The Hebrew neder (H5088) is the noun for a vow β the vow itself as a sacred obligation made to God. The Psalms frequently celebrate the fulfillment of vows in the congregation: 'I will fulfill my vows (nedarim) to the LORD in the presence of all his people' (Psalm 116:14, 18). Numbers 15 and 30 provide extensive legislation on nedarim, regulating when vows must be kept and when they may be released. Proverbs 20:25 warns against making rash vows.
Neder in the Psalms is consistently fulfilled publicly, in the assembly (Psalms 22:25, 50:14, 61:8, 116:14). This communal dimension is significant: the vow is not just between the individual and God but is witnessed by the congregation, binding the community to God's faithfulness and the individual's response. The NT church's public confession β baptism, the Lord's Supper, ordination β carries something of the weight of neder: public pledges that bind the community to their Lord and to one another.