ὄμνυμι
omnumi
to swear
Lexicon Entry
Lexicon data from STEPBible TIPNR, Tyndale House, Cambridge. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
What Original Readers Understood
SupportedThe Greek word ὄμνυμι (omnumi), Strong's number G3660, carries a fundamental sense of solemnly promising or vowing, often in a formal or ritualistic context. At its core, its meaning can be distilled to that of making a binding oath or vow. This concept is crucial in a wide array of situations within the biblical narrative. Occurrences in the Bible reveal that the word is used in various scenarios, such as affirming promises (e.g., covenants, agreements), making vows to God (e.g., in prayer, sacrifice), or invoking divine witness (to corroborate or strengthen an oath). This versatility suggests that ὄμνυμι plays a vital role in establishing trust, credibility, and accountability within both human interactions and faith relationships.
Source data & methodology
Occurrences in Scripture
26 total occurrences across the text
but I tell you, don’t swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is the throne of God;
Matthew 5:36Neither shall you swear by your head, for you can’t make one hair white or black.
Matthew 23:16“Woe to you, you blind guides, who say, ‘Whoever swears by the temple, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple, he is obligated.’
Matthew 23:16“Woe to you, you blind guides, who say, ‘Whoever swears by the temple, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple, he is obligated.’
Matthew 23:18‘Whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gift that is on it, he is obligated?’
Matthew 23:18‘Whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gift that is on it, he is obligated?’
Matthew 23:20He therefore who swears by the altar, swears by it, and by everything on it.
Matthew 23:20He therefore who swears by the altar, swears by it, and by everything on it.
Matthew 23:21He who swears by the temple, swears by it, and by him who has been living in it.
Matthew 23:21He who swears by the temple, swears by it, and by him who has been living in it.
Matthew 23:22He who swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God, and by him who sits on it.
Matthew 23:22He who swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God, and by him who sits on it.
Matthew 26:74Then he began to curse and to swear, “I don’t know the man!” Immediately the rooster crowed.
Mark 6:23He swore to her, “Whatever you shall ask of me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom.”
Mark 14:71But he began to curse, and to swear, “I don’t know this man of whom you speak!”
Luke 1:73the oath which he swore to Abraham our father,
Acts 2:30Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, he would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne,
Hebrews 3:11As I swore in my wrath, ‘They will not enter into my rest.’ ”
Hebrews 3:18To whom did he swear that they wouldn’t enter into his rest, but to those who were disobedient?
Hebrews 4:3For we who have believed do enter into that rest, even as he has said, “As I swore in my wrath, they will not enter into my rest;” although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.
Hebrews 6:13For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he could swear by no one greater, he swore by himself,
Hebrews 6:13For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he could swear by no one greater, he swore by himself,
Hebrews 6:16For men indeed swear by a greater one, and in every dispute of theirs the oath is final for confirmation.
Hebrews 7:21(for they indeed have been made priests without an oath), but he with an oath by him that says of him, “The Lord swore and will not change his mind, ‘You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.’ ”
James 5:12But above all things, my brothers, don’t swear— not by heaven, or by the earth, or by any other oath; but let your “yes” be “yes”, and your “no”, “no”, so that you don’t fall into hypocrisy.
Revelation 10:6and swore by him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and the things that are in it, the earth and the things that are in it, and the sea and the things that are in it, that there will no longer be delay,