Jump to: Smith's • ATS • ISBE • Easton's • Webster's • Concordance • Thesaurus • Greek • Hebrew • Library • Subtopics • Terms • Resources Smith's Bible Dictionary OathThe principle on which an oath is held to be binding is incidentally laid down in (Hebrews 6:16) viz. as an ultimate appeal to divine authority to ratify an assertion. On the same principle, that oath has always been held most binding which appealed to the highest authority, as regards both individuals and communities. As a consequence of this principle, appeals to God's name on the one hand, and to heathen deities on the other, are treated in scripture as tests of allegiance. (Exodus 23:13; 34:6; 29:12) etc. So also the sovereign's name is sometimes used as a form of obligation. (Genesis 42:15; 2 Samuel 11:11; 14:19) Other forms of oath, serious or frivolous, are mentioned, some of which are condemned by our Lord. (Matthew 6:33; 23:16-22) and see (James 5:12) (There is, however, a world-wide difference between a solemn appeal to God and profane swearing.) The forms of adjuration mentioned in Scripture are --
ATS Bible Dictionary OathA solemn affirmation accompanied by an appeal to the Supreme Being. God has prohibited all false oaths, and all useless and customary swearing in ordinary discourse; but when the necessity or importance of a matter requires an oath, he allows men to swear by his name, Exodus 22:11 Le 5:1. To swear by a false god was an act of idolatry, Jeremiah 5:7 12:16. Among the Hebrews an oath was administered by the judge, who stood up, and adjured the party who was to be sworn. In this manner our Lord was adjured by Caiaphas, Matthew 26:63. Jesus had remained silent under long examination, when the high priest, rising up, knowing he had a sure mode of obtaining an answer said, "I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ." To this oath, thus solemnly administered, Jesus replied that he was indeed the Messiah. An oath is a solemn appeal to God, as to an all-seeing witness that what we say is true, and an almighty avenger if what we say be false, Hebrews 6:16. Its force depends upon our conviction of the infinite justice of God; that he will not hold those guiltless who take his name in vain; and that the loss of his favor immeasurable outweighs all that could be gained by false witness. It is an act of religious worship; on which account God requires it to be taken in his name, De 10:20, and points out the manner in which it ought to be administered, and the duty of the person who swears, Exodus 22:11 De 6:18 Psalm 15:4 24:4. Hence atheists, who profess to believe that there is no God, and persons who do not believe in a future state of reward and punishment, cannot consistently take an oath. In their mouths an oath can be only profane mockery. God himself is represented as confirming his promise by oath, and thus conforming to what is practiced among men, Hebrews 6:13,16-17. The oaths forbidden in Matthew 5:34-35 James 5:12, must refer to the unthinking, hasty, and vicious practices of the Jews; otherwise Paul would have acted against the command of Christ, Romans 1:9 Galatians 1:20 2 1 Corinthians 1:23. That person is obliged to take an oath whose duty requires him to declare the truth in the most solemn and judicial manner; though undoubtedly oaths are too often administered unnecessarily and irreverently, and taken with but slight consciousness of the responsibility thus assumed. As we are bound to manifest every possible degree of reverence towards God, the greatest care is to be taken that we swear neither rashly nor negligently in making promises. To neglect performance is perjury, unless the promise be contrary to the law of nature and of God; in which case no oath is binding. See CORBAN, and VOWS. A customary formula of