שְׁבוּעָה
she.vu.ah
oath
Lexicon Entry
Lexicon data from STEPBible TIPNR, Tyndale House, Cambridge. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
What Original Readers Understood
ExploredThe Hebrew word שְׁבוּעָה (she.vu.ah) carries the meaning of an "oath." It is a crucial component of ancient Near Eastern culture, often serving as a means to strengthen vows and promises. This word appears 30 times in the Bible, highlighting its importance in the context of communication and interpersonal relationships. As an oath, שְׁבוּעָה typically involves a solemn declaration made with the intention of invoking a higher power, such as God or a deity, to witness the speaker's commitment. It can be used to affirm or negate a claim, to corroborate a witness's testimony, or to validate a covenant or agreement. The word's range of usage is not limited to formal treaties; it is also found in everyday conversations and personal relationships. The significance of שְׁבוּעָה lies in its role as a guarantor of trust and reliability. By invoking a higher power, an oath seeks to attach a moral consequence to the speaker's words, making a promise more binding and secure. In the biblical context, this concept is closely tied to honor, reputation, and accountability, underscoring the importance of keeping one's word and living up to commitments.
Source data & methodology
Occurrences in Scripture
30 total occurrences across the text
For there were many in Judah sworn to him, because he was the son-in-law of Shecaniah the son of Arah; and his son Jehohanan had taken the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah as wife.
Nehemiah 10:29joined with their brothers, their nobles, and entered into a curse, and into an oath, to walk in God’s law, which was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of Yahweh our Lord, and his ordinances and his statutes;
Psalms 105:9the covenant which he made with Abraham, his oath to Isaac,
Ecclesiastes 8:2I say, “Keep the king’s command!” because of the oath to God.
Ecclesiastes 9:2All things come alike to all. There is one event to the righteous and to the wicked; to the good, to the clean, to the unclean, to him who sacrifices, and to him who doesn’t sacrifice. As is the good, so is the sinner; he who takes an oath, as he who fears an oath.
Isaiah 65:15You will leave your name for a curse to my chosen; and the Lord Yahweh will kill you. He will call his servants by another name,
Jeremiah 11:5that I may establish the oath which I swore to your fathers, to give them a land flowing with milk and honey,’ as it is today.” Then I answered, and said, “Amen, Yahweh.”
Ezekiel 21:23It will be to them as a false divination in their sight, who have sworn oaths to them; but he brings iniquity to memory, that they may be taken.
Daniel 9:11Yes, all Israel have transgressed your law, turning aside, that they should not obey your voice. “Therefore the curse and the oath written in the law of Moses the servant of God has been poured out on us; for we have sinned against him.
2 Samuel 21:7But the king spared Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan the son of Saul, because of Yahweh’s oath that was between them, between David and Jonathan the son of Saul.
Habakkuk 3:9You uncovered your bow. You called for your sworn arrows. You split the earth with rivers.
Zechariah 8:17and let none of you devise evil in your hearts against his neighbor, and love no false oath: for all these are things that I hate,” says Yahweh.
Genesis 24:8If the woman isn’t willing to follow you, then you shall be clear from this oath to me. Only you shall not bring my son there again.”
Genesis 26:3Live in this land, and I will be with you, and will bless you. For I will give to you, and to your offspring, all these lands, and I will establish the oath which I swore to Abraham your father.
Exodus 22:11the oath of Yahweh shall be between them both, he has not put his hand on his neighbor’s goods; and its owner shall accept it, and he shall not make restitution.
Leviticus 5:4“ ‘Or if anyone swears rashly with his lips to do evil or to do good—whatever it is that a man might utter rashly with an oath, and it is hidden from him—when he knows of it, then he will be guilty of one of these.
Numbers 5:21then the priest shall cause the woman to swear with the oath of cursing, and the priest shall tell the woman, “May Yahweh make you a curse and an oath among your people, when Yahweh allows your thigh to fall away, and your body to swell;
Numbers 5:21then the priest shall cause the woman to swear with the oath of cursing, and the priest shall tell the woman, “May Yahweh make you a curse and an oath among your people, when Yahweh allows your thigh to fall away, and your body to swell;
Numbers 30:2When 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.
Numbers 30:10“If she vowed in her husband’s house or bound her soul by a bond with an oath,
Numbers 30:13Every vow, and every binding oath to afflict the soul, her husband may establish it, or her husband may make it void.
Deuteronomy 7:8but because Yahweh loves you, and because he desires to keep the oath which he swore to your fathers, Yahweh has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.
Joshua 2:17The men said to her, “We will be guiltless of this your oath which you’ve made us to swear.
Joshua 2:20But if you talk about this business of ours, then we shall be guiltless of your oath which you’ve made us to swear.”
Joshua 9:20We will do this to them, and let them live; lest wrath be on us, because of the oath which we swore to them.”
Judges 21:5The children of Israel said, “Who is there among all the tribes of Israel who didn’t come up in the assembly to Yahweh?” For they had made a great oath concerning him who didn’t come up to Yahweh to Mizpah, saying, “He shall surely be put to death.”
1 Samuel 14:26When the people had come to the forest, behold, honey was dripping, but no one put his hand to his mouth; for the people feared the oath.
1 Kings 2:43Why then have you not kept the oath of Yahweh, and the commandment that I have instructed you with?”
1 Chronicles 16:16the covenant which he made with Abraham, his oath to Isaac.
2 Chronicles 15:15All Judah rejoiced at the oath, for they had sworn with all their heart, and sought him with their whole desire; and he was found by them. Then Yahweh gave them rest all around.