In the biblical context, a vow is a solemn promise or commitment made to God, often involving a pledge to perform a specific act, offer a sacrifice, or abstain from certain activities. Vows are considered sacred and binding, reflecting a deep sense of devotion and accountability to God. The practice of making vows is evident throughout the Scriptures, and it holds significant spiritual and moral implications.

Old Testament Context

The concept of vowing is deeply rooted in the Old Testament, where it is often associated with acts of worship and expressions of faith. In the Mosaic Law, vows were taken seriously, and specific regulations were established to govern them. Numbers 30:2 states, "If a man makes a vow to the LORD or swears an oath to bind himself by a pledge, he must not break his word; he must do everything he has promised." This underscores the importance of fulfilling one's vows as a matter of integrity and obedience to God.

One notable example of vowing in the Old Testament is the vow of Hannah, the mother of Samuel. In 1 Samuel 1:11 , Hannah makes a vow to the LORD, saying, "O LORD of Hosts, if You will indeed look upon the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but give her a son, then I will dedicate him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall ever come over his head." Hannah's vow reflects her deep faith and commitment, and upon the birth of her son, she fulfills her promise by dedicating Samuel to the service of the LORD.

The Nazarite vow, described in Numbers 6, is another significant example. This vow involved a period of consecration to the LORD, during which the individual abstained from wine, avoided contact with the dead, and refrained from cutting their hair. The Nazarite vow was a voluntary act of devotion, symbolizing a heightened level of holiness and separation unto God.

New Testament Perspective

In the New Testament, the emphasis on vowing shifts towards the integrity of one's word and the sincerity of one's commitments. Jesus addresses the issue of oaths and vows in the Sermon on the Mount, teaching His followers to speak truthfully without the need for elaborate vows. Matthew 5:33-37 records Jesus' words: "Again, you have heard that it was said to the ancients, 'Do not break your oath, but fulfill your vows to the Lord.' But I tell you not to swear at all... Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No.' Anything more comes from the evil one." Here, Jesus emphasizes the importance of honesty and integrity, suggesting that a person's word should be reliable without the necessity of invoking a vow.

The Apostle Paul also touches on the subject of vows in his epistles. In Acts 18:18 , Paul is described as having taken a vow, which he fulfills by cutting his hair in Cenchrea. This indicates that the practice of vowing continued among early Christians, though it was approached with a focus on sincerity and the heart's intent.

Theological Implications

Vowing in the biblical sense is a profound expression of one's relationship with God. It signifies a voluntary act of worship, devotion, and commitment, reflecting the believer's desire to honor God through their actions and promises. The Scriptures consistently highlight the seriousness of making vows, urging believers to consider their words carefully and to fulfill their commitments faithfully.

The practice of vowing also serves as a reminder of God's faithfulness and the believer's call to mirror that faithfulness in their own lives. While the New Testament encourages simplicity and truthfulness in speech, the underlying principle remains: a vow made to God is a sacred promise that should be honored with utmost sincerity and integrity.(p. pr. & vb. n.) of Vow.5087. nadar -- to vow
... root Definition to vow NASB Word Usage made (7), make (3), make vows (1), makes
(2), takes (1), vow (6), vowed (8), vowing (1), vows (2), you will vow (1). ...
/hebrew/5087.htm - 6k

Of Vows. The Miserable Entanglements Caused by Vowing Rashly.
... 13. OF VOWS. THE MISERABLE ENTANGLEMENTS CAUSED BY VOWING RASHLY. OF VOWS.
THE MISERABLE ENTANGLEMENTS CAUSED BY VOWING RASHLY. This ...
/.../calvin/the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 13 of vows the.htm

Whether He who Has Vowed to Enter Religion is Bound to Remain in ...
... wherefore it is preferred to temporal vows, as stated above (A[3], ad 3;[3842]
Q[88], A[12], ad 1). But this would not be so if a person after vowing to enter ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether he who has vowed.htm

