Complete Bible Study Guide
What Does the Bible Say About Breaking Promises?
12 Scripture references with full text and commentary
Understanding Breaking Promises in the Bible
What does the Bible say about breaking promises? Browse 13 carefully selected verses that illuminate this biblical theme.
Top 10 Verses About Breaking Promises
- 1Numbers 23:19
“God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?”
KJV - 2Numbers 30:2
“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. break: Heb. profane”
KJV - 3Numbers 32:23
“But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out.”
KJV - 4
- 5Proverbs 19:5
“A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape. unpunished: Heb. held innocent”
KJV - 6Proverbs 25:14
“Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain. of a: Heb. in a gift of falsehood”
KJV - 7Ecclesiastes 5:4
“When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed.”
KJV - 8Ecclesiastes 5:5
“Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.”
KJV - 9Matthew 5:33
“Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:”
KJV - 10Matthew 5:37
“But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.”
KJV
Old Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Breaking Promises? (8 Verses)
“God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?”
“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. break: Heb. profane”
“But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out.”
“My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.”
“A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape. unpunished: Heb. held innocent”
“Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain. of a: Heb. in a gift of falsehood”
“When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed.”
“Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.”
New Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Breaking Promises? (4 Verses)
“Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:”
“But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.”
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
“But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.”
How to Study What the Bible Says About Breaking Promises
- 1
Begin by reading through every verse listed on this page, noting which ones speak most directly to your current season of life. Write them down and revisit them throughout the week.
- 2
Use a concordance or the search tools on this site to find additional passages about breaking promises. Look for patterns across both the Old and New Testaments to gain a complete picture of what God reveals on this subject.
- 3
Study the context of each verse. Read the surrounding chapter to understand who was speaking, who the audience was, and what circumstances prompted the passage. Context prevents misapplication.
- 4
Memorise at least one key verse about breaking promises and meditate on it daily. Scripture memory transforms thinking and equips you to apply God's Word in real-time situations.
Practical Application
Studying what the Bible says about breaking promises is only the beginning. Scripture is meant to be lived out in daily obedience and faith. Here are practical steps to apply these truths:
Identify one area of your life where the biblical teaching on breaking promises needs to be applied more consistently. Write a specific, actionable step you can take this week.
Share what you have learned about breaking promises with a fellow believer or in a small group setting. Teaching others solidifies your own understanding and encourages mutual growth.
Pray through the key verses about breaking promises, asking God to reveal how His Word applies to your relationships, decisions, and daily habits.
How Well Do You Know What the Bible Says About Breaking Promises?
You have studied 12 verses about breaking promises. Now test your knowledge with chapter-by-chapter quizzes covering the books where these verses appear.