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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comFausset Bible Dictionary: Oath
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; "an oath for confirmation is the end of strife (contradiction)." Therefore, Christianity sanctions oaths, but they are to be used only to put an end to contradiction in disputes and for confirmation of solemn promises. God, in condescension to man's mode of confirming covenants, confirmed His word by oath; by these "two immutable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we have strong consolation who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us." And "because He could swear by no greater, He sware by Himself": also . Jesus Himself accepted the high priest's adjuration (). Paul often calls God to witness the truth of his assertions (; ; ; ; ; ; ). So the angel, . The prohibition "swear not at all" (; ) refers to trivial occasions, not to oaths on solemn occasions and before magistrates. In every day conversation your simple yea or nay suffices to establish your word.
The Jews held oaths not binding if God's name did not directly occur (Lightfoot, Hor. Heb.). "Thou shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths" meant in the Jews' view, which Christ combats, if not sworn to the Lord the oath is not binding. Jesus says on the contrary, every oath by the creature, heaven, earth, etc., is by the Creator whether His name be mentioned or not, and is therefore binding. In the perfect Christian state all oaths would be needless, for distrust of another's word and untruth would not exist. Meantime, they are needed on solemn occasions. But men do not escape the guilt of "taking God's name in vain" by avoiding the name itself, as in the oaths, "faith!" "gracious!" "by heaven," etc. The connection in is, Swear not through impatience to which trials may tempt you (-11); in contrast stands the proper use of the tongue, .
To appeal to a pagan god by oath is to acknowledge his deity, and is therefore forbidden (; ; ; ), as in swearing to appeal to God is recognizing Him (; ; ). An oath even to a pagan king is so binding that Jehovah's chief reason for dethroning Zedekiah and giving him over to die in Babylon was his violating his oath to Nebuchadnezzar (-20; ). Jewish criminal procedure admitted the accused to clear himself or herself by oath (-22; ); our Lord, . Oath gestures were "lifting up the hand" (; ; ; -6). Witnesses laid their hands on the head of the accused ().
Putting the hand under the thigh of the superior to whom the oath was taken in sign of subjection and obedience (Aben Ezra): ; ; or else because the hip was the part from which the posterity issued () and the seat of vital power. In making (Hebrew "cutting") a covenant the victim was divided, and the contracting parties passed between the portions, in token that the two became joined in one. (See COVENANT.) In -17 Abram was there, and God signified His presence by the burning lamp which passed between the pieces (). Compare ; , where a similar slaughter of the oxen of any who should not follow Saul is symbolized.
The false witness was doomed to the punishment due to the crime which he attested (-19). Blasphemy was punishable with death (; ). The obligation in to testify when adjured (for "swearing" translated "adjuration," 'alah) was that on which our Lord acted before Caiaphas (). Alah, from 'Eel "God," is used for "imprecations" (). "Shaba," from sheba' "seven" the sacred number, is the general word "swear"; compare the seven ewe lambs given by Abraham to Abimelech in covenanting ().