Topical Encyclopedia In the biblical context, a vow is a solemn promise or commitment made to God, often involving a pledge to perform a specific act, offer a sacrifice, or abstain from certain activities. Vows are considered sacred and binding, reflecting a deep sense of devotion and accountability to God. The practice of making vows is evident throughout the Scriptures, highlighting the importance of integrity and faithfulness in one's relationship with the Divine.Old Testament Context The concept of vows is prominently featured in the Old Testament, where individuals made vows as expressions of gratitude, devotion, or desperation. In Numbers 30:2 , the seriousness of vows is underscored: "When a man makes a vow to the LORD or swears an oath to obligate himself by a pledge, he must not break his word; he must do everything he has promised." This passage emphasizes the binding nature of vows and the expectation that they be fulfilled. One notable example is the vow of Hannah, the mother of Samuel. In 1 Samuel 1:11 , Hannah makes a vow to the Lord, saying, "O LORD of Hosts, if only You will look upon the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, not forgetting Your maidservant but giving her a son, then I will dedicate him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall ever come over his head." Hannah's vow reflects her deep faith and commitment, and upon the birth of Samuel, she fulfills her vow by dedicating him to the Lord's service. The Nazarite vow, detailed in Numbers 6, is another significant example. This vow involved a period of consecration to the Lord, during which the individual abstained from wine, avoided contact with the dead, and refrained from cutting their hair. Samson, one of the judges of Israel, was a lifelong Nazarite, as described in Judges 13:5 : "For behold, you will conceive and give birth to a son. And no razor shall come over his head, because the boy will be a Nazirite to God from the womb, and he will begin the deliverance of Israel from the hand of the Philistines." New Testament Context In the New Testament, Jesus addresses the issue of vows in the Sermon on the Mount. In Matthew 5:33-37 , 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." Here, Jesus emphasizes the importance of honesty and integrity, suggesting that one's word should be sufficient without the need for additional vows or oaths. The Apostle Paul also encountered vows in his ministry. In Acts 18:18 , it is noted that "Paul stayed on in Corinth for quite some time before saying goodbye to the brothers. He had his hair cut off at Cenchrea because of a vow he had taken." This indicates that vows continued to be a part of Jewish-Christian practice in the early church. Theological Implications Vows in the Bible underscore the importance of sincerity and commitment in one's relationship with God. They serve as a reminder of the seriousness with which one should approach promises made to the Almighty. The biblical narrative consistently portrays vows as acts of worship and devotion, reflecting a heart fully committed to God's will and purposes. The fulfillment of vows is seen as an expression of faithfulness and integrity, qualities that are highly valued in the biblical tradition. Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (imp. & p. p.) of Vow.Strong's Hebrew 5087. nadar -- to vow... 5086, 5087. nadar. 5088 . to vow. Transliteration: nadar Phonetic Spelling: (naw-dar') Short Definition: vowed. Word Origin a prim. ... /hebrew/5087.htm - 6k 5088. neder -- a vow 7650. shaba -- to swear Library Whether He who Has Vowed to Enter Religion is Bound to Remain in ... That what any one Has Vowed to God, He must Quickly Repay. If, Therefore, You had not as yet Vowed unto God Widowed ... Scriptural Uses of the General Words for Prayer Psalm CXXXII. Whether all Vows are Binding? Whether it is Expedient to Take Vows? It Is, Therefore, the Present Necessity that we are to Avoid... Whether it is Requisite for Religious Perfection that Poverty ... Whether it is Lawful to Pass from one Religious Order to Another? Thesaurus Vowed (34 Occurrences)... & pp) of Vow. Multi-Version Concordance Vowed (34 Occurrences). ... Genesis 31:13 I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar, where you vowed a vow to me. ... /v/vowed.htm - 17k Vow (49 Occurrences) Uttered (60 Occurrences) Nazarite (8 Occurrences) Consecration (22 Occurrences) Vows (38 Occurrences) Jephthah (26 Occurrences) Wherewith (182 Occurrences) Vowest (3 Occurrences) Valuation (22 Occurrences) Resources Who was Jacob in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgDid Jephthah sacrifice his daughter to the Lord? | GotQuestions.org What is the meaning of Jacob wrestling with God? | GotQuestions.org Vowed: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Concordance Vowed (34 Occurrences)Mark 6:23 Acts 23:21 Genesis 28:20 Genesis 31:13 Leviticus 23:38 Leviticus 27:8 Leviticus 27:9 Leviticus 27:11 Numbers 6:2 Numbers 6:21 Numbers 21:2 Numbers 30:6 Numbers 30:10 Deuteronomy 12:6 Deuteronomy 12:11 Deuteronomy 12:17 Deuteronomy 12:26 Deuteronomy 23:23 Judges 11:30 Judges 11:39 1 Samuel 1:11 1 Samuel 19:6 1 Samuel 20:3 1 Samuel 28:10 2 Samuel 3:35 2 Samuel 15:7 2 Samuel 15:8 1 Kings 1:29 1 Kings 1:30 Ezra 7:16 Psalms 132:2 Ecclesiastes 5:4 Isaiah 19:21 Jonah 2:9 Subtopics Related Terms |