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Tuesday, June 17th, 2025
the Week of Proper 6 / Ordinary 11
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JPS Old Testament

Numbers 30:2

And Moses spoke unto the heads of the tribes of the children of Israel, saying: This is the thing which the LORD hath commanded.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Thompson Chain Reference - Covenants and Vows;   Vows;   The Topic Concordance - Swearing/vowing;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Oaths;   Swearing Falsely;   Vows;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Vow;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Word;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Vow;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Bond;   Vows;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Jephthah;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Perjury;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Vows;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Bind;   Break;   Law in the New Testament;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Bemidbar Rabbah;   Commandments, the 613;   God;   Mishnah;   Nebuchadnezzar;   Nedarim;   Oath;   Sidra;   Vows;  

Parallel Translations

Hebrew Names Version
When a man vows a vow to the LORD, or swears an oath to bind his soul with a bond, he shall not break his word; he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.
King James Version
If a man vow a vow unto the Lord , or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth.
Lexham English Bible
if a man makes a vow for Yahweh or swears an oath with a binding pledge on himself, he must not render his word invalid; he must do all that went out from his mouth.
English Standard Version
If a man vows a vow to the Lord , or swears an oath to bind himself by a pledge, he shall not break his word. He shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.
New Century Version
"If a man makes a promise to the Lord or says he will do something special, he must keep his promise. He must do what he said.
New English Translation
If a man makes a vow to the Lord or takes an oath of binding obligation on himself, he must not break his word, but must do whatever he has promised.
Amplified Bible
"If a man makes a vow to the LORD or swears an oath to bind himself with a pledge [of abstinence], he shall not break (violate, profane) his word; he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.
New American Standard Bible
"If a man makes a vow to the LORD, or takes an oath to put himself under a binding obligation, he shall not break his word; he shall act in accordance with everything that comes out of his mouth.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Whosoeuer voweth a vow vnto the Lord, or sweareth an othe to binde him selfe by a bonde, he shall not breake his promise, but shall do according to al yt proceedeth out of his mouth.
Legacy Standard Bible
If a man makes a vow to Yahweh or swears an oath to bind himself with a binding obligation, he shall not violate his word; he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.
Contemporary English Version
When one of you men makes a promise to the Lord , you must keep your word.
Complete Jewish Bible
Moshe told the people of Isra'el everything, just as Adonai had ordered Moshe. Haftarah Pinchas: M'lakhim Alef (1 Kings) 18:46–19:21 B'rit Hadashah suggested readings for Parashah Pinchas: Mattityahu (Matthew) 26:1–30; Mark 14:1–26; Luke 22:1–20; Yochanan (John) 2:13–22; 7:1–13, 37–39; 11:55–12:1; 13:1; 18:28, 39; 19:14; Acts 2:1–21; 12:3–4; 20:5–6, 16; 27:9–11; 1 Corinthians 5:6 – 8; 16:8; Messianic Jews (Hebrews) 11:28 [In regular years read with Parashah 43, in leap years read separately] Then Moshe spoke to the heads of the tribes of the people of Isra'el. He said, "Here is what Adonai has ordered:
Darby Translation
If a man vow a vow to Jehovah, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond, he shall not break his word; according to all that hath gone out of his mouth shall he do.
Easy-to-Read Version
"If a man makes a special promise to the Lord or makes a promise with an oath, he must not break his promise. He must do everything he said he would do.
George Lamsa Translation
When a man vows a vow to the LORD and swears an oath to bind himself by a bond, he shall not break his word; he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.
Good News Translation
When a man makes a vow to give something to the Lord or takes an oath to abstain from something, he must not break his promise, but must do everything that he said he would.
Christian Standard Bible®
When a man makes a vow to the Lord or swears an oath to put himself under an obligation, he must not break his word; he must do whatever he has promised.
Literal Translation
When a man vows a vow to Jehovah, or has sworn an oath to bind his soul with a bond, he shall not break his word; he shall do all that has gone out of his mouth.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Yf eny man make a vowe vnto the LORDE, or sweare an ooth, so that he binde his soule, he shal not breake his worde, but do all that is proceaded out of his mouth.
American Standard Version
When a man voweth a vow unto Jehovah, or sweareth an oath to bind his soul with a bond, he shall not break his word; he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth.
Bible in Basic English
When a man takes an oath to the Lord, or gives an undertaking having the force of an oath, let him not go back from his word, but let him do whatever he has said he will do.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
If a man vowe vnto the Lorde, or sweare an othe to bynde his soule: he shall not go backe with his worde, but shall fulfyll all that is proceeded out of his mouth.
King James Version (1611)
If a man vowe a vow vnto the Lord, or sweare an othe to bind his soule with a bond: he shall not breake his word, hee shall doe according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And Moses spoke to the heads of the tribes of the children of Israel, saying, This is the thing which the Lord has commanded.
English Revised Version
When a man voweth a vow unto the LORD, or sweareth an oath to bind his soul with a bond, he shall not break his word; he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth.
Berean Standard Bible
If a man makes a vow to the LORD or swears an oath to obligate himself by a pledge, he must not break his word; he must do everything he has promised.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
ethir byndith hym silf bi an ooth, he schal not make voide his word, but he schal fille al thing which he bihiyte.
Young's Literal Translation
`When a man voweth a vow to Jehovah, or hath sworn an oath to bind a bond on his soul, he doth not pollute his word; according to all that is going out from his mouth he doth.
Update Bible Version
When a man vows a vow to Yahweh, or swears an oath to bind his soul with a bond, he shall not break his word; he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.
Webster's Bible Translation
If a man shall vow a vow to the LORD, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word; he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth.
World English Bible
When a man vows a vow to Yahweh, or swears an oath to bind his soul with a bond, he shall not break his word; he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.
New King James Version
If a man makes a vow to the LORD, or swears an oath to bind himself by some agreement, he shall not break his word; he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.
New Living Translation
A man who makes a vow to the Lord or makes a pledge under oath must never break it. He must do exactly what he said he would do.
New Life Bible
If a man makes a promise to the Lord, or swears that he will keep his promise, he must not break his word. He must do all that he said he would do.
New Revised Standard
When a man makes a vow to the Lord , or swears an oath to bind himself by a pledge, he shall not break his word; he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
When, a man, shall vow a vow unto Yahweh, or swear an oath to bind a bond upon his soul, he shall not break his word, - according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth, shall he do.
Douay-Rheims Bible
(30-3) If any man make a vow to the Lord, or bind himself by an oath: he shall not make his word void but shall fulfil all that he promised.
Revised Standard Version
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; he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"If a man makes a vow to the LORD, or takes an oath to bind himself with a binding obligation, he shall not violate his word; he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.

