Is Taking an Oath a Sin?

If taking a Oath is a sin, then we must conclude that HaShem had sinned when:

 

Genesis 26:

1 Now there was a famine in the land, besides the previous famine that had occurred in the days of Abraham. So Isaac went to Gerar, to Abimelech king of the Philistines.

 2 The LORD appeared to him and said, "Do not go down to Egypt; stay in the land of which I shall tell you.

 3 "Sojourn in this land and I will be with you and bless you, for to you and to your descendants I will give all these lands, and I will establish the oath which I swore to your father Abraham.

 (Gen 26:1-3 NAU)

 

The Hebrew term used for oath is pronounced, “Shebuah”   שְׁבוּעָה

 

Oath/Shebuah is defined as an oath, such as to swear, or even as a curse.  I do not believe the taking of an Oath was intended as an everyday practice, which may have been the case when Yeshua was among us in the flesh. An oath was like a promise, or an obligation that usually had a “penalty” attached to it should the oath be broken. Such a penalty was defined in terms of a “curse” or “evil” that would befall the one taking the oath should he not perform his intentions.  For example, how many times today have we heard someone say, “ I promise you that what I’m telling you is the truth, if it’s not, may G_d strike me dead, or if I’m lying, I’m dying”.  I would suspect that in the common everyday practice of business affairs two thousand years ago, oaths would have been used extensively, such as, “I swear by Heaven that this horse is only four years old, if I am lying, may HaShem curse me!”  The penalty/evil of course is, the prospect of receiving a curse from HaShem, should the oath taker be swearing a false oath.  It is much better not to take an Oath whereby you bring evil down upon yourself if it falls through.  By replying yes or no, you do not bring a curse down upon your head.  It is wrong to take an Oath, absolutely not!  We take an Oath of Allegiance when we salute the American flag.  During marriages, oath's are given to both groom and bride.  During the course of the trial, witnesses must swear to tell the truth and nothing but the truth.  When promises are made to loved ones, you are affirming an obligation to do a certain task or achieve a certain end.  The taking of an oath becomes a sin when there is no intention of seeing it through, or using it as a “begging” device whereby you seek to make a appeal not based off the product, but rather via pity and/or cocersion. Such an Oath used in this manner is not to be understood in terms of an agreement, but as a tool for leverage.   A person should be known by their code of integrity, let your yes be a yes, and your no be a no.  You do not need to take an oath every time you communicate with another person, even in areas such as business and finance. 

 

33 "Again, you have heard that the ancients were told, 'YOU SHALL NOT MAKE FALSE VOWS, BUT SHALL FULFILL YOUR VOWS TO THE LORD.'

34 "But I say to you, make no oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God,

35 or by the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet, or by Jerusalem, for it is THE CITY OF THE GREAT KING.

36 "Nor shall you make an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black.

37 "But let your statement be, 'Yes, yes ' or 'No, no'; anything beyond these is of evil.

 

(Mat 5:33-37 NAU)

 

Ya’akov