Topical Bible Study

Oaths

101 scripture references across 41 subtopics — Nave's Topical Bible

Overview

Oaths were serious commitments in biblical culture, often invoking God's name or swearing by His life. They sealed agreements, established credibility, and demonstrated covenant faithfulness. Breaking an oath was considered a violation of one's word and a dishonoring of God's character.

Key Scriptures

"So Abram said to the king of Sodom, 'I have raised my hand to the LORD, God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth'" (Genesis 14:22, ESV).

"Now therefore, swear to me here by God that you will not deal falsely with me" (Genesis 24:3, NASB).

"When a man vows a vow to the LORD, or swears an oath to bind himself by a pledge, he shall not break his word" (Numbers 30:2, ESV).

Application

Christians should speak truth consistently without requiring oaths, allowing their character and integrity to reflect Christ's reliability in all commitments.

Scripture References 101 total

Antiquity of

Genesis 14:22 Genesis 24:3 Genesis 24:8

As the Lord liveth

Judges 8:19 Ruth 3:13

As thy soul liveth

1 Samuel 1:26 1 Samuel 25:26

Before God I lie not

Binding to performance of any particular act

Genesis 24:3 Genesis 24:4 Genesis 50:25 Joshua 2:12

Binding to performance of sacred duties

2 Chronicles 15:14 2 Chronicles 15:15 Nehemiah 10:29 Numbers 30:2 Psalms 132:2

By the fear of Isaac

Genesis 31:53

By the Lord

1 Kings 2:42 2 Samuel 19:7

Condemned for false

Malachi 3:5 Zechariah 5:4

Condemned for profane

Hosea 4:2 Jeremiah 23:10

Confirming covenants

1 Samuel 20:16 1 Samuel 20:17 Genesis 26:28 Genesis 31:44 Genesis 31:53

Custom of swearing by the life of the king

Genesis 42:15 Genesis 42:16

Deciding controversies in courts of law

1 Kings 8:31 Exodus 22:11 Numbers 5:19

Fell into many errors respecting

Matthew 23:16 Matthew 23:17 Matthew 23:18 Matthew 23:19 Matthew 23:20 Matthew 23:21 Matthew 23:22

Forbidden to take false

Leviticus 6:3 Zechariah 8:17

Forbidden to take in the name of any created thing

James 5:12 Matthew 5:34 Matthew 5:35 Matthew 5:36

Forbidden to take rash, or unholy

Leviticus 5:4

Forbidden to take, in name of idols

Joshua 23:7

Generally respected the obligation of

2 Samuel 21:7 Joshua 9:19 Joshua 9:20 Matthew 14:9 Psalms 15:4

God do so to thee and more also

1 Samuel 3:17

God do so to thee, and more also

1 Samuel 3:17

God is witness

1 Thessalonians 2:5

God used, to show the immutability of his counsel

Genesis 22:16 Numbers 6:17 Numbers 14:28

Herod

Matthew 14:7 Matthew 14:8 Matthew 14:9

I call God for a record

2 Corinthians 1:23

I charge you by the Lord

1 Thessalonians 5:27

Jephthah

Judges 11:30 Judges 11:31 Judges 11:32 Judges 11:33 Judges 11:34 Judges 11:35 Judges 11:36

Joshua, &c

Joshua 9:15 Joshua 9:16

Judicial from of administering

1 Kings 22:16 Matthew 26:63

Often accompanied by placing the hand under the thigh of the person sworn to

Genesis 24:2 Genesis 24:9 Genesis 47:29

Often accompanied by raising up the hand

Daniel 12:7 Genesis 14:22 Revelation 10:5 Revelation 10:6

Often guilty of falsely taking

Jeremiah 5:2 Jeremiah 7:9 Leviticus 6:3

Often guilty of rashly taking

Judges 21:7 Matthew 14:7 Matthew 26:72

Pledging allegiance to sovereigns

2 Kings 11:4 Ecclesiastes 8:2

Saul

1 Samuel 14:27 1 Samuel 14:44

The Jews who sought to kill Paul

Acts 23:21

The lawful purpose of, explained

Hebrews 6:16

The Lord do so to me, and more also

Ruth 1:17

To be taken in fear and reverence

Ecclesiastes 9:2

To take, in truth, judgment, &c

Jeremiah 4:2

To use God's name alone in

Deuteronomy 6:13 Deuteronomy 10:20 Isaiah 65:16

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