Contextual Overview

1 And Moses told the children of Israel according to all that the LORD commanded Moses. 2 And Moses spoke unto the heads of the tribes of the children of Israel, saying: This is the thing which the LORD hath commanded.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

If a man: The preceding chapters had treated of sacrifices required by law; and in the laws here delivered in respect to vows must have been very useful, as they both prevented and annulled rash vows, and provided a proper sanction for the support and performance of those which were rationally made, and which were made to the Lord.

vow a vow: Numbers 21:2, Genesis 28:20-22, Leviticus 27:2-34, Deuteronomy 23:21, Deuteronomy 23:22, Judges 11:11, Judges 11:30, Judges 11:31, Judges 11:35, Judges 11:36, Judges 11:39, Psalms 15:3, Psalms 56:12, Psalms 76:11, Psalms 119:106, Proverbs 20:25

swear: Exodus 20:7, Leviticus 5:4, Matthew 5:33, Matthew 5:34, Matthew 14:7-9, Acts 23:12, 2 Corinthians 1:23, 2 Corinthians 9:9-11

to bind: Numbers 30:3, Numbers 30:4, Numbers 30:10, Matthew 23:16, Matthew 23:18,*Gr: Acts 23:12, Acts 23:14, Acts 23:21

break: Heb. profane, Psalms 55:20,*marg.

he shall do: Job 22:27, Psalms 22:25, Psalms 50:14, Psalms 66:13, Psalms 66:14, Psalms 116:14, Psalms 116:18, Ecclesiastes 5:4, Ecclesiastes 5:5, Nahum 1:15

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 23:23 - That which Joshua 2:17 - General Ecclesiastes 5:2 - not rash Jeremiah 44:17 - whatsoever Ezekiel 17:16 - whose oath Acts 5:3 - to keep

