Lexical Summary neder: Vow Original Word: נֶדֶר Strong's Exhaustive Concordance vowed Or neder {nay'-der}; from nadar; a promise (to God); also (concretely) a thing promised -- vow((-ed)). see HEBREW nadar NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom nadar Definition a vow NASB Translation votive (3), votive offering (1), votive offerings (5), vow (26), vows (24). Brown-Driver-Briggs נֶ֫דֶר, נֵ֫דֶר noun masculineNum 30:5 vow; — נֶ֫דֶר Genesis 28:20 17t.; נֵ֫דֶר Numbers 30:10 4t.; suffix נִדְרִי 2 Samuel 15:7 5t. suffixes; plural נְדָרִים Jonah 1:16; Proverbs 20:25; suffix נְּדָרַי Psalm 22:26 3t.; נִדְרֵיהֶם Leviticus 2; Leviticus 2:18 24t. suffixes;-vow: 1 of personal service to ׳י Genesis 28:20; Genesis 31:13 (of Jacob at Bethel), 2 Samuel 15:7,8; (at Hebron); Leviticus 27:2 (P, any one), of Nazirite Numbers 6:2,5,21; Hannah's consecration of her son 1 Samuel 1:11, compare בר נדרי Proverbs 31:2. 2 in General of any kind of votive offerings or promised gifts to ׳י Numbers 30:3; Numbers 30:4; Numbers 30:5 (twice in verse); Numbers 30:6; Numbers 30:7; Numbers 30:8; Numbers 30:9; Numbers 30:10; Numbers 30:12; Numbers 30:13; Numbers 30:14; Numbers 30:15 (P) Deuteronomy 12:11,17,26; Deuteronomy 23:19; Deuteronomy 23:22; Isaiah 19:21; Nahum 2:1; Psalm 22:26; Psalm 61:6; Psalm 61:9; Psalm 65:2; Psalm 116:14; Psalm 116:18; Proverbs 20:25; Job 22:27; Ecclesiastes 5:3. 3 Jephthah's daughter as עולה Judges 11:30,39. 4 the ban Numbers 21:2 (E). 5 "" עוֺלָה Psalm 66:13; תּוֺדָה Psalm 50:14; Psalm 56:13; שְׁלָמִים Numbers 15:8; opposed to נדבה Leviticus 7:16; Numbers 15:3; Numbers 29:39 (P), Leviticus 22:18,21,23; Leviticus 23:38 (H), Deuteronomy 12:6,17; 1 Samuel 1:21; Jonah 1:16. 6 once of idolatry Jeremiah 44:25 (לְקַטֵּר לִמְלֶכֶת הַשָּׁמַיִם ׳נ). — Vbs. used are: נָדַר q. v.; שִׁלֵּם pay 2 Samuel 15:7 12t.; עשׂה Judges 11:39; Jeremiah 44:25; נשׂא Deuteronomy 12:26; קום Numbers 30:5; Numbers 30:8; Numbers 30:12; Numbers 30:15; הֵקִים Jeremiah 44:25; אסּר Numbers 30:14; מִּלֵּא Leviticus 22:21; Leviticus 27:2; Numbers 15:3,8 ׳נ ׳פלּא לנ Numbers 6:2; הֵפֵר Numbers 30:9. (See these verbs) נִהַּ see נוהּ. Topical Lexicon Overview נֶדֶר (neder) denotes a voluntary, but binding, vow made to the LORD. It is an act of consecration, promising a gift, service, or abstention beyond what the law requires. Although optional to initiate, once uttered a neder is irrevocable without divine release. The Nature of a Vow 1. Voluntary: No command compels a neder (Deuteronomy 23:22). Legal Framework in the Torah • Leviticus 27 legislates monetary equivalents when objects, persons, or animals are vowed. Cultic and Sacrificial Applications Vows frequently resulted in peace offerings (Leviticus 7:16), whole burnt offerings (Psalm 66:13-15), or monetary redemption. The act integrated personal devotion with the established sacrificial system, allowing Israelites to express gratitude, repentance, or supplication tangibly. Personal and Familial Vows • Jacob vowed a tithe and altar if God returned him safely (Genesis 28:20-22; 35:1). Vows in Israel’s Historical Narrative Jephthah’s rash vow (Judges 11:30-40) underscores the peril of ill-considered promises. David’s conquest psalms reflect keeping vows after deliverance (Psalm 22:25; 56:12). National leaders sometimes linked vows to military success (2 Samuel 15:7-8). Psalms and Wisdom Literature Psalms repeatedly connect paying vows with thanksgiving and public testimony: Wisdom texts stress caution: Prophetic Usage Prophets foresee restored worship marked by vows (Isaiah 19:21; Nahum 1:15). Malachi