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What does the Bible say about making promises?

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The Bible teaches that promises and vows should be made reverently, truthfully, and only with a settled intention to keep them, since God hears our words and requires faithfulness. Jesus warns against careless oath-taking and calls His people to simple, honest speech in Matthew 5:33-37, echoed by James 5:12. Numbers 30:2 and Deuteronomy 23:21-23 stress that vows made to the Lord must be fulfilled, while Ecclesiastes 5:4-5 counsels that it is better not to vow than to vow rashly and fail to pay. Yet believers rest ultimately in God’s unfailing promise, for all His promises are fulfilled in Christ (2 Corinthians 1:20).

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Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible

  • Matthew 5:33-37

    [33] "Again you have heard that it was said to them of old time, 'You shall not make false vows, but shall perform to the Lord your vows,' [34] but I tell you, don't swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is the throne of God; [35] nor by the earth, for it is the footstool of his feet; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. [36] Neither shall you swear by your head, for you can't make one hair white or black. [37] But let your 'Yes' be 'Yes' and your 'No' be 'no.' Whatever is more than these is of the evil one.

  • Numbers 30:2

    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.

  • James 5:12

    But above all things, my brothers, don't swear, neither by heaven, nor by the earth, nor by any other oath; but let your "yes" be "yes," and your "no," "no;" so that you don't fall into hypocrisy.

  • Deuteronomy 23:21-23

    [21] When you shall vow a vow to Yahweh your God, you shall not be slack to pay it: for Yahweh your God will surely require it of you; and it would be sin in you. [22] But if you shall forbear to vow, it shall be no sin in you. [23] That which is gone out of your lips you shall observe and do; according as you have vowed to Yahweh your God, a freewill-offering, which you have promised with your mouth.

  • Proverbs 20:25

    It is a snare to a man to make a rash dedication, Then later to consider his vows.

  • 2 Corinthians 1:20

    For however many are the promises of God, in him is the "Yes." Therefore also through him is the "Amen," to the glory of God through us.

  • Ecclesiastes 5:1-7

    [1] Guard your steps when you go to God's house; for to draw near to listen is better than to give the sacrifice of fools, for they don't know that they do evil. [2] Don't be rash with your mouth, and don't let your heart be hasty to utter anything before God; for God is in heaven, and you on earth. Therefore let your words be few. [3] For as a dream comes with a multitude of cares, so a fool's speech with a multitude of words. [4] When you vow a vow to God, don't defer to pay it; for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay that which you vow. [5] It is better that you should not vow, than that you should vow and not pay. [6] Don't allow your mouth to lead you into sin. Don't protest before the messenger that this was a mistake. Why should God be angry at your voice, and destroy the work of your hands? [7] For in the multitude of dreams there are vanities, as well as in many words: but you must fear God.

  • Psalms 15:4

    In whose eyes a vile man is despised, But who honors those who fear Yahweh; He who keeps an oath even when it hurts, and doesn't change;

  • Ecclesiastes 5:4-5

    [4] When you vow a vow to God, don't defer to pay it; for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay that which you vow. [5] It is better that you should not vow, than that you should vow and not pay.

  • Hebrews 6:13-18

    [13] For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he could swear by none greater, he swore by himself, [14] saying, "Most surely I will bless you, and I will surely multiply you." [15] Thus, having patiently endured, he obtained the promise. [16] For men indeed swear by a greater one, and in every dispute of theirs the oath is final for confirmation. [17] In this way God, being determined to show more abundantly to the heirs of the promise the immutability of his counsel, interposed with an oath; [18] that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we may have a strong encouragement, who have fled for refuge to take hold of the hope set before us.

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