Matthew 5:34
New International Version
But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne;

New Living Translation
But I say, do not make any vows! Do not say, ‘By heaven!’ because heaven is God’s throne.

English Standard Version
But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God,

Berean Standard Bible
But I tell you not to swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne;

Berean Literal Bible
But I say to you not to swear at all: neither by heaven, because it is the throne of God;

King James Bible
But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne:

New King James Version
But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne;

New American Standard Bible
But I say to you, take no oath at all, neither by heaven, for it is the throne of God,

NASB 1995
“But I say to you, make no oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God,

NASB 1977
“But I say to you, make no oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God,

Legacy Standard Bible
But I say to you, make no oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God,

Amplified Bible
But I say to you, do not make an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God;

Christian Standard Bible
But I tell you, don’t take an oath at all: either by heaven, because it is God’s throne;

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But I tell you, don’t take an oath at all: either by heaven, because it is God’s throne;

American Standard Version
but I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by the heaven, for it is the throne of God;

Contemporary English Version
But I tell you not to swear by anything when you make a promise! Heaven is God's throne, so don't swear by heaven.

English Revised Version
but I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by the heaven, for it is the throne of God;

GOD'S WORD® Translation
But I tell you don't swear an oath at all. Don't swear an oath by heaven, which is God's throne,

Good News Translation
But now I tell you: do not use any vow when you make a promise. Do not swear by heaven, for it is God's throne;

International Standard Version
But I tell you not to swear at all, neither by heaven, because it is God's throne,

Majority Standard Bible
But I tell you not to swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne;

NET Bible
But I say to you, do not take oaths at all--not by heaven, because it is the throne of God,

New Heart English Bible
But I tell you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is the throne of God;

Webster's Bible Translation
But I say to you, Swear not at all: neither by heaven; for it is God's throne:

Weymouth New Testament
But I tell you not to swear at all; neither by Heaven, for it is God's throne;

World English Bible
but I tell you, don’t swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is the throne of God;
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
but I say to you not to swear at all; neither by Heaven, because it is the throne of God,

Berean Literal Bible
But I say to you not to swear at all: neither by heaven, because it is the throne of God;

Young's Literal Translation
but I -- I say to you, not to swear at all; neither by the heaven, because it is the throne of God,

Smith's Literal Translation
But I say to you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven, it is the throne of God:
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
But I say to you not to swear at all, neither by heaven, for it is the throne of God:

Catholic Public Domain Version
But I say to you, do not swear an oath at all, neither by heaven, for it is the throne of God,

New American Bible
But I say to you, do not swear at all; not by heaven, for it is God’s throne;

New Revised Standard Version
But I say to you, Do not swear at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God,
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
But I say to you, never swear; neither by heaven, because it is God’s throne;

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
But I say to you, Do not swear at all, not by Heaven, for it is the throne of God
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
But I say to you, Swear not at all: neither by heaven, for it is the throne of God;

Godbey New Testament
But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven, because it is the throne of God;

Haweis New Testament
But I say to thee, Swear not at all; neither by the heaven; for it is the throne of God:

Mace New Testament
but I say unto you, swear not at all; neither by heaven, for it is God's throne:

Weymouth New Testament
But I tell you not to swear at all; neither by Heaven, for it is God's throne;

Worrell New Testament
but I say to you, Swear not at all; neither by Heaven, because it is God's throne;

Worsley New Testament
but I say unto you, swear not at all; neither by heaven, for it is the throne of God;

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Oaths and Vows
33Again, you have heard that it was said to the ancients, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill your vows to the Lord.’ 34But I tell you not to swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; 35or by the earth, for it is His footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.…

Cross References
James 5:12
Above all, my brothers, do not swear, not by heaven or earth or by any other oath. Simply let your “Yes” be yes, and your “No,” no, so that you will not fall under judgment.

Matthew 23:16-22
Woe to you, blind guides! You say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.’ / You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes it sacred? / And you say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gift on it, he is bound by his oath.’ ...

Exodus 20:7
You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not leave anyone unpunished who takes His name in vain.

Leviticus 19:12
You must not swear falsely by My name and so profane the name of your God. I am the LORD.

Numbers 30:2
If a man makes a vow to the LORD or swears an oath to obligate himself by a pledge, he must not break his word; he must do everything he has promised.

Deuteronomy 23:21-23
If you make a vow to the LORD your God, do not be slow to keep it, because He will surely require it of you, and you will be guilty of sin. / But if you refrain from making a vow, you will not be guilty of sin. / Be careful to follow through on what comes from your lips, because you have freely vowed to the LORD your God with your own mouth.

