A Man's Vow
Study note
A vow was a solemn promise made to God. In the ancient world, vows were taken very seriously. When a man made a vow, he was absolutely required to keep it. Breaking a vow to God was considered a grave sin.
1 Moses spoke to the tribal leaders of Israel and said, "Here is what the Lord has commanded." And Moses spake unto the heads of the tribes concerning the children of Israel, saying, This is the thing which the LORD hath commanded.
2 "When a man makes a vow to the Lord or swears an oath committing himself to something, he must not go back on his word. He must follow through on everything he promised." If a man vow a vow unto the LORD, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth.
A Young Woman's Vow in Her Father's House
Study note
If a young woman still living with her father made a vow, her father had the right to approve or cancel it. If he heard about it and said nothing, the vow stood. But if he objected on the day he heard about it, the vow was cancelled and the Lord would forgive her. In the culture of that time, fathers were responsible for the decisions and well-being of their households.
3 "When a young woman who still lives in her father's house makes a vow to the Lord or makes a binding promise," If a woman also vow a vow unto the LORD, and bind herself by a bond, being in her father's house in her youth;
4 "and her father hears about it but says nothing, then her vows and promises all remain valid." And her father hear her vow, and her bond wherewith she hath bound her soul, and her father shall hold his peace at her: then all her vows shall stand, and every bond wherewith she hath bound her soul shall stand.
5 "But if her father disapproves on the day he hears about it, none of her vows or promises count. The Lord will forgive her because her father blocked them." But if her father disallow her in the day that he heareth; not any of her vows, or of her bonds wherewith she hath bound her soul, shall stand: and the LORD shall forgive her, because her father disallowed her.
A Married Woman's Vow
Study note
If a woman made a vow before getting married, or made a thoughtless promise, her husband had the authority to let it stand or cancel it. If he heard about it and said nothing, the vow stood. If he objected on the day he heard about it, the vow was cancelled and the Lord would forgive her.
6 "Suppose she makes a vow or a hasty promise and then gets married." And if she had at all an husband, when she vowed, or uttered ought out of her lips, wherewith she bound her soul;
7 "If her husband finds out but says nothing on that day, her vows and promises remain valid." And her husband heard it, and held his peace at her in the day that he heard it: then her vows shall stand, and her bonds wherewith she bound her soul shall stand.
8 "But if her husband objects on the day he hears about it, he cancels whatever vow or hasty promise she made. The Lord will forgive her." But if her husband disallowed her on the day that he heard it; then he shall make her vow which she vowed, and that which she uttered with her lips, wherewith she bound her soul, of none effect: and the LORD shall forgive her.
Vows of Widows and Divorced Women
Study note
A widow or divorced woman was not under the authority of a father or husband. Therefore, any vow she made was binding on her. She was fully responsible for keeping her own promises.
9 "A widow or divorced woman must keep every vow and promise she makes. Her commitments are all binding." But every vow of a widow, and of her that is divorced, wherewith they have bound their souls, shall stand against her.
Further Rules About a Wife's Vows
Study note
These verses clarify the husband's role. If a wife made a vow while married and her husband stayed silent about it, the vow was confirmed. But if he cancelled it on the day he heard it, it was void. If the husband waited too long and then tried to cancel the vow, he would bear the guilt for it rather than his wife.
10 "If a married woman living with her husband makes a vow or a binding promise," And if she vowed in her husband's house, or bound her soul by a bond with an oath;
11 "and her husband hears about it but stays quiet and does not object, then all her vows and promises still stand." And her husband heard it, and held his peace at her, and disallowed her not: then all her vows shall stand, and every bond wherewith she bound her soul shall stand.
12 "But if her husband cancels them on the day he finds out, then nothing she said regarding her vows or promises stands. Her husband cancelled them, and the Lord will forgive her." But if her husband hath utterly made them void on the day he heard them; then whatsoever proceeded out of her lips concerning her vows, or concerning the bond of her soul, shall not stand: her husband hath made them void; and the LORD shall forgive her.
13 "Her husband has the right to approve or cancel any promise she makes. He can also cancel any pledge she takes on to go without something." Every vow, and every binding oath to afflict the soul, her husband may establish it, or her husband may make it void.
14 "If her husband says nothing about it day after day, he has confirmed all her vows and promises. His silence on the day he heard them counts as approval." But if her husband altogether hold his peace at her from day to day; then he establisheth all her vows, or all her bonds, which are upon her: he confirmeth them, because he held his peace at her in the day that he heard them.
15 "But if he cancels them after some time has passed since he first learned about them, he takes on her guilt himself." But if he shall any ways make them void after that he hath heard them; then he shall bear her iniquity.
16 These are the rules the Lord gave Moses about promises. They cover what happens between a husband and wife, and between a father and his young daughter still living at home. These are the statutes, which the LORD commanded Moses, between a man and his wife, between the father and his daughter, being yet in her youth in her father's house.