 9:1; Gal. 1:20; Phil. 1:8). The precept, “Swear not at all,” refers probably to ordinary conversation between man and man (Matt. 5:34, 37). But if the words are taken as referring to oaths, then their intention may have been to show “that the proper state of Christians is to require no oaths; that when evil is expelled from among them every yea and nay will be as decisive as an oath, every promise as binding as a vow.”

Scripture references

Source: Easton’s Bible Dictionary (1897). Historical dictionary wording reflects the scholarship and language of its era.

Compare other reference traditions

Look up Oath in Smith’s Bible Dictionary and ISBE →