Bible Dictionaries
Oath

Easton's Bible Dictionary

A solemn appeal to God, permitted on fitting occasions (Deuteronomy 6:13; Jeremiah 4:2 ), in various forms (Genesis 16:5; 2 Samuel 12:5; Ruth 1:17; Hosea 4:15; Romans 1:9 ), and taken in different ways (Genesis 14:22; 24:2; 2 Chronicles 6:22 ). God is represented as taking an oath (Hebrews 6:16-18 ), so also Christ (Matthew 26:64 ), and Paul (Romans 9:1; Galatians 1:20; Philippians 1:8 ). The precept, "Swear not at all," refers probably to ordinary conversation between man and man (Matthew 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."