Covenanting Predicted in Prophecy.
... service. Did God speak by his servants in order to inform men, that his name
should be called upon, in vowing and swearing unto him? ...
/.../the ordinance of covenanting/chapter xiii covenanting predicted in.htm

Covenanting a Privilege of Believers.
... to fail to recognise God as a God in covenant, was to be far from him; while to
draw near to him, and, consequently, to acknowledge him in vowing to him or ...
/.../cunningham/the ordinance of covenanting/chapter x covenanting a privilege.htm

Covenanting Sanctioned by the Divine Example.
... about the close of the Old Testament dispensation, unquestionably along with the
people of Israel, he engaged in various exercises of vowing, and especially in ...
/.../the ordinance of covenanting/chapter ix covenanting sanctioned by.htm

Manner of Covenanting.
... character of truth. When His people, in vowing or swearing to Him, take hold
on Him, He covenants with them. Receiving their various ...
/.../cunningham/the ordinance of covenanting/chapter ii manner of covenanting.htm

Covenanting Confers Obligation.
... "The obligation arises entirely from the act of the creatures, using a divine ordinance,
by vowing unto God, and covenanting with him, whereby they bind their ...
/.../the ordinance of covenanting/chapter v covenanting confers obligation.htm

The Practice of Piety in Glorifying God in the Time of Sickness ...
... as eagerly and earnestly as ever thou knewest a malefactor, being to receive his
sentence, cry unto the judge for favour and pardon; vowing amendment of life ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/bayly/the practice of piety/the practice of piety in.htm

Christ Repressing Rash Discipleship
... Men have vowed, and did not know what they were vowing, pledging themselves, in
a moment of excitement, to what after years discover to them to be a hard and ...
/.../expositions of holy scripture a/christ repressing rash discipleship.htm

Of the Death of the Martyrs Considered as a Sacrifice, and in what ...
... Jephthah's sacrifice of his daughter should receive attention; it was by vowing
it that he conquered the children of Ammon, and the victim approved his vow ...
/.../origen/origens commentary on the gospel of john/36 of the death of.htm

Vowing (4 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Vow. Multi-Version Concordance
Vowing (4 Occurrences). Leviticus 27:8 And if he is ...
/v/vowing.htm - 7k

Voweth (8 Occurrences)

/v/voweth.htm - 8k

Vows (38 Occurrences)

/v/vows.htm - 19k

Valued (27 Occurrences)
... valuation, then he hath presented himself before the priest, and the priest hath
valued him; according to that which the hand of him who is vowing doth reach ...
/v/valued.htm - 15k

Revered (7 Occurrences)
... Malachi 1:14 And cursed 'is' a deceiver, who hath in his drove a male, And is vowing,
and is sacrificing a marred thing to the Lord, For a great king 'am' I ...
/r/revered.htm - 8k

Marred (7 Occurrences)
... Malachi 1:14 And cursed 'is' a deceiver, who hath in his drove a male, And is vowing,
and is sacrificing a marred thing to the Lord, For a great king 'am' I ...
/m/marred.htm - 8k

Singularly (1 Occurrence)
... Numbers 6:2 Speak unto the sons of Israel, and thou hast said unto them, When a
man or woman doeth singularly, by vowing a vow of a Nazarite, to be separate to ...
/s/singularly.htm - 7k

Reach (63 Occurrences)
... valuation, then he hath presented himself before the priest, and the priest hath
valued him; according to that which the hand of him who is vowing doth reach ...
/r/reach.htm - 27k

Sacrificing (39 Occurrences)
... Malachi 1:14 And cursed 'is' a deceiver, who hath in his drove a male, And is vowing,
and is sacrificing a marred thing to the Lord, For a great king 'am' I ...
/s/sacrificing.htm - 19k

Presented (114 Occurrences)
... valuation, then he hath presented himself before the priest, and the priest hath
valued him; according to that which the hand of him who is vowing doth reach ...
/p/presented.htm - 37k

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Vowing: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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