Why Someone Would Avoid Swearing on a Bible

by EzekielDiet.com
Posted on Jan 23, 2025

Ezekiel Diet Note:  The more I think about why anyone would refuse to place their hand on a Bible when taking an oath of office; the more I believe it’s because President Trump knows he’s swearing falsely. Lying.

This is what President Trump swore, possibly falsely — “I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”

In Numbers 30:2 as well, there’s an emphasis on keeping one’s word. It reads, “When a man makes a vow to the Lord or takes an oath to obligate himself by a pledge, he must not break his word but must do everything he said.” The gravity of making promises isn’t taken lightly here.


Excerpt Source: https://thewitness.org/what-does-the-bible-say-about-swearing-on-the-bible/

Biblical Verses on Oaths and Vows

Diving straight into the Bible, it’s a fascinating journey across numerous verses that touch upon oaths and vows. Most notably, one of the first places we find instructions about oaths is in Leviticus 19:12. Here, it’s stated quite clearly, “Do not swear falsely by my name and so profane the name of your God. I am the Lord.”

In Numbers 30:2 as well, there’s an emphasis on keeping one’s word. It reads, “When a man makes a vow to the Lord or takes an oath to obligate himself by a pledge, he must not break his word but must do everything he said.” The gravity of making promises isn’t taken lightly here.

Moving forward to Matthew 5:33-37 in the New Testament also provides insight into Jesus’ teachings on oaths. It says:

You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath.’

But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all.

Let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’

It seems like there is a shift from Old Testament to New Testament views here.

By analyzing James 5:12 too we discover another perspective where swearing is discouraged altogether! It says “Above all else, my brothers and sisters, do not swear–not by heaven or by earth or by anything else.

So what does all this mean? Well for starters it suggests that while oaths were considered serious business in ancient times (particularly if they invoked God), Jesus’ teaching seemed more focused on honesty without needing any extra vows. This doesn’t necessarily imply swearing on the Bible itself is wrong though – just maybe unnecessary if you’re already being truthful!

Implications of Swearing on the Bible

Diving headlong into the concept, it’s essential to note that when someone swears on the Bible, they’re making a binding promise. This act signifies an individual’s intention to speak nothing but the truth or fulfill a specific obligation. The gravity of this action is undoubtedly immense as it involves one’s personal faith and belief system.

Now, let’s take a peek at what the Good Book itself has to say about swearing an oath. The book of Matthew 5:34-37 advises against swearing at all, whether by heaven for it’s God’s throne, earth for it’s His footstool or by Jerusalem for it’s city of great king. Instead, we should let our ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes’, and our ‘No’ be ‘No’. In essence, these verses suggest that one’s word should be reliable enough without needing any oath to bolster its credibility.

But how does society perceive this practice? Well, in many courtrooms across America today, witnesses are still asked to place their right hand on the Bible before testifying. It symbolizes their commitment to honesty with the understanding that lying under such circumstances would not only constitute perjury but would also offend their religious principles.

However, there seems to be a shift in perspective over recent years. More and more people are choosing affirmation over oaths during courtroom proceedings; essentially giving their word without invoking religious texts. That said, while some view this as removing unnecessary spiritual pressure from legal proceedings others argue that it may dilute the seriousness attached to testimonies.

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