taking an oath was "The Lord do so to me, and more also;" that is, the lord slay me, as the victim sacrificed on many such occasions was slain, and punish me even more than this, if I speak not the truth, Ruth 1:17 1 Samuel 3:17. Similar phrases are these: "As the Lord liveth," Jud 8:19 "Before God I lie not," Romans 9:1; "I say the truth in Christ," 1 Timothy 2:7; "God is my record," Php 1...8. Several acts are alluded to as accompaniments of an oath; as putting the hand under the thigh, Genesis 24:2 47:29; and raising the hand towards heaven, Genesis 14:22,23 De 32:40 Revelation 10:5. Easton's Bible Dictionary A solemn appeal to God, permitted on fitting occasions (Deuteronomy 6:13; Jeremiah 4:2), in various forms (Genesis 16:5; 2 Samuel 12:5; Ruth 1:17; Hosea 4:15; Romans 1:9), and taken in different ways (Genesis 14:22; 24:2; 2 Chronicles 6:22). God is represented as taking an oath (Hebrews 6:16-18), so also Christ (Matthew 26:64), and Paul (Romans 9:1; Galatians 1:20; Philippians 1:8). The precept, "Swear not at all," refers probably to ordinary conversation between man and man (Matthew 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." Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary 1. (n.) A solemn affirmation or declaration, made with a reverent appeal to God for the truth of what is affirmed.2. (n.) A solemn affirmation, connected with a sacred object, or one regarded as sacred, as the temple, the altar, the blood of Abel, the Bible, the Koran, etc. 3. (n.) An appeal (in verification of a statement made) to a superior sanction, in such a form as exposes the party making the appeal to an indictment for perjury if the statement be false. 4. (n.) A careless and blasphemous use of the name of the divine Being, or anything divine or sacred, by way of appeal or as a profane exclamation or ejaculation; an expression of profane swearing. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia OATHoth (shebhu`ah, probably from shebha`, "seven," the sacred number, which occurs frequently in the ritual of an oath; horkos; and the stronger word 'alah, by which a curse is actually invoked upon the oath-breaker Septuagint ara)): In Matthew 26:70-74 Peter first denies his Lord simply, then with an oath (shebhu`ah), then invokes a curse ('alah), thus passing through every stage of asseveration. Greek 3728. horkomosia -- affirmation on oath ... affirmation on oath. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: horkomosia Phonetic Spelling: (hor-ko-mos-ee'ah) Short Definition: the taking of an oath ... //strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3728.htm - 6k 3660. omnuo -- to swear, take an oath 3727. horkos -- an oath 1844. exorkizo -- to administer an oath, to adjure 332. anathematizo -- to declare anathema, devote to destruction 3726. horkizo -- to make (one) swear, to adjure 1964. epiorkeo -- to swear falsely 1965. epiorkos -- sworn falsely, a perjurer 2652. katanathema -- curse. 1845. exorkistes -- an exorcist Strong's Hebrew 7621. shebuah -- an oath, curse... 7620, 7621. shebuah or shebuah. 7622 . an oath, curse. Transliteration: shebuah or shebuah Phonetic Spelling: (sheb-oo-aw') Short Definition: oath. ... /hebrew/7621.htm - 6k 423. alah -- an oath 472. Elisheba -- "God is an oath," the wife of Aaron 1339. Bath-sheba -- perhaps "daughter of oath," the mother of ... 3089. Yehosheba -- "the LORD is an oath," wife of Jehoiada the ... 