Vows

Oath of the Horatii

Someone objected to our reference to religious vows in a discussion on The Living Network about abjuration and asked:

"Christ's words are plain, and easy of understanding to those who wish to comprehend, at least in this instance. Otherwise, why would He follow up a statement such as "swear not at all" in direct connection vows and vowing with "Let your yes be yes and your no be no; all else comes from sin"?"

Jesus does not connect swearing with vows and vowing. This is erroneous thinking and leads to confusion about the Gospel of the Kingdom and the teachings of Jesus.

This connection is done by translators and people who are confused about what Christ was saying. Jesus did not speak in English. The accounts of the Bible should always be examined in their earliest form to double check our private interpretation the usage and meaning of words at the time the Bible was recorded.

There is so much deception out there it is very easy to be fooled and deceived.

The confusion concerning the words of Christ should be clear by a brief examination of modern translations and the early text. When navigating our way through the world of scripture and the doctrines created by translators it is often wise to consult your Concordance.

Lets examine a few words in their context and their different translations.

Oaths and Vows

• Matthew 5:33 Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:

The word we find in the Greek translated oath is ὅρκος, Horkos from Greek mythology where Horkos personifies the curse that will be inflicted on any person who swears a false oath.

The word horkos is always translated oaths in the King James Bible and most other Bibles. A few translations put the word vow there but there is another word translated vow in the New Testament that does not mean oath.

Some people would still like to think this word horkos should be vow and not oath but that would just create confusion and has in the past done much harm.

We see this word numbered in Strong's Concordance as 3727 ορκος, horkos from herkos (perhaps akin to horion meaning boundary and erkos meaning fence, enclosure); it appears 10 times as oath. And is defined as “that which has been pledged or promised with an oath.”

It is not that an oath is a "pledged or promise" but that it is the binding of your deeds by oath before and exercising authority that is objected to by Christ.

Here is an audio program on the subject:

<mp3player width="300">http://www.hisholychurch.net/kkvv/9thfolder/13-06-25-vowofabjuration.mp3</mp3player> Download

The idea that there is something wrong with vows or that Jesus made some sort of prohibition against them because people wish to mistranslate words has done great damage to their thinking because it creates a false prohibition like a fence in our minds that prevent true understanding.

When a man and women take vows as Husband and Wife are they sinning against Christ?

All they are saying is yes, we take each other as Husband and Wife, before witnesses, yet these statements are called vows. Are we changing the word vow? Has that word already been changed in our minds by others?

The word euche is a noun and euchomia is the primary verb. They are listed as synonyms for each other meaning a solemn statement. You cannot change them into a promise or oath without adding the elements of an oath to your statement.

The word proseuche is a compound word. The words pros and euche are combined to express an idea of together and prayer. The preposition pros means toward, and denotes a sense of closeness. The word pros can be used to portray the intimate relationship that exists between the members.

Vows and Prayers

Today the word vow is defined “a solemn promise, pledge, or personal commitment: marriage vows...” But in the KJV of the Bible vow is translated from a word that means prayer. Translating horkos as vow might lead someone to think that Jesus prohibited vows yet the original words of the text may reveal a very different meaning.

These little deceptions through sophistry can go a long way to confuse the whole world. We have shown this a hundred times and more in our writings. Sophistry like this leads many people astray and has kept people from becoming doers of the word.

Some translations use the word vow instead of oath in Matthew 5:33 but this leads to confusion since we see another word for vow which appears in the biblical text in Acts 18:18 where we see that Paul took a vow, Acts 21:23, and in James 5:15 where the word is also translated prayer.

• Acts 18:18 "And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn his head in Cenchrea: for he had a vow <euche>."

• Acts 21:23 "Do therefore this that we say to thee: We have four men which have <euche> a vow on them;"

• James 5:15 "And the prayer <euche> of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

You do not have to become a Greek scholar but you should be willing to peek over the theological fence that other men have constructed in your mind with their different translations and private interpretations. The word we see for vow in these verses is euche or euchomai which means a prayer to God, a vow, what you desire or intend to do. It is the word from which you get eucharistos or Eucharist.

Other words like proseuche translated prayer 36 times or proseuchomai which is the word pray almost 90 times are extensions of this word we see translated vow.