Ecclesiastes 5:4-5
When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it, because He takes no pleasure in fools. Fulfill your vow. / It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it.

Isaiah 66:1
This is what the LORD says: “Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool. What kind of house will you build for Me? Or where will My place of repose be?

Jeremiah 4:2
and if you can swear, ‘As surely as the LORD lives,’ in truth, in justice, and in righteousness, then the nations will be blessed by Him, and in Him they will glory.”

Zechariah 8:17
do not plot evil in your hearts against your neighbor, and do not love to swear falsely, for I hate all these things,” declares the LORD.

2 Corinthians 1:17-20
When I planned this, did I do it carelessly? Or do I make my plans by human standards, so as to say “Yes, yes” and also “No, no”? / But as surely as God is faithful, our message to you is not “Yes” and “No.” / For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was proclaimed among you by me and Silvanus and Timothy, was not “Yes” and “No,” but in Him it has always been “Yes.” ...

Hebrews 6:16
Men swear by someone greater than themselves, and their oath serves as a confirmation to end all argument.

Romans 9:1
I speak the truth in Christ; I am not lying, as confirmed by my conscience in the Holy Spirit.

1 Timothy 1:10
for the sexually immoral, for homosexuals, for slave traders and liars and perjurers, and for anyone else who is averse to sound teaching

1 Peter 3:10
For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech.


Treasury of Scripture

But I say to you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne:

Swear.

Deuteronomy 23:21-23
When thou shalt vow a vow unto the LORD thy God, thou shalt not slack to pay it: for the LORD thy God will surely require it of thee; and it would be sin in thee…

Ecclesiastes 9:2
All things come alike to all: there is one event to the righteous, and to the wicked; to the good and to the clean, and to the unclean; to him that sacrificeth, and to him that sacrificeth not: as is the good, so is the sinner; and he that sweareth, as he that feareth an oath.

James 5:12
But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.

heaven.

Matthew 23:16-22
Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor! …

Isaiah 57:15
For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

Isaiah 66:1
Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?

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Matthew 5
1. Jesus' sermon on the mount:
3. The Beattitudes;
13. the salt of the earth;
14. the light of the world.
17. He came to fulfill the law.
21. What it is to kill;
27. to commit adultery;
33. to swear.
38. He exhorts to forgive wrong,
43. to love our enemies;
48. and to labor after perfection.














But I tell you
This phrase signifies the authoritative teaching of Jesus, contrasting His words with the traditional interpretations of the Law. The Greek word for "tell" is "λέγω" (legō), which implies a declaration or command. Jesus, as the divine teacher, speaks with authority, emphasizing His role as the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets. This introduction sets the stage for a deeper understanding of righteousness that surpasses mere legalistic adherence.

not to swear at all
The Greek word for "swear" is "ὀμνύω" (omnuō), which means to take an oath. In the historical context, oaths were common in Jewish culture as a way to guarantee truthfulness. However, Jesus calls His followers to a higher standard of integrity, where their word alone should be trustworthy. This teaching aligns with the call to live a life of honesty and transparency, reflecting the character of God without the need for additional assurances.

either by heaven
Heaven, in this context, is not merely the sky or the cosmos but represents the dwelling place of God. The Greek word "οὐρανός" (ouranos) is used here, which often signifies the divine realm. By instructing not to swear by heaven, Jesus underscores the sacredness of God's domain. This reflects a reverence for the divine and a recognition that invoking heaven in oaths trivializes its holiness.

for it is God’s throne
This phrase draws from the imagery found in Isaiah 66:1, where heaven is described as God's throne. The throne symbolizes authority, sovereignty, and the majesty of God. By highlighting this, Jesus reminds His listeners of the ultimate authority of God over all creation. It serves as a call to acknowledge God's supreme position and to live in a manner that honors His sovereignty, without resorting to oaths that might diminish His glory.

