1964. epiorkeó

Lexicon

epiorkeó: To swear falsely, to perjure oneself

Original Word: ἐπιορκέω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: epiorkeó
Pronunciation: ep-ee-or-KEH-o
Phonetic Spelling: (ep-ee-or-keh'-o)
Definition: To swear falsely, to perjure oneself
Meaning: I take an oath, swear falsely.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

perjure, swear falsely

From epiorkos; to commit perjury -- forswear self.

see GREEK epiorkos

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from epiorkos
Definition
to swear falsely
NASB Translation
make false vows (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 1964: ἐπιορκέω

ἐπιορκέω, ἐπιόρκω: future ἐπιορκήσω, cf. Krüger, § 40, under the word, and § 39, 12, 4; (Veitch, under the word; Buttmann, 53 (46)); (ἐπίορκος, which see); to swear falsely, forswear oneself: Matthew 5:33. (Wis. 14:28; 1 Esdr. 1:46; by Greek writings from Homer down.)

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: From the Greek prefix ἐπί (epi, meaning "upon" or "over") and ὅρκος (horkos, meaning "oath").

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: - Strong's Hebrew 7650: שָׁבַע (shaba) • to swear, to take an oath.
- Strong's Hebrew 8267: שֶׁקֶר (sheqer) • falsehood, lie, deception.

These Hebrew terms relate to the concept of oaths and truthfulness, providing a broader biblical context for understanding the gravity of ἐπιορκέω. The Hebrew Scriptures also emphasize the importance of keeping one's word and the consequences of false swearing, aligning with the teachings found in the New Testament.

Usage: The term ἐπιορκέω is used in the context of making a false oath or breaking a sworn promise. It conveys the idea of violating the sanctity of an oath, which is considered a serious moral and spiritual offense.

Context: The Greek term ἐπιορκέω appears in the New Testament in contexts that emphasize the importance of truthfulness and the gravity of making oaths. In the cultural and religious setting of the Bible, oaths were solemn promises made before God, and breaking them was seen as a direct affront to divine authority.

In Matthew 5:33-37, Jesus addresses the issue of oaths in His Sermon on the Mount. He teaches, "Again, you have heard that it was said to the ancients, 'Do not break your oath, but fulfill your vows to the Lord.' But I tell you not to swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God's throne; or by the earth, for it is His footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Nor should you swear by your head, for you cannot make a single hair white or black. Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No.' Anything more comes from the evil one" (BSB). Here, Jesus underscores the importance of integrity and truthfulness, suggesting that one's word should be reliable without the need for additional oaths.

The act of ἐπιορκέω is not merely a legal issue but a spiritual one, as it reflects the condition of the heart and one's relationship with God. The Bible consistently calls for honesty and integrity, warning against the deceitfulness that leads to false swearing.

Forms and Transliterations

επιορκησεις επιορκήσεις ἐπιορκήσεις epiorkeseis epiorkēseis epiorkḗseis

Englishman's Concordance

Matthew 5:33 V-FIA-2S
GRK: ἀρχαίοις Οὐκ ἐπιορκήσεις ἀποδώσεις δὲ
NAS: were told, YOU SHALL NOT MAKE FALSE VOWS, BUT SHALL FULFILL
KJV: not forswear thyself, but
INT: ancients not You will swear falsely you will keep moreover

Strong's Greek 1964
1 Occurrence

ἐπιορκήσεις — 1 Occ.