keeping vows
What does the Bible say about keeping vows? These are the passages readers found most helpful — tap any citation to read it in context.
17 passages · most helpful first
2And he said to the leaders of the tribes of the sons of Israel: “This is the word, which the Lord has instructed:
21When you have made a vow to the Lord your God, you shall not be late in paying it. For the Lord your God demands it. And if you delay, it shall be imputed to you as a sin. 22If you are not willing to make a promise, then it shall be without sin. 23But as soon as it has departed from your lips, you shall observe and do just as you have promised to the Lord your God and just as you have spoken by your own free will and with your own mouth.
33Again, you have heard that it was said to the ancients: ‘You shall not swear falsely. For you shall repay your oaths to the Lord.’ 34But I say to you, do not swear an oath at all, neither by heaven, for it is the throne of God, 35nor by earth, for it is his footstool, nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great king. 36Neither shall you swear an oath by your own head, because you are not able to cause one hair to become white or black. 37But let your word ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,’ and ‘No’ mean ‘No.’ For anything beyond that is of evil.
12Make vows and pay them to the Lord, your God. All you who surround him bring gifts: to him who is terrible,
4And it is much better not to make a vow, than, after a vow, not to fulfill what was promised. 5You should not use your mouth so as to cause your flesh to sin. And you should not say, in the sight of an Angel, “There is no Providence.” For God, being angry at your words, may scatter all the works of your hands. 6Where there are many dreams, there are many vanities and innumerable words. Yet truly, you must fear God.
25It is ruin for a man to devour what is holy, or, after making vows, to retract them.
14Offer to God the sacrifice of praise, and pay your vows to the Most High.
18Yet truly, Paul, after he had remained for many more days, having said goodbye to the brothers, sailed into Syria, and with him were Priscilla and Aquila. Now he had shaved his head in Cenchreae, for he had made a vow.
4And it is much better not to make a vow, than, after a vow, not to fulfill what was promised. 5You should not use your mouth so as to cause your flesh to sin. And you should not say, in the sight of an Angel, “There is no Providence.” For God, being angry at your words, may scatter all the works of your hands.
12But before all things, my brothers, do not choose to swear, neither by heaven, nor by the earth, nor in any other oath. But let your word ‘Yes’ be yes, and your word ‘No’ be no, so that you may not fall under judgment.
21When you have made a vow to the Lord your God, you shall not be late in paying it. For the Lord your God demands it. And if you delay, it shall be imputed to you as a sin.
23Therefore, do this thing that we ask of you: We have four men, who are under a vow. 24Take these and sanctify yourself with them, and require them to shave their heads. And then everyone will know that the things that they have heard about you are false, but that you yourself walk in keeping with the law.
11And she made a vow, saying, “O Lord of hosts, if, in looking with favor, you will see the affliction of your servant and will remember me, and will not forget your handmaid, and if you will give to your servant a male child, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall pass over his head.”
30he made a vow to the Lord, saying, “If you will deliver the sons of Ammon into my hands, 31whoever will be the first to depart from the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the sons of Ammon, the same will I offer as a holocaust to the Lord.” 32And Jephthah crossed to the sons of Ammon, so that he might fight against them. And the Lord delivered them into his hands. 33And he struck them down from Aroer, as far as the entrance to Minnith, twenty cities, and as far as Abel, which is covered with vineyards, in an exceedingly great slaughter. And the sons of Ammon were humbled by the sons of Israel. 34But when Jephthah returned to Mizpah, to his own house, his only daughter met him with timbrels and dances. For he had no other children. 35And upon seeing her, he tore his garments, and he said: “Alas, my daughter! You have cheated me, and you yourself have been cheated. For I opened my mouth to the Lord, and I can do nothing else.”
13I will enter your house with holocausts. I will repay my vows to you, 14which my lips discerned and my mouth spoke, in my tribulation.
30he made a vow to the Lord, saying, “If you will deliver the sons of Ammon into my hands, 31whoever will be the first to depart from the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the sons of Ammon, the same will I offer as a holocaust to the Lord.” 32And Jephthah crossed to the sons of Ammon, so that he might fight against them. And the Lord delivered them into his hands. 33And he struck them down from Aroer, as far as the entrance to Minnith, twenty cities, and as far as Abel, which is covered with vineyards, in an exceedingly great slaughter. And the sons of Ammon were humbled by the sons of Israel. 34But when Jephthah returned to Mizpah, to his own house, his only daughter met him with timbrels and dances. For he had no other children. 35And upon seeing her, he tore his garments, and he said: “Alas, my daughter! You have cheated me, and you yourself have been cheated. For I opened my mouth to the Lord, and I can do nothing else.”
9So I will compose a psalm to your name, forever and ever, so that I may repay my vows from day to day.