Swearing
Culture & Societyâš¡ IN BRIEF (SUMMARY)
Swearing an oath functioned as a legal and social mechanism in ancient Near Eastern societies to establish trust and enforce accountability through divine witness.
What is the meaning of Swearing in the Bible?
Swearing an oath functioned as a legal and social mechanism in ancient Near Eastern societies to establish trust and enforce accountability through divine witness.
SIGNIFICANCE
Understanding the gravity of oaths clarifies the legal contexts of biblical narratives and explains the rationale behind Jesus' instruction in the Sermon on the Mount to avoid casual swearing.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
- Why did the biblical author mention Swearing in this passage?
- What cultural or historical assumption does Swearing clarify?
Source Attribution & Provenance
Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE) and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been editorially modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and formatted for fast contextual reference.