Oath

An oath in the biblical world was a solemn affirmation or promise, invoking God as witness and guarantor and calling down divine punishment for perjury. The Hebrew word shevuah is related to the word seven — possibly because ancient oaths were sealed by seven sacrificial animals or sevenfold repetition. Oaths were used to ratify covenants (Genesis 26:31), confirm testimony (Exodus 22:11), bind vows (Numbers 30), and establish legal agreements. The phrase as the LORD lives was a standard oath formula invoking divine witness.

The Mosaic law regulated oaths strictly: swearing falsely profaned God's name and was a form of bearing it in vain (Leviticus 19:12). Deuteronomy 6:13 commands swearing only by the LORD's name. God himself swore oaths by his own name (Genesis 22:16; Hebrews 6:13–17) to give unbreakable assurance of his promises. Jesus taught his disciples to let their yes be yes and no be no, avoiding oaths entirely (Matthew 5:33–37), while affirming the validity of an oath under judicial examination when he responded to the high priest's adjuration (Matthew 26:63–64).