Complete Bible Study Guide
What Does the Bible Say About Making Promises?
17 Scripture references with full text and commentary
Understanding Making Promises in the Bible
Explore what the Bible says about making promises. This collection of 19 key Scripture passages reveals God's wisdom and guidance on this important theme.
Top 10 Verses About Making Promises
- 1Genesis 28:20
“And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on,”
KJV - 2Leviticus 19:12
“And ye shall not swear by my name falsely, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD.”
KJV - 3Numbers 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 - 4Numbers 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 - 5Deuteronomy 23:21
“When thou shalt vow a vow unto the LORD thy God, thou shalt not slack to pay it: for the LORD thy God will surely require it of thee; and it would be sin in thee.”
KJV - 6Joshua 9:15
“And Joshua made peace with them, and made a league with them, to let them live: and the princes of the congregation sware unto them.”
KJV - 7Judges 11:30
“And Jephthah vowed a vow unto the LORD, and said, If thou shalt without fail deliver the children of Ammon into mine hands,”
KJV - 8Psalms 15:2
“He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.”
KJV - 9Psalms 15:4
“In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the LORD. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.”
KJV - 10Proverbs 20:25
“It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, and after vows to make enquiry.”
KJV
Old Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Making Promises? (12 Verses)
“And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on,”
“And ye shall not swear by my name falsely, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD.”
“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”
“When thou shalt vow a vow unto the LORD thy God, thou shalt not slack to pay it: for the LORD thy God will surely require it of thee; and it would be sin in thee.”
“And Joshua made peace with them, and made a league with them, to let them live: and the princes of the congregation sware unto them.”
“And Jephthah vowed a vow unto the LORD, and said, If thou shalt without fail deliver the children of Ammon into mine hands,”
“He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.”
“In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the LORD. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.”
“It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, and after vows to make enquiry.”
“Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil.”
“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.”
New Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Making Promises? (5 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:”
“Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor!”
“And when it was day, certain of the Jews banded together , and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul. under a curse: or, with an oath of execration”
“For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself,”
“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 Making 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 making 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 making 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 making 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 making promises needs to be applied more consistently. Write a specific, actionable step you can take this week.
Share what you have learned about making 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 making 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 Making Promises?
You have studied 17 verses about making promises. Now test your knowledge with chapter-by-chapter quizzes covering the books where these verses appear.