📖 Biblical Definition
The fulfillment of oaths sworn before God — an act of fundamental moral seriousness in Scripture. Ecclesiastes 5:4-5: When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed. Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay. Leviticus 19:12: And ye shall not swear by my name falsely, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD. Numbers 30:2: If a man vow a vow unto the LORD, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth. Christ in Matthew 5:33-37 raises the standard further: rather than negotiating oath-categories, let your yes be yes and your no be no. The principle stands: the Christian's word binds him, oaths or not. Promise-keeping is not religious extra; it is the foundation of trustworthy character.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
Fulfilling oaths sworn before God.
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The fulfillment of oaths and vows sworn before God; in Scripture treated with great seriousness — better not to vow than to vow and not pay; the false swearer profanes God's name; oath-keeping is among the marks of the righteous in Psalm 15.
📖 Key Scripture
Ecclesiastes 5:4-5 — "When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it... Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay."
Numbers 30:2 — "If a man vow a vow unto the LORD, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth."
Leviticus 19:12 — "And ye shall not swear by my name falsely, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Lost in a culture where contractual fine print is more honored than spoken word.
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Scripture takes oaths so seriously Jesus could say 'do not swear at all' and instead let yes mean yes. The culture that needs notarized contracts to enforce its agreements has already lost the moral substance Scripture assumed. Recover the spoken word as binding.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Hebrew shevua — oath.
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['Hebrew', 'H7621', 'shevua', 'oath']
['Hebrew', 'H5088', 'neder', 'vow']
Usage
"Better not to vow than to vow and break."
"Yes means yes."