7650. shaba -- to swear 422. alah -- to swear, curse 884. Beer Sheba -- "well of seven," a place in the Negev 1697. dabar -- speech, word Library Whether an Oath Added to the Consent that is Expressed in Words of ... Of the Consent to which an Oath or Carnal Intercourse is Appended ... Whether an Oath is Voided by a Condition of Person or Time? The National Oath at Shechem Whether Anyone Can Dispense from an Oath? Whether Three Accompanying Conditions of an Oath are Suitably ... Whether He Sins who Demands an Oath of a Perjurer? Whether an Oath is an Act of Religion or Latria? Whether an Oath is More Binding than a Vow? Whether an Oath Has a Binding Force? Thesaurus Oath (286 Occurrences)... God is represented as taking an oath (Hebrews 6:16-18), so also Christ (Matthew 26:64), and Paul (Romans 9:1; Galatians 1:20; Philippians 1:8). The precept ...OATH. ... /o/oath.htm - 47k Oath's (2 Occurrences) Adjuration (2 Occurrences) Undertaking (30 Occurrences) Takes (380 Occurrences) Adjure (16 Occurrences) Swearing (17 Occurrences) Quit (12 Occurrences) Acquitted (24 Occurrences) Swears (16 Occurrences) Resources What does it mean to let your yes be yes and your no be no? | GotQuestions.orgWhy did oaths involve putting a hand under someone's thigh (Genesis 24:9)? | GotQuestions.org What was a blood covenant (Genesis 15:9-21)? | GotQuestions.org Oath: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Concordance Oath (286 Occurrences)Matthew 5:33 Matthew 5:34 Matthew 5:36 Matthew 14:7 Matthew 14:9 Matthew 23:16 Matthew 23:18 Matthew 23:20 Matthew 23:21 Matthew 23:22 Matthew 26:63 Matthew 26:72 Mark 6:23 Luke 1:73 Acts 2:30 Acts 18:18 Acts 21:23 Acts 21:24 Acts 23:12 Acts 23:13 Acts 23:14 Acts 23:21 Hebrews 3:11 Hebrews 3:18 Hebrews 4:3 Hebrews 6:13 Hebrews 6:16 Hebrews 6:17 Hebrews 6:18 Hebrews 7:20 Hebrews 7:21 Hebrews 7:28 Hebrews 12:26 James 5:12 Revelation 10:6 Genesis 14:22 Genesis 21:23 Genesis 21:24 Genesis 21:31 Genesis 22:16 Genesis 24:3 Genesis 24:7 Genesis 24:8 Genesis 24:9 Genesis 24:37 Genesis 24:41 Genesis 25:33 Genesis 26:3 Genesis 26:28 Genesis 26:31 Genesis 26:33 Genesis 28:20 Genesis 31:13 Genesis 31:53 Genesis 43:3 Genesis 47:29 Genesis 47:31 Genesis 50:5 Genesis 50:6 Genesis 50:24 Genesis 50:25 Exodus 6:8 Exodus 13:5 Exodus 13:11 Exodus 13:19 Exodus 17:16 Exodus 22:8 Exodus 22:11 Exodus 33:1 Leviticus 5:1 Leviticus 5:4 Leviticus 6:3 Leviticus 6:5 Leviticus 7:16 Leviticus 19:12 Leviticus 22:18 Leviticus 22:21 Leviticus 22:23 Leviticus 27:2 Leviticus 27:21 Leviticus 27:26 Numbers 5:19 Numbers 5:21 Numbers 6:2 Numbers 6:5 Numbers 6:7 Numbers 6:18 Numbers 6:21 Numbers 11:12 Numbers 14:16 Numbers 14:23 Numbers 15:3 Numbers 15:8 Numbers 18:14 Numbers 21:2 Numbers 29:39 Numbers 30:2 Numbers 30:3 Numbers 30:4 Numbers 30:5 Subtopics Oath used in Solemnizing Covenants: Between Abraham and Abimelech Oath used in Solemnizing Covenants: Between Abraham and the King of Sodom Oath used in Solemnizing Covenants: Between Isaac and Abimelech Oath: Abraham Requires Oath of his Servant Eliezer Oath: David Swears not to Eat Until the Sun Goes Down Oath: David Swears to Bath-Sheba That Solomon Will be King Oath: Elisha Seals his Vow to Follow Elijah By Oath: Esau Confirms the Sale of his Birthright By Oath: Ezra Requires, of the Priests and Levites Oath: Gedaliah Confirms his Word By Oath: Gehazi Confirms his Lie By Oath: Jacob Confirms the Covenant Between Him and Laban By Oath: Jehoida Requires an Oath from the Rulers Oath: Joab Confirms his Word By Oath: Jonathan and David Confirm a Covenant By Oath: Joseph Requires a Similar Oath Oath: King of Samaria Confirms his Word With An Oath: Moses Covenants With Caleb By Oath: Peter Confirms his Denial of Jesus By Oath: Rahab Requires an Oath from the Spies Oath: Requires Joseph to Swear That he Would Bury Him With his Forefathers Oath: Saul Swears to the Witch of En-Dor Oath: Solomon Confirms his Word By Oath: The Elders of Gilead Confirm Their Pledge to Jephthah By Oath: The Israelites Confirm the Covenant With the Hivites Oath: The Israelites Swear in Mizpeh Oath: Unclassified Scriptures Relating To Oath: Zedekiah Swears to Jeremiah Related Terms |