SD 23.4

23.4. Of Lawful Oaths and Vows

An oath is to be taken in the plain and common sense of the words, without equivocation or mental reservation. It cannot oblige to sin, but in any thing not sinful, being taken it binds to performance, although to a man's own hurt; nor is it to be violated, although made to heretics or infidels.

Proof texts

• Jer. 4:2 — [2] and if you swear, ‘As the LORD lives,’ in truth, in justice, and in righteousness, then nations shall bless themselves in him, and in him shall they glory.”
• Ps. 24:4 — [4] He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully.
• 1 Sam. 25:22, 32, 33, 34 — [22] God do so to the enemies of David and more also, if by morning I leave so much as one male of all who belong to him.” [32] And David said to Abigail, “Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me! [33] Blessed be your discretion, and blessed be you, who have kept me this day from bloodguilt and from working salvation with my own hand! [34] For as surely as the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, who has restrained me from hurting you, unless you had hurried and come to meet me, truly by morning there had not been left to Nabal so much as one male.”
• Ps. 15:4 — [4] in whose eyes a vile person is despised, but who honors those who fear the LORD; who swears to his own hurt and does not change;
• Ezek. 17:16, 18, 19 — [16] “As I live, declares the Lord GOD, surely in the place where the king dwells who made him king, whose oath he despised, and whose covenant with him he broke, in Babylon he shall die. [18] He despised the oath in breaking the covenant, and behold, he gave his hand and did all these things; he shall not escape. [19] Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: As I live, surely it is my oath that he despised, and my covenant that he broke. I will return it upon his head.
• Josh. 9:18, 19 with 2 Sam. 21:1

For discussion

1. The Assembly cited Jer. 4:2 in support of this answer. Read it in context — how does it bear on what is claimed here?
2. 6 passages are cited here. Which does the most work, and is anything claimed that the proofs do not obviously carry?
3. WCF 22.1 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?
4. 1689 23.1 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?

Read alongside

WCF 22.1 · 1689 23.1 · 1689 23.2 · 1689 23.3 · 1689 23.4 · 1689 23.5