(34) Swear not at all.--Not a few interpreters, and even whole Christian communities, as e.g. the Society of Friends, see in these words, and in James 5:12, a formal prohibition of all oaths, either promissory or evidential, and look on the general practice of Christians, and the formal teaching of the Church of England in her Articles (Art. xxxix.), as simply an acquiescence in evil. The first impression made by the words is indeed so strongly in their favour that the scruples of such men ought to be dealt with (as English legislation has at last dealt with them) with great tenderness. Their conclusion is, however, it is believed, mistaken: (1) Because, were it true, then in this instance our Lord would be directly repealing part of the moral law given by Moses, instead of completing and expanding it, as in the case of the Sixth and Seventh Commandments. He would be destroying, not fulfilling. (2) Because our Lord himself answered, when He had before been silent, to a solemn formal adjuration (Matthew 26:63-64), and St. Paul repeatedly uses such forms of attestation (Romans 1:9; 1Corinthians 15:31; 2Corinthians 1:23; Galatians 1:20; Philippians 1:8). (3) Because the context shows that the sin which our Lord condemned was the light use of oaths in common speech, and with no real thought as to their meaning. Such oaths practically involved irreverence, and were therefore inconsistent with the fear of God. The real purpose of an oath is to intensify that fear by bringing the thought of God's presence home to men at the very time they take them, and they are therefore rightly used when they attain that end. Practically, it must be admitted that the needless multiplication of oaths, both evidential and promissory, on trivial occasions, has tended, and still tends, to weaken awe and impair men's reverence for truth, and we may rejoice when their number is diminished. In an ideal Christian society no oaths would be needed, for every word would be spoken as by those who knew that the Eternal Judge was hearing them. . . . Verse 34. - Swear not at all (cf. James 5:12). Yet, as St. Augustine points out, St. Paul took oaths in his writings (2 Corinthians 1:23; 2 Corinthians 11:31); and our Lord himself did not refuse to answer when put upon his oath (Matthew 26:63, 64). He, that is to say, and St. Paul after him, accepted the fact that there are times when a solemn oath must be taken. How, then, can we explain this absolute prohibition here? In that our Lord is not here thinking at all of formal and solemn oaths, but of oaths as the outcome of impatience and exaggeration. The thoughtlessness of fervent asseveration is often betrayed into an oath. Such an oath, or even any asseveration that passes in spirit beyond "yea, yea," "nay, nay," has its origin ἐκ τοῦ πονηροῦ; cf. Chaucer, "Sweryng sodeynly without avysement is eek a gret synne" ('Parson's Tale,' § 'De Ira'). Martensen, however ('Ethics, Individual,' § 100), takes the prohibition of oaths as formally unconditional and total, in accordance with the highest ideal of what man will hereafter be and require, and he sees the limitation, which he allows is to be given to these words, in the present conditions of human society. We have an ideal duty towards God, but we have also a practical duty to those among whom we live, and the present state of human affairs permits and necessitates oaths. Hence it was that even Christ submitted to them. Neither by heaven, etc. Our Lord further defines what he means by an oath. It does not mean only an expression in which God's Name is mentioned, but any expression appealing to any object at all, whether this be supraterrestrial, terrestrial, national, or personal. Although God's Name is often omitted in such cases, from a feeling of reverence, its omission does not prevent the asseveration being an oath. Heaven; Revised Version, the heaven; for the thought is clearly not the immaterial transcendental heaven, the abode of bliss, but the physical heaven (cf. Matthew 6:26, Revised Version). Heaven... footstool. Adapted from Isaiah 66:1, where it forms part of the glorious declaration that no material temple can contain God, that "the Most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands" as St. Stephen paraphrases it (Acts 7:48). The great King is seated enthroned in the heaven, with his feet touching the earth.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
But
δὲ (de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.

I
ἐγὼ (egō)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

tell
λέγω (legō)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 3004: (a) I say, speak; I mean, mention, tell, (b) I call, name, especially in the pass., (c) I tell, command.

you
ὑμῖν (hymin)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

not
μὴ (mē)
Adverb
Strong's 3361: Not, lest. A primary particle of qualified negation; not, lest; also (whereas ou expects an affirmative one) whether.

to swear
ὀμόσαι (omosai)
Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active
Strong's 3660: A prolonged form of a primary, but obsolete omo, for which another prolonged form omoo is used in certain tenses; to swear, i.e. Take oath.

at all:
ὅλως (holōs)
Adverb
Strong's 3654: Adverb from holos; completely, i.e. Altogether;, everywhere; not by any means.

[either]
μήτε (mēte)
Conjunction
Strong's 3383: Nor, neither, not even, neither…nor. From me and te; not too, i.e. neither or nor; also, not even.

by
ἐν (en)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.

heaven,
οὐρανῷ (ouranō)
Noun - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3772: Perhaps from the same as oros; the sky; by extension, heaven; by implication, happiness, power, eternity; specially, the Gospel.

for
ὅτι (hoti)
Conjunction
Strong's 3754: Neuter of hostis as conjunction; demonstrative, that; causative, because.

it is
ἐστὶν (estin)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

God’s
Θεοῦ (Theou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 2316: A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very.

throne;
θρόνος (thronos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2362: From thrao; a stately seat; by implication, power or a potentate.


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