condemns deceitful vow-offerers who bring blemished animals (Malachi 1:14), linking integrity in vows to covenant faithfulness. Divine Vows While neder usually describes human speech, Psalm 132:11 employs it of the LORD: “The LORD swore an oath to David, a promise He will not revoke.” Such usage highlights God’s unbreakable commitment and sets the standard for human fidelity. Fulfillment and Consequences of Neglect Failure to keep a neder brings guilt (Leviticus 5:4-6) and divine displeasure (Ecclesiastes 5:6). Conversely, obedience yields blessing and joyful worship (Psalm 116:14, 18). New Testament Echoes Although neder is Hebrew, the concept surfaces in Greek passages: The underlying principle—truthful speech and wholehearted devotion—remains. Practical Ministry Applications 1. Worship: Encourages intentional acts of gratitude (offerings, service, missions giving). Christological Implications All vows anticipate the absolute faithfulness of Christ, “the Yes and Amen” of God’s promises (2 Corinthians 1:20). He fulfills what humanity could not, enabling believers to serve “without fear, in holiness and righteousness” (Luke 1:74-75). Selected References Genesis 28:20-22; 31:13; 35:1 Leviticus 7:16; 27:2-34 Numbers 6:2, 21; 30:2-16 1 Samuel 1:11; 2 Samuel 15:7-8 Psalm 22:25; 50:14; 56:12; 61:8; 65:1; 66:13-14; 76:11; 116:14, 18; 132:2 Proverbs 20:25; Ecclesiastes 5:4-6 Isaiah 19:21; Jonah 2:9; Nahum 1:15; Malachi 1:14 Summary נֶדֶר frames Israel’s worship with voluntary dedication. Scripture exalts the sincerity, urgency, and permanence of vows while warning against rashness. Ultimately, nedarim point to God’s flawless fidelity and call believers to truthful, wholehearted devotion. Forms and Transliterations וְנִדְרֵיכֶם֙ וְנֵ֥דֶר וּלְנֵ֖דֶר וּנְדָרֶ֑יךָ וּנְדָרֶ֖יהָ וּנְדָרֶ֥יךָ ולנדר ונדר ונדריה ונדריך ונדריכם לִנְדָרֶ֛יהָ לִנְדָרָ֑י לנדרי לנדריה מִנִּדְרֵיכֶ֜ם מנדריכם נְ֭דָרַי נְדָרִ֣ים נְדָרִֽים׃ נְדָרֵ֗ינוּ נְדָרֶ֑יךָ נְדָרֶ֔יהָ נְדָרֶ֗יהָ נְדָרֶ֙יךָ֙ נְדָרֶֽיךָ׃ נְדָרַ֗י נְדָרַ֥י נְדָרָ֑יִךְ נְדָרָֽי׃ נִדְר֖וֹ נִדְרִ֛י נִדְרֵיהֶם֙ נִדְרֵיכֶ֔ם נִדְרֵיכֶֽם׃ נִדְרֵיכֶם֙ נִדְרָ֗הּ נִדְרָהּ֙ נִדְרֽוֹ׃ נִדְרוֹ֙ נֵ֙דֶר֙ נֵ֛דֶר נֵ֥דֶר נֶ֑דֶר נֶ֖דֶר נֶ֙דֶר֙ נֶ֛דֶר נֶ֜דֶר נֶ֣דֶר נֶ֣דֶר ׀ נֶ֥דֶר נֶֽדֶר׃ נדר נדר׃ נדרה נדרו נדרו׃ נדרי נדרי׃ נדריה נדריהם נדריך נדריך׃ נדריכם נדריכם׃ נדרים נדרים׃ נדרינו lin·ḏā·rāy lin·ḏā·re·hā lindaRai linḏārāy linḏārehā lindaReiha min·niḏ·rê·ḵem minnidreiChem minniḏrêḵem nə·ḏā·rā·yiḵ nə·ḏā·ray nə·ḏā·rāy nə·ḏā·re·hā nə·ḏā·re·ḵā nə·ḏā·rê·nū nə·ḏā·rîm ne·ḏer nê·ḏer nedaRai nəḏāray nəḏārāy nedaRayich nəḏārāyiḵ nəḏārehā nedaReicha nedaReiha nedaReinu nəḏāreḵā nəḏārênū nedaRim nəḏārîm Neder neḏer nêḏer niḏ·rāh niḏ·rê·hem niḏ·rê·ḵem niḏ·rî niḏ·rōw nidRah niḏrāh niḏrêhem nidreiChem nidreiHem niḏrêḵem nidRi niḏrî nidRo niḏrōw ū·lə·nê·ḏer ū·nə·ḏā·re·hā ū·nə·ḏā·re·ḵā uleNeder ūlənêḏer ūnəḏārehā unedaReicha unedaReiha ūnəḏāreḵā veNeder venidreiChem wə·nê·ḏer wə·niḏ·rê·ḵem wənêḏer wəniḏrêḵemLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 28:20 HEB: וַיִּדַּ֥ר יַעֲקֹ֖ב נֶ֣דֶר לֵאמֹ֑ר אִם־ NAS: Then Jacob made a vow, saying, If KJV: And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God INT: made Jacob A vow saying If Genesis 31:13 Leviticus 7:16 Leviticus 22:18 Leviticus 22:21 Leviticus 22:23 Leviticus 23:38 Leviticus 27:2 Numbers 6:2 Numbers 6:5 Numbers 6:21 Numbers 15:3 Numbers 15:8 Numbers 21:2 Numbers 29:39 Numbers 30:2 Numbers 30:3 Numbers 30:4 Numbers 30:4 Numbers 30:5 Numbers 30:6 Numbers 30:7 Numbers 30:8 Numbers 30:9 Numbers 30:11 60 Occurrences |
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