The word euche is clearly not the same as word horkos more often translated oath but some people want to imagine that they can use these words interchangeably. They do the truth and Christ a disservice and if they continue in this they are bearing false witness about what Christ actually said and meant.

We have seen how translators can translate five different words into the same English word and the same Greek word into five or more different English word. If you couple this practice with the truth that each English words can have many different definitions then you should clearly see without some reference to original texts that you are opening the door to confusion and even lies. There should be a consistency in translating and the use of words in translations and especially in formulating your own conversations about Christ's doctrines.

So the word vow can mean several things. Matrimony is established with vows publicly announced before witnesses and God. This is not the same as Marriage vows as established by the authority of the State which fences a husband and wife under the authority of the State.

By not examining the meaning of words and the purpose and spirit of the original authors including their choice of words we are dissembling the Gospel of Christ and equivocate over the meanings of His words by worshiping what we want to believe is true rather than accepting the truth of what Christ actually said. We are leading people astray and are fencing in our thinking by our own personal interpretation and prejudice.

Don't be led astray by bad translations and other tools of sophistry.

A vow, as used with the translation of the the Greek word eucho and used in the Bible, is a prayer.

A vow is a statement. "A vow is not an oath."

"A vow is not an oath."

"A vow is not an oath."

A vow is a statement.

A vow (euche¯) is a willing undertaking of good things.

Hebrew Vows and Prayers

The Hebrew verb pâlal, PeiLamedLamed, is a primitive root translated pray 74 times, made 3 times, judge twice, intreat, judgment, prayer, supplication, thought once each. It is said to mean to intervene, interpose, pray, make supplication

Some scholars agree that corresponding Greek Words for pâlal include:

palal hithpa.,pi. G4336 pros euchomai
palal hithp. G2172 euchomai

Another word that is derived from this word palal an translated prayer 77 times is t@phillah TavPeiLamedHei beginning with the letter that stands for faith. Pei means communicate Lamed is the aspiration heart in action and Hei is an emphasizing letter for solemnity. Take away the Hei and the word represent foolish or even white.

Corresponding Greek Words t@phillah includes:

G2171 euche
G2172 euchomai
G4335 pros euche
And this list may include G1162 deesis

Both these words are corresponding to euche and euchomai and even pros euche.

On the other hand the Hebrew word shaba ShemBeitAyin appears as sware 167 times, charge 8, oath 7, adjure 3, straitly twice. It does mean to swear or adjure or to cause to take an oath.

Corresponding Greek Words may include:

G163 aichmalotizo, to lead away captive metaph. to capture ones mind
G3726 en orkizo, to force to take an oath, to administer an oath
G1844 ex opkizo, to extract an oath, to force to an oath
G3726 horkizo, to force to take an oath, to administer an oath to
G1843 ex omologeo to confess 2) to profess
G1965 epi orkos a false swearer, a perjurer
G3660 omnuo to swear, to affirm, promise, threaten, with an oath

Or the following that are used in conjunction with an oath or swearing.
G994 boao to raise a cry, to cry to one for help
G2896 krazo to cry or pray for vengeance
G3670 homologeo to say the same thing as another, i.e. to agree with, assent to concede

None of these words would include the word euche. The word euche in the Greek has no connection to any word associate with swearing or taking an oath.

The Nazarite Vow

But the Hebrew word nazar which is a primitive root meaning to dedicate, consecrate, separate even to dedicate oneself, devote oneself, to keep sacredly separate and "to be a Nazarite, live as a Nazarite".

The corresponding Greek Words for nazar are listed as:

G37 agiazo to separate from profane things and dedicate to God, consecrate things to God
G48 agnizo, ceremonially used of Nazarites or those who had taken upon themselves a temporary or life long vow to abstain from wine and all kinds of intoxicating drink, from every defilement and from shaving the head.
G2126 eulabes, taking hold well, carefully and surely, cautiously
G2171 euche vow and prayer
G2172 euchomai to wish or prayfor
G526 ap allotrioo, to separate, alienate, estrange
G4337 pros echo, to turn the mind to, attend to be attentive... of caring for, providing for... to apply one’s self to, attach one’s self to, hold or cleave to a person or a thing... to devote thought and effort to

Here we see a connection to the word vow in the word Nazar from which we get the word Nazarite which includes ideas like separation, dedication and prayer. The vow spoken of with the word euche is about devoting one self to a way of Christ as a minister of His unique form of government.

