שָׁבַע

From the study of Genesis 31:53

Range of meaning

To swear, take an oath, bind oneself under a curse by invoking a deity. The verb shares its letters with the word 'seven', and Genesis 21:28–31 plays on the two, but whether they are truly related is uncertain. The phrase 'swear by (bə-) X' names the guarantor of the oath (Genesis 21:23; 22:16).

Against the English

'Swore' is accurate. Modern English 'swear' can also mean cursing in the sense of profanity, but readers rarely get confused here. 'Took an oath' (NIV-style) is clearer.

Used elsewhere in the period

Oaths in Genesis carry self-curses, stated or implied (compare 'May God do so to me and more also', 1 Samuel 3:17). The god invoked in the oath shows which deity the speaker regards as binding.

From the study of Genesis 50:24

Range of meaning

To swear, take an oath, bind yourself by a solemn statement, usually with a self-curse if broken. When God swears, he swears 'by himself' (Gen 22:16), because there is nothing greater to swear by. Many link the verb to sheva', 'seven,' as an oath sealed by seven (Gen 21:28–31 plays on this). Whether the two words really share a root is debated.

Against the English

BSB, NIV and NASB say 'promised on oath,' while KJV, WEB and YLT say 'sware/swore.' NLT says 'solemnly promised.' 'Promised' on its own is weaker than an oath. Versions that keep 'oath' or 'swore' keep the legal force.

Used elsewhere in the period

Gen 22:16–17 ('By myself I have sworn'); Gen 24:7; 26:3 ('I will establish the oath I swore to Abraham'). 'The land which he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob' becomes a set phrase in Deuteronomy (1:8; 6:10; 9:5; 30:20; 34:4).

From the study of Jeremiah 4:2

Range of meaning

Shabaʿ in its reflexive-passive form (niphal) means 'to swear an oath', to bind yourself by calling a god as witness and enforcer. Ḥay YHWH, 'Living is YHWH!', is Israel's normal oath formula (Judg 8:19; 1 Sam 14:39; Jer 38:16). It stood for 'may the living God act against me if I lie or fail.'

Against the English

English 'swear' now mostly means using profanity. Here it means the opposite: solemn speech that calls on God seriously. BSB/NIV 'As surely as the LORD lives' gets the sense well. KJV 'The LORD liveth' keeps the bare Hebrew exclamation.

How it drifted

In English, 'swear' moved from oath-taking toward profane language (from 'swearing by' sacred things casually). The older sense survives mainly in court ('swear in').

Used elsewhere in the period

Deut 6:13 and 10:20 command Israel to swear 'by his name'. Jer 12:16 contrasts swearing 'As YHWH lives' with having been taught to swear 'by Baal'. Jer 5:2 and 5:7 condemn false oaths and oaths 'by no-gods'. The Hebrew ostraca from Lachish, letters written in Jeremiah's own time (c. 588 BC), use the same formula 'as YHWH lives' (ḥy yhwh). Across the ancient Near East, treaties and lawsuits were sealed by oaths to the gods.