I'm still pondering on vows from this post the other day. I realized I hadn't fleshed out what a vow is and what it means in Scripture. So a little word study.
Just the word vow is used 41 times in 35 verses - the first instance:
Gen 28:20 And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on,
H5087 - A primitive root; to promise (positively, to do or give something to God. (Used 31 times in 28 verses - translated as vow, vows, vowed.)
Other Hebrew words for vow:
H5088 - From H5087; a promise (to God); also (concretely) a thing promised. (Used 60 times in 57 verses - translated as vow, vows, vowed.)
Greek:
G2171 - From G2172; properly a wish, expressed as a petition to God, or in votive obligation. (Used 3 times in 3 verses - translated vow or prayer.)
- G2172 - Middle voice of a primary verb; to wish; by implication to pray to God. (Used 7 times in 7 verses - translated would, wished, wish, pray.)
So what's the difference between a vow and an oath, or swearing?
Oath:
H7621 - Feminine passive participle of H7650; properly something sworn, that is, an oath.
- H7650 - A primitive root; properly to be complete, but used only as a denominative from H7651; to seven oneself, that is, swear (as if by repeating a declaration seven times).
H423 - From H422; an imprecation: - curse, cursing, execration, oath, swearing.
- H422 - A primitive root; properly to adjure, that is, (usually in a bad sense) imprecate: - adjure, curse, swear.
G3727 - From ἕρκος herkos (a fence; perhaps akin to G3725); a limit, that is, (sacred) restraint (specifically oath): - oath.
G332 - From G331; to declare or vow under penalty of execration: - (bind under a) curse, bind with an oath.
G3728 - From a compound of G3727 and a derivative of G3660; asseveration on oath: - oath.
Swear - in the Hebrew is primarily H7650. In the Greek:
H3660 - A prolonged form of a primary but obsolete word, ὄμω omō, for which another prolonged form (ὀμόω omoō om-o'-o) is used in certain tenses. To swear, that is, take (or declare on) oath: - swear.
I was looking for something about vows and came across this article by Got Questions which referenced Jephthah and an admonition of NOT making a rash vow unto the Lord.
Jdg 11:30 And Jephthah vowed a vow unto the LORD, and said, If thou shalt without fail deliver the children of Ammon into mine hands,
Jdg 11:31 Then it shall be, that whatsoever cometh forth of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the children of Ammon, shall surely be the LORD'S, and I will offer it up for a burnt offering.
As stated in the New Testament by Jesus:
Mat 5:33 Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:
Mat 5:34 But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne:
Mat 5:35 Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of
the great King.
Mat 5:36 Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.
Mat 5:37 But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.
The final conclusion of the article was:
"If we have made a vow foolishly and realized we cannot or should not keep it, we should confess it to God, knowing that He is “faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” A broken vow, while serious, is not an unforgivable matter if taken to the Lord in true confession. God will not hold us to vows made imprudently, but He expects us to obey Jesus and refrain from making vows in the future."
I know God is gracious, long suffering and forgives. O' Lord, forgive I ask, not only my rash words, but all of your people. Help us to recognize and repent of hastily spoken words. Help us Lord to seek reconciliation with You.
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