Swear Not James 5:12

As James continued to exhort his readers with words of practical living, he shared how he counted people “happy which endure” the trials and temptations they encounter, and he referred to “the patience of Job” as an example of one who had “seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy”. In chapter five and verse twelve of his letter, James told the people within the “twelve tribes scattered abroad” not to “swear” where we read:

But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yes be yes; and your no, no; lest you fall into condemnation.

The verse begins, “But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath:” James began with the word, “But” which is a disassociation conjunction that means what is about to be written takes precedence over what was previously stated, “above all things” or “in front of, before and prior to each, every, any, all the whole and everything”, “my brethren” which refers to “James' fellow believers united to each other by the bond of affection in Christ”, “swear not” or “do not affirm, promise or threaten with an oath”, “neither by heaven” which means “not by, nor and so much as the region above the sidereal heavens, the seat of order of things eternal and consummately perfect place where God dwells with other heavenly beings ”, “neither by the earth” or “not, nor and so much as the arable land, ground and country enclosed within fixed boundaries or a tract of land, territory or region”, “neither by any other oath” which means “not by, nor and so much as a certain thing pledged or promised”. More than any other thing James shared, he desired for the people to rid themselves of “swearing”.

The verse goes on to say, “but let your yes be yes; and your no, no; lest you fall into condemnation.” James continued with the word, “but” or “nevertheless, moreover and nonetheless” “let your yes” which is the Greek phrase “ētō hymōn ētō” and means “verily, truly, assuredly and even so” “be yes” or “verily, truly, assuredly and even so”; “and your no” or “negative in direct questions expecting an affirmative answer” “no” which means “negative in direct questions expecting an affirmative answer”; “lest you fall” or “descend, prostate and cast down from a higher place to a lower ” “into condemnation” which means “dissimulation, hypocrisy and the acting of a stage player”. Rather than “swearing”, James' readers were to simply affirm what they affirm, and negate what they negate.

When we think through these words of James, we understand his exhortation to say what we mean and mean what we say. We are not to embellish our words with “swearing”, and we should keep our word and be faithful to it as much as possible. If we add to our “yeses” and “nos”, we only put ourselves in positions to be brought under “condemning judgment”. As we represent Jesus Christ in this world, let us be known as people who keep our word, and may all other jargon be put away from us.

Next time James tells his readers to “swear not”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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