Bible verses about vows
It is better that we don’t make vows to God. You don’t know if you will be able to keep your word and you might get selfish. God if you will help me, I’ll give a homeless man 100 dollars. God helps you, but you give a homeless man 50 dollars. God if you do this, I’ll go and witness to others. God answers you, but you never witness to others. You can’t compromise with God, He will not be mocked.
Whether it is to God or to your friend, vows are nothing to play with. Breaking a vow is indeed sinful so don’t do it. Let our awesome God work out your life and you just continue to do His will. If you broke a vow recently repent and He will forgive you. Learn from that mistake and never ever make a vow in the future.
What does the Bible say?
1. Numbers 30:1-7 Moses spoke with the leaders of the Israelite tribes. He told them these commands from the Lord. “If a man makes a promise to the Lord or says he will do something special, he must keep his promise. He must do what he said. If a young woman still living at home makes a promise to the Lord or pledges to do something special, and if her father hears about the promise or pledge and says nothing, she must do what she promised. She must keep her pledge. But if her father hears about the promise or pledge and does not allow it, then the promise or pledge does not have to be kept. Her father would not allow it, so the Lord will free her from her promise. “If a woman makes a pledge or a careless promise and then gets married, and if her husband hears about it and says nothing, she must keep her promise or the pledge she made.
2. Deuteronomy 23:21-23 When you make a vow to the Lord your God you must not delay in fulfilling it, for otherwise he will surely hold you accountable as a sinner. If you refrain from making a vow, it will not be sinful. 23 Whatever you vow, you must be careful to do what you have promised, such as what you have vowed to the Lord your God as a freewill offering.
3. James 5:11-12 Think of how we regard as blessed those who have endured. You have heard of Job’s endurance and you have seen the Lord’s purpose, that the Lord is full of compassion and mercy. And above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath. But let your “Yes” be yes and your “No” be no, so that you may not fall into judgment.
4. Ecclesiastes 5:3-6 Daydreaming comes when there are too many worries. Careless speaking comes when there are too many words. When you make a promise to God, don’t be slow to keep it because God doesn’t like fools. Keep your promise. It is better not to make a promise than to make one and not keep it. Don’t let your mouth talk you into committing a sin. Don’t say in the presence of a temple messenger, “My promise was a mistake!” Why should God become angry at your excuse and destroy what you’ve accomplished? (Idle talk Bible verses)
Watch what comes out your mouth.
5. Proverbs 20:25 It is a snare for a person to rashly cry, “Holy!” and only afterward to consider what he has vowed.
6. Proverbs 10:19-20 Too much talk leads to sin. Be sensible and keep your mouth shut. The words of the godly are like sterling silver; the heart of a fool is worthless. The words of the godly encourage many, but fools are destroyed by their lack of common sense.
It shows your integrity.
7. Psalm 41:12 Because of my integrity you uphold me and set me in your presence forever.
8. Proverbs 11:3 Honesty guides good people; dishonesty destroys treacherous people.
When trying to pull a fast one on God goes wrong.
9. Malachi 1:14 “Cursed is the cheat who promises to give a fine ram from his flock but then sacrifices a defective one to the Lord. For I am a great king,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, “and my name is feared among the nations!
10. Galatians 6:7-8 Do not deceive yourselves; God is not mocked: for whatever a man sows that shall he also reap. For he that sows to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption, but he that sows in the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap eternal life.
Reminders
11. Matthew 5:34-37 But I say to you, do not take oaths at all—not by heaven, because it is the throne of God, not by earth, because it is his footstool, and not by Jerusalem, because it is the city of the great King. Do not take an oath by your head, because you are not able to make one hair white or black. Let your word be ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no.’ More than this is from the evil one.
12. James 4:13-14 Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.” How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog–it’s here a little while, then it’s gone.
Repent
13. 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
14. Psalm 32: Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD.” And you forgave the guilt of my sin.
Examples
15. Proverbs 7:13-15 She took hold of him and kissed him and with a brazen face she said: “Today I fulfilled my vows, and I have food from my fellowship offering at home. So I came out to meet you; I looked for you and have found you!
16. Jonah 1:14-16 Then they cried out to the LORD, “Please, LORD, do not let us die for taking this man’s life. Do not hold us accountable for killing an innocent man, for you, LORD, have done as you pleased.” Then they took Jonah and threw him overboard, and the raging sea grew calm. At this the men greatly feared the LORD, and they offered a sacrifice to the LORD and made vows to him. Now the LORD provided a huge fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.
17. Isaiah 19:21-22 So the LORD will make himself known to the Egyptians. The Egyptians will know the LORD when that day comes. They will worship with sacrifices and food offerings. They will make vows to the LORD and carry them out. The LORD will strike Egypt with a plague. When he strikes them, he will also heal them. Then they will come back to the LORD. And he will respond to their prayers and heal
18. Leviticus 22:18-20 “Give Aaron and his sons and all the Israelites these instructions, which apply both to native Israelites and to the foreigners living among you. “If you present a gift as a burnt offering to the LORD, whether it is to fulfill a vow or is a voluntary offering, you will be accepted only if your offering is a male animal with no defects. It may be a bull, a ram, or a male goat. Do not present an animal with defects, because the LORD will not accept it on your behalf.
19. Psalm 66:13-15 I will come to your temple with burnt offerings and fulfill my vows to you vows my lips promised and my mouth spoke when I was in trouble. I will sacrifice fat animals to you and an offering of rams; I will offer bulls and goats.
20. Psalm 61:7-8 He shall abide before God forever. Oh, prepare mercy and truth, which may preserve him! So I will sing praise to Your name forever, That I may daily perform my vows.
21. Psalm 56:11-13 I trust in God, so why should I be afraid? What can mere mortals do to me? I will fulfill my vows to you, O God, and will offer a sacrifice of thanks for your help. For you have rescued me from death; you have kept my feet from slipping. So now I can walk in your presence, O God, in your life-giving light.
