Oath

[Easton] A solemn appeal to God, permitted on fitting occasions (Deut. 6:13; Jer. 4:2), in various forms (Gen. 16:5; 2 Sam. 12:5; Ruth 1:17; Hos. 4:15; Rom. 1:9), and taken in different ways (Gen. 14:22; 24:2; 2 Chr. 6:22). God is represented as taking an oath (Heb. 6:16-18), so also Christ (Matt. 26:64), and Paul (Rom. 9:1; Gal. 1:20; Phil. 1:8). The precept, “Swear not at all,” refers probably to ordinary conversation between man and man (Matt. 5:34, 37). But if the words are taken as referring to oaths, then their intention may have been to show “that the proper state of Christians is to require no oaths; that when evil is expelled from among them every yea and nay will be as decisive as an oath, every promise as binding as a vow.” [Smith] The principle on which an oath is held to be binding is incidentally laid down in (Hebrews 6:16) viz. as an ultimate appeal to divine authority to ratify an assertion. On the same principle, that oath has always been held most binding which appealed to the highest authority, as regards both individuals and communities. As a consequence of this principle, appeals to God’s name on the one hand, and to heathen deities on the other, are treated in scripture as tests of allegiance. (Exodus 23:13; 34:6; 29:12) etc. So also the sovereign’s name is sometimes used as a form of obligation. (Genesis 42:15; 2 Samuel 11:11; 14:19) Other forms of oath, serious or frivolous, are mentioned, some of which are condemned by our Lord. (Matthew 6:33; 23:16-22) and see (James 5:12) (There is, however, a world-wide difference between a solemn appeal to God and profane swearing.) The forms of adjuration mentioned in Scripture are— Lifting up the hand. Witnesses laid their hands on the head of the accused. (Genesis 14:22; Leviticus 24:14; 17:7; Isaiah 3:7) Putting the hand under the thigh of the person to whom the Promise was made. (Genesis 24:2; 47:29) Oaths were sometimes taken before the altar, or, as some understand the passage, if the persons were not in Jerusalem, in a position looking toward the temple. (1 Kings 8:31; 2 Chronicles 6:22) Dividing a victim and passing between or distributing the pieces. (Genesis 15:10,17; Jeremiah 34:18) As the sanctity of oaths was carefully inculcated by the law, so the crime of perjury was strongly condemned; and to a false witness the same punishment was assigned which was due for the crime to which he testified. (Exodus 20:7; Leviticus 19:12) [Nave] –(A solemn qualification) -Used in solemnizing covenants .Between Abraham and the king of Sodom Ge 14:22 , 23 .Between Abraham and Abimelech Ge 21:22 , 23 .Between Isaac and Abimelech Ge 26:26-29 , 31 –Abraham requires oath of his servant Eliezer Ge 24:2 , 3 , 9 –Esau confirms the sale of his birthright by Ge 25:33 –Jacob confirms the covenant between him and Laban by Ge 31:53 –Requires Joseph to swear that he would bury him with his forefathers Ge 47:28-31 –Joseph requires a similar oath Ge 50:25 –Rahab requires an oath from the spies Jos 2:12-14 ; 6:22 –The Israelites confirm the covenant with the Hivites Jos 9:3-20 –Moses covenants with Caleb by Jos 14:9 –The elders of Gilead confirm their pledge to Jephthah by Jud 11:10 –The Israelites swear in Mizpeh Jud 21:5 –Ruth swears to Naomi Ru 1:17 –Boaz swears to Ruth Ru 3:13 –Saul swears to Jonathan 1Sa 19:6 –Jonathan and David confirm a covenant by 1Sa 20:3 , 13-17 –David swears to Saul 1Sa 24:21 , 22 ; 2Sa 21:7 –Saul swears to the witch of En-dor 1Sa 28:10 –David swears not to eat until the sun goes down 2Sa 3:35 –Joab confirms his word by 2Sa 19:7 –David swears to Bath-sheba that Solomon will be king 1Ki 1:28 , 29 –Solomon confirms his word by 1Ki 2:23 –So does Shimei 1Ki 2:42 –Elisha seals his vow to follow Elijah by 2Ki 2:2 –King of Samaria confirms his word with an 2Ki 6:31 –Gehazi confirms his lie by 2Ki 5:20 –Jehoida requires an oath from the rulers 2Ki 11:4 –Zedekiah violates 2Ch 36:13 –Ezra requires, of the Priests and Levites Ezr 10:5 , 19 –So does Nehemiah Ne 5:12 , 13 –Zedekiah swears to Jeremiah Jer 38:16 –Gedaliah confirms his word by Jer 40:9 –Peter confirms his denial of Jesus by Mr 14:71 –ATTRIBUTED TO GOD Ge 22:16 ; Ps 89:35 ; 95:11 ; 105:9 ; 132:11 ; Isa 14:24 ; 45:23 ; Jer 11:5 ; 22:5 ; 49:13 ; 51:14 ; Lu 1:73 ; Heb 3:11 , 18 ; 4:3 ; 6:13 , 14 , 17 ; 7:21 , 28 ; Re 10:6 –UNCLASSIFIED SCRIPTURES RELATING TO Ex 20:7 ; 22:10 , 11 ; 23:1 ; Le 6:2-5 ; 19:12 ; Nu 5:19-24 ; De 5:11 ; 6:13 ; 10:20 ; 1Ki 8:31 , 32 ; Ps 15:1 , 2 , 4 ; Ec 8:2 ; Isa 48:1 ; Jer 4:2 ; 5:2 , 7 ; 7:8 , 9 ; 12:16 ; Da 9:11 ; 12:7 ; Ho 4:15 ; Mt 5:33-37 ; 14:3-12 ; 23:18-22 ; 26:63 ; Mr 6:26 ; Ac 23:12-14 ; 2Co 1:23 ; Ga 1:20 ; Heb 6:16 ; Jas 5:12 ; Re 10:5 , 6 .See COVENANT .See FALSE WITNESS .See GOD, PROFANING HIS NAME .See PERJURY