Cross-References

Genesis 16:2
And Sarai said unto Abram: 'Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing; go in, I pray thee, unto my handmaid; it may be that I shall be builded up through her.' And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai.
Genesis 20:18
For the LORD had fast closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah Abraham's wife.
Genesis 25:21
And Isaac entreated the LORD for his wife, because she was barren; and the LORD let Himself be entreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived.
Genesis 29:31
And the LORD saw that Leah was hated, and he opened her womb; but Rachel was barren.
Genesis 30:5
And Bilhah conceived, and bore Jacob a son.
Genesis 30:6
And Rachel said: 'God hath judged me, and hath also heard my voice, and hath given me a son.' Therefore called she his name Dan.
Genesis 30:13
And Leah said: 'Happy am I! for the daughters will call me happy.' And she called his name Asher.
Genesis 30:14
And Reuben went in the days of wheat harvest, and found mandrakes in the field, and brought them unto his mother Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah: 'Give me, I pray thee, of thy son's mandrakes.'
Genesis 31:36
And Jacob was wroth, and strove with Laban. And Jacob answered and said to Laban: 'What is my trespass? what is my sin, that thou hast hotly pursued after me?
Genesis 50:19
And Joseph said unto them: 'Fear not; for am I in the place of God?

Gill's Notes on the Bible

If a man vow a vow unto the Lord,.... Which must be in a thing that is lawful to be done, which is not contrary to the revealed will and mind of God, and which may tend to the glory of God, the honour of religion, the service of the sanctuary, the good of a man's self or of his neighbour; or in things purely indifferent, which may, or may not be done, without offence to God or man; as that he will not eat such a thing for such a time, or he will do this or the other thing, as Jarchi observes; who moreover says, that he may forbid himself what is forbidden, and forbid what is free and lawful; but he may not make free or lawful what is forbidden, that is, he may not vow to do a thing which is contrary to the law of God, such a vow will not stand: and he was to be of such an age before he could make a vow that would be valid; according to the Targum of Jonathan, he must be thirteen years of age; it is said in the Misnah p,

"a son of twelve years and one day, his vows are examined; a son of thirteen years and one day, his vows are firm, and they examine the whole thirteenth year before that time; although they say we know to whose name (or on whose account) we vow or consecrate, their vow is no vow, nor their consecration no consecration; but after that time, though they say we know not to whose name (or, on whose account) we vow or consecrate, their vow is a vow, and their consecration a consecration:''

or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; to his vow adds an oath for the greater confirmation of it, and to lay himself under the greater obligation to perform it:

he shall not break his word; or profane it q but punctually perform it; men should be careful how they vow, and not rashly do it; but when they have vowed, they ought to perform; see Ecclesiastes 5:4:

he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth; it is not in his power to revoke his vow or make it null: the Misnic doctors r say, a man can loose all vows, excepting his own. R. Judah says, not the vows of his wife, nor those which are between her and others; that is, as one of the commentators s explains it, such vows which are not made to afflict, or respect not fasting; but according to the Targum of Jonathan, though a man cannot loose his vows, or free himself from them, yet the sanhedrim, or court of judicature, can, or a wise man that is authenticated thereby, as Jarchi says, or three private persons; but these are such traditions; which make void the commandment of God, as our Lord complains, Matthew 15:1

p Niddah, c. 5. sect. 6. q לא יחל r Negaim, c. 5. sect. 5. s Bartenora in Misn. Negaim, c. 5. sect. 5.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The “vow” was positive; the “bond” negative or restrictive. By a vow a man engaged to dedicate something to God, or to accomplish some work for Him: by a bond he debarred himself from some privilege or enjoyment. A vow involved an obligation to do: a bond, an obligation to forbear doing.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Numbers 30:2. If a man vow a vow — A vow is a religious promise made to God. Vows were of several kinds:-

1. Of abstinence or humiliation, see ver. Numbers 30:13;

2. Of the Nazarite, see Numbers 6:1-21;

3. Of giving certain things or sacrifices to the Lord, Leviticus 7:16;

4. Of alms given to the poor, see Deuteronomy 23:21.

The law in this chapter must have been very useful, as it both prevented and annulled rash vows, and provided a proper sanction for the support and performance of those that were rationally and piously made. Besides, this law must have acted as a great preventive of lying and hypocrisy. If a vow was properly made, a man or woman was bound, under penalty of the displeasure of God, to fulfil it.


 
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