What does the Bible say about making promises?

Top passages, ranked by readers

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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