Topical Bible: Jerusalem: Oaths Taken in the Name of

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Jerusalem holds a significant place in biblical history and theology, often serving as a focal point for religious and legal practices, including the taking of oaths. In the ancient Near Eastern context, oaths were solemn promises or declarations, often invoking the name of God or a sacred entity to guarantee truthfulness and commitment. Jerusalem, as the city chosen by God and the location of the Temple, became a central place associated with such oaths.

Biblical Context and Significance

The practice of taking oaths in the name of Jerusalem is rooted in the city's status as the spiritual and political heart of Israel. As the site of the Temple, Jerusalem was seen as the dwelling place of God's presence on earth. This made it a fitting reference point for oaths, which were meant to be binding and inviolable.

In the Old Testament, the importance of oaths is underscored by their frequent mention in legal and narrative texts. For instance, in Deuteronomy 6:13 , the Israelites are commanded, "Fear the LORD your God, serve Him only, and take your oaths in His name." While this verse specifically mentions taking oaths in the name of the LORD, the association of Jerusalem with God's presence made it a natural extension for invoking the city in oaths.

New Testament References

In the New Testament, Jesus addresses the issue of oaths in the Sermon on the Mount. In Matthew 5:34-35 , He states, "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." Here, Jesus highlights the sacredness of Jerusalem, referring to it as "the city of the great King," which underscores its divine association and the seriousness of invoking it in oaths.

Jesus' teaching reflects a broader concern with the integrity and truthfulness of speech. By cautioning against swearing by Jerusalem, He emphasizes that one's word should be sufficient without the need for additional guarantees. This teaching aligns with the broader biblical principle that oaths should not be taken lightly and should reflect a commitment to truth.

Cultural and Theological Implications

The use of Jerusalem in oaths reflects the city's deep cultural and theological significance. As the center of Jewish worship and identity, Jerusalem symbolized the covenant relationship between God and His people. Invoking the city in oaths was a way of appealing to this sacred relationship and the divine authority it represented.

Moreover, the practice of swearing by Jerusalem highlights the interconnectedness of place, faith, and community in the biblical worldview. It underscores the belief that certain locations, like Jerusalem, hold a unique status in God's redemptive plan and serve as tangible reminders of His promises and presence.

Conclusion

While the practice of taking oaths in the name of Jerusalem is not as prevalent today, its biblical roots offer insight into the historical and spiritual significance of the city. Jerusalem's role as a symbol of divine authority and covenant faithfulness continues to resonate in Christian theology and practice.

Nave's Topical Index

Matthew 5:35
Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.
Nave's Topical Index

Library

The Sermon on the Mount.
... 6. We conclude, then, that judicial oaths, and oaths taken in the ... of the paragraph,
we find that oaths by heaven and by the earth, by Jerusalem and by ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/xlii the sermon on the 4.htm

The Deputation from Jerusalem - the Three Sects of the Pharisees ...
... Baptist of Priests and Levites' from Jerusalem, we are ... belong to their sect, the
terrible oaths by which ... sympathetic manner, had, no doubt, taken special pains ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter ii the deputation from.htm

How Athaliah Reigned Over Jerusalem for Five [Six] Years when ...
... six years, during which time Athaliah reigned over Jerusalem and the ... He also received
such oaths from them as are ... men whom Jehoiada the priest had taken to be ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 7 how athaliah reigned.htm

'Swear not at All'
... an oath 'by heaven' or 'by earth' or 'by Jerusalem' or 'by ... formality and indifference
with which such oaths are administered and taken, and what a ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/swear not at all.htm

Concerning Sanballat and Manasseh, and the Temple which they Built ...
... now a great disturbance among the people of Jerusalem, because many ... all men to whom
they must keep their oaths. ... deal of pains during the siege, taken Tyre, and ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 8 concerning sanballat and.htm

The Parthians Bring Antigonus Back into Judea, and Cast Hyrcanus ...
... for the seizure of Herod first at Jerusalem, because if he ... all this suspicion by
apologies and by oaths, and then ... for that the enemy had not taken them, and ...
/.../chapter 13 the parthians bring.htm

Chapter xvii.
... a good thing, and by the constant use of oaths sink down ... the Lord, the man who swears
by Jerusalem is bound ... is punished under the law, is suitably taken as His ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/augustine/our lords sermon on the mount/chapter xvii.htm

How David Brought under the Philistines, and the Moabites, and the ...
... also called to mind the covenants and the oaths he had ... so that this son of Jonathan
dwelt at Jerusalem, and dieted ... same care that a son could claim taken of him ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 5 how david brought.htm

Homilies on the Statues.
... each other, [720]425, [721]451; name diffused worldwide ... a, [1069]412; Divine, bestowed
on Jerusalem, [1070]467 ... Gospel, the book of the, oaths taken on, [1230]443 ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/chrysostom/on the priesthood/homilies on the statues.htm

Luke of Prague and the High Church Reaction. 1473-1530.
... enter the service of the State; and they even agreed that oaths might be taken in
cases ... said to exist in India, got as far as Antioch, Jerusalem and Egypt ...
/.../hutton/history of the moravian church/chapter vi luke of prague.htm