Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges - James 5:12 - 5:12

Online Resource Library

Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | Download

Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges - James 5:12 - 5:12


(Show All Books | Show All Chapters)

This Chapter Verse Commentaries:

12. πρὸ πάντων marks the importance of what follows.

μὴ ὀμνύετε κ.τ.λ. This emphatic rule is founded on the Lord’s words, recorded by St Matthew only, Mat 5:33 ff. μὴ ὀμόσαι ὅλως κ.τ.λ. Comp. Mat 23:16-22. The only oath enjoined in the Mosaic code is that by which an accused person cleared himself from the charge, Exo 22:11; Lev 5:1; Lev 6:3; Num 5:19-22. Comp. Deu 6:13; Deu 10:20; Psa 63:11. But such was the sanctity attached to an oath that it could not be demanded on a trivial accusation; a denial was sufficient (τὸ ναὶ ναὶ καὶ τὸ οὐ οὐ), or the word amen or σὺ εἶπας (see Mat 26:63-64) constituted an oath. By a curious inconsistency an oath taken by heaven, earth, Jerusalem or any other creature came to be regarded as invalid (Mishnah, Shebuoth IV. 13, as cited by Dr Ginsburg, Kitto’s Encyc. under ‘Oath’), compare our Lord’s words, Mat 23:16-22.

So great was the fear of offending by a false oath that pious Jews before the time of Christ discountenanced swearing altogether: Sir 23:9-11 ὅρκῳ μὴ ἐθίσῃς τὸ στόμα σου, καὶ ὀνομασίᾳ τοῦ ἁγίου μὴ συνεθισθῇς … ἀνὴρ πολύορκος πλησθήσεται ἀνομίας, καὶ οὐκ ἀποστήσεται ἀπὸ τοῦ οἴκου αὐτοῦ μάστιξ, κ.τ.λ. The Pharisees avoided oaths as much as possible, the Essenes entirely,—a rule which even Herod was obliged to recognise by exempting the Essenes from the oath of allegiance, Joseph. Ant. xv. 10. 4. For the whole subject see Kitto’s Encycl., under ‘Oath.’

ἤτω. For this rare form see Veitch sub voc. εἰμί. In Plat. Rep. 361 ἔστω is now read or ἴτω.

The construction with the accusative is more classical than the idiom used Mat 5:34-35 ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ … ἐν τῇ γῇ.