Numbers 30 2

Numbers 30:2 kjv

If a man vow a vow unto the LORD, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth.

Numbers 30:2 nkjv

If a man makes a vow to the LORD, or swears an oath to bind himself by some agreement, he shall not break his word; he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.

Numbers 30:2 niv

When a man makes a vow to the LORD or takes an oath to obligate himself by a pledge, he must not break his word but must do everything he said.

Numbers 30:2 esv

If a man vows a vow to the LORD, or swears an oath to bind himself by a pledge, he shall not break his word. He shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.

Numbers 30:2 nlt

A man who makes a vow to the LORD or makes a pledge under oath must never break it. He must do exactly what he said he would do.

Numbers 30 verses

Numbers 30 2 Meaning

Numbers 30:2 establishes a foundational principle concerning vows and oaths made to the Lord. It mandates that any man who makes a solemn promise, whether a specific vow or a sworn oath, or takes upon himself a binding personal pledge, must unfailingly fulfill it. His spoken word, particularly when addressed to or invoking God, is considered sacred and inviolable, demanding complete adherence to all that has been uttered.

Numbers 30 2 Context

Numbers 30 sets out the divine laws governing vows made by individuals within the Israelite community. Following chapters on sacrifices and offerings, and specific priestly regulations, this chapter addresses the sanctity of verbal commitments made directly to God. Verse 2 functions as the overarching principle: it establishes the supreme importance of personal integrity in the eyes of God when one binds oneself by a spoken word. This foundational decree precedes the detailed rules given in the subsequent verses (Num 30:3-16) regarding vows made by women (unmarried, betrothed, married, widowed) and the authority figures who might nullify or uphold those vows. Historically and culturally, words, especially sworn ones, held significant weight in ancient Near Eastern societies, often having legal and binding power. For Israel, this principle was rooted in the character of YHWH Himself, who is true to His word, and distinguished their practice from the capricious deities of pagan religions.

Numbers 30 2 Word analysis

• If a man:
  • This opening phrase signifies a general application to all adult males, irrespective of social standing, tribal affiliation, or role. The command is universally binding within the covenant community.
• vows a vow (נֶדֶר נֶדֶר - neder neder):
  • Neder (vow) refers to a solemn promise, typically a freewill offering or commitment to God, often conditional on a petition being granted or an act of thanksgiving.
  • The repetition of the root ("vows a vow") serves as an intensifier, emphasizing the solemnity and serious nature of such a commitment. It highlights that this is a specific type of sacred pledge, not a casual remark.
• to the Lord (לַיהוָה - laYHWH):
  • Directly addressing the divine recipient. This emphasizes that the vow or oath is not merely a human agreement but carries profound spiritual weight because it is made before God. Accountability is therefore ultimate.
• or swears an oath (אוֹ הִשָּׁבַע שְׁבֻעָה - o hishaba sh'vu'ah):
  • Sh'vu'ah (oath) typically involves invoking God as a witness to the truthfulness of a statement or the firmness of a promise. It could be affirmative (a statement of fact) or promissory (a pledge to do something).
  • Distinct from a vow, an oath might involve a transaction or promise between two people, with God called as guarantor.
• to bind himself by a pledge (לֶאְסֹר אִסָּר עַל נַפְשׁוֹ - le'esor issar al nafsho):
  • Isar (pledge/bond) signifies a binding obligation, often a self-imposed prohibition or ascetic act (e.g., fasting, abstaining from certain foods or pleasures).
  • "Upon his soul/life" (al nafsho) signifies that the commitment affects the very core of his being or existence, demonstrating the depth and personal cost of the promise. It's a self-afflicted bond, deeply personal and sacred.
• he shall not break his word (לֹא יַחֵל דְּבָרוֹ - lo yachallel d'varo):
  • Yachallel (break/profane/desecrate) is a strong verb. It means to treat something holy as common or impure. This implies that one's sworn word, especially before God, is inherently sacred.
  • Breaking such a word is not merely forgetting or failing but is an act of desecration against a sacred commitment and implicitly against God Himself, who witnessed it.
• He shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth (כְּכָל אֲשֶׁר יֵצֵא מִפִּיו - k'chol asher yetse mipiv):
  • "According to all" stresses absolute completeness; there's no room for partial fulfillment or alteration.
  • "Proceeds out of his mouth" emphasizes that the verbal declaration itself, the uttered sound, constitutes the binding commitment. This highlights the power and authority given to spoken words within this sacred context. The very act of speaking commits one.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "vows a vow...or swears an oath...to bind himself by a pledge": This triple emphasis covers a wide spectrum of solemn verbal commitments made to or before God, indicating the comprehensiveness of the law concerning sacred promises. It delineates different types of formal, deliberate declarations.
• "to the Lord...he shall not break his word": The sacred nature of the promise is underlined by its divine recipient and the strong prohibition against "profaning" it. This reveals a theology where words spoken to God partake in His holiness, demanding uncompromised fidelity.
• "he shall not break his word. He shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.": This pair of clauses forms a direct negative command followed by an equally emphatic positive one. It articulates both what one must not do (desecrate his word) and what one must do (fulfill every single aspect of it), emphasizing total integrity and meticulous performance.

Numbers 30 2 Bonus section

• This principle reflects an attribute of God Himself: God does not break His word (Num 23:19; Isa 55:11; Heb 6:18). Human beings are called to emulate this divine faithfulness.
• The severity of breaking a vow is often associated with the sin of taking the Lord's name in vain (Lev 19:12), as an oath usually involves invoking God's name.
• The later rabbinic tradition, and specifically the teachings challenged by Jesus in Matthew 5, sometimes focused more on the letter of the oath's formulation rather than the spirit of truthfulness, leading to loopholes. Numbers 30:2, in contrast, calls for holistic adherence to the spoken commitment.
• The underlying ethical demand is not merely legalistic but theological, emphasizing God's holy character and the respect due to Him. It extends to the concept that a person’s identity and credibility are tied to their verbal integrity, especially in the presence of the Almighty.

Numbers 30 2 Commentary

Numbers 30:2 lays the unwavering foundation for the sanctity of spoken commitments made by a man before the Lord in ancient Israel. This verse underscores that promises, whether a freewill vow, a sworn oath, or a self-imposed pledge, are not trivial. Instead, they are deeply serious, binding agreements, elevated to a sacred status because God Himself is either the direct recipient or the invoked witness. The verb "to break" (or "profane") emphasizes that failing to keep such a word is not merely a social slight but an act of dishonor, treating something consecrated as common or unholy. This directly challenges any notion of casual speech before the divine. The mandate to fulfill "according to all that proceeds out of his mouth" demands absolute and precise adherence, reflecting God’s own unchanging and truthful nature. This Old Testament principle of inviolable word laid the groundwork for the New Testament call for utmost integrity in all speech (Jas 5:12, Mt 5:37), where simple truthfulness negates the need for an oath altogether. Ultimately, the verse serves as a potent reminder of the weight of words spoken, especially when made in God's presence, requiring a standard of faithfulness that mirrors the Divine.