Jesus and Vows

Did Jesus talk about vows or use a word translated or associated with what the word we see as vow meant at that time?

The word charity does not appear in the Bible until Paul says it in 1 Corinthians 8:1 but the word from which the word charity is translated has already been said by Jesus many times but never translated charity, only as love.

Does this mean that Jesus never told us to be charitable? Of course not. The same is true of the word euche, translated vow in Acts, and its many forms.

When Jesus said pray in Matthew 6:9 what word did he use?

• "After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name."

When Jesus said pray He did not use the word:

• deomai which is translated pray and means to want, lack 2) to desire, long for.

Nor did Jesus use the word:

• deesis translated prayer and is defined "need, indigence, want, privation, penury ." And appears with other words meaning pray

Nor did Jesus use the word:

• erotao translated ask, beseech, pray, desire, and intreat and is defined "to question."

Nor did Jesus use the word:

• parakaleo translated pray but means "to call to ones side".

Nor did Jesus use the word:

• enteuxis translated pray but means "a falling in with, meeting... a coming together"

We have seen that the word euche is translated pray but more often translated vow. Does it mean a prayer or a vow or does it mean both?

There are at least eight different words used by the authors of the Bible in the New Testament alone and they are all translated by these translators as the single word pray. One of them used by Jesus in several forms means and is translated vow.

One word used by Jesus which is a synonym of the word euche commonly translated into vow is proseuche. and another is proseuchomai

The word pray in Matthew 6:9 was translate from proseuchomai... pros meaning "to the advantage of" and eucho meaning "to pray to God" or "vow" and translated vow in Acts 18:18 and Acts 21:23.

So here we see that Jesus uses almost three dozen times a word that contains the word we see as vow in Acts and is considered a synonym to that word.

In both Classical literature and Septuagint [LXX] usage proseuchomai and euchomai in its technical sense was employed for invoking a deity. It meant “to request, to entreat, to vow.” It was a prayer or vow of confidence and faith/trust as opposed to prayers or vows to other heathen gods often requiring oaths to insure allegiance to the ministers of those pagan temples who exercised authority one over the other. Christ made it clear with the use of horkos that he opposed the oath taking which granted power but clearly supports prayers or vows by using the Greek forms of the word euche to identify prayer.

It is easy to fall back on the ancient adage that all translators are traitors but isn't it our responsibility to be diligent in the examination of the scriptures that are often used to define our faith?

Does euche which is translated both vow and pray mean vow and what did vow mean back then when Jesus was using these terms? What Jesus meant by words ascribed to Him in the sacred text is dependent on what those words meant when they were used and written down, not what we want them to mean today. This means we need to consider semantics if we want to know what was said and meant.

Semantics is the "the branch of linguistics that deals with the study of meaning, changes in meaning, and the principles that govern the relationship between sentences or words and their meanings."

Origin of the word VOW is the Middle English vowe, from Anglo-French vou. It is from Latin votum, from neuter of votus, past participle of vovēre to vow; akin to Greek euchesthai to pray, vow or the Sanskrit vāghat meaning the one who chooses to sacrifice.

There is a pray that asks for something and one that states that you wish to do something. The latter is a vow, vou, votum, from neuter of votus, past participle of vovēre ; akin to Greek euchesthai meaning to pray to God.

Euche or the word vow have no relation to the word horkos which means oath and it is false to connect and suggest that Jesus did mean vow when he said horkos.

It is clear that anyone who examines the original text without prejudice that Jesus is instructing us time and time again concerning the type of prayer that is based on and connected to the same word meaning vow.

But still debaters and those that lack understanding will say this is semantics rather than Christ's plain-speaking. Yet without a little examination of semantics a damnable heresy will creep in and lead the foolish astray.

As we have shown someone has already changed "Christ's plain-speaking" and changed the meaning of words many times. When we point this out the proud will often cling to their own beliefs rather than see the truth.

This is actually a form of Idolatry which is another word we will have to look at but at another time.

More words you may not really understand:

• World
• Religion
• gods
• Worship
• Father
• Sophistry
• Corban
• Anarchism
• Nicolaitan
• Baptism
• Capitalism

Footnotes

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See more Forbidden Definitions