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The question of if it is okay to swear or take an oath is a relatively simple one to answer, but it can become somewhat more complicated when considering the proper reason for doing so. To simply answer the question, the answer is yes, it is okay. The alleged contradiction by skeptics can be resolved by recognizing that Jesus and James were advising against the frivolous oath taking that had become an unfortunate habit of the Jewish people. Making an oath by the heavens, earth, and Jerusalem as a sort of collateral which they had no real authority over. It was, Jesus and James were pointing out, more significant to be honest and truthful in all matters so that it wasn't necessary to establish every trivial detail by a frivolous oath, undermining not only your integrity but those things that belonged to Jehovah God or his appointed king. (Matthew 5:34-37; James 5:12 Also see Matthew 23:16-22)
Jesus wasn’t prohibiting the taking of an oath as is evident by his giving answer without objection to being placed under oath before the high priest at his own trial. (Matthew 26:63-64)
An oath is a statement stressing the truthfulness of something someone promises to do or not to do. There are two Hebrew words translated as oath; shevuah, which is an oath or sworn statement. Shava is a related term that means “swear” and comes from the same root as the Hebrew word for “seven,” so swear originally meant to be under the influence of seven things. (Genesis 21:27-32) Beer-sheba means “well of the oath” or “well of seven.” (Genesis 26:28-33). Shevuah doesn’t contain the connotation of a curse or hardship placed upon the person making the oath should he not fulfill it.
The other Hebrew word translated as oath is alah, meaning “oath, cursing” or “oath of obligation.” (Genesis 24:41; 26:28)
The Greek horkos, “oath” and omnyo, “swear” are both found in James 5:12. The Greek anathematizo means to bind with a curse. (Acts 23:12, 14, 21)
Jesus wasn’t prohibiting the taking of an oath as is evident by his giving answer without objection to being placed under oath before the high priest at his own trial. (Matthew 26:63-64)
An oath is a statement stressing the truthfulness of something someone promises to do or not to do. There are two Hebrew words translated as oath; shevuah, which is an oath or sworn statement. Shava is a related term that means “swear” and comes from the same root as the Hebrew word for “seven,” so swear originally meant to be under the influence of seven things. (Genesis 21:27-32) Beer-sheba means “well of the oath” or “well of seven.” (Genesis 26:28-33). Shevuah doesn’t contain the connotation of a curse or hardship placed upon the person making the oath should he not fulfill it.
The other Hebrew word translated as oath is alah, meaning “oath, cursing” or “oath of obligation.” (Genesis 24:41; 26:28)
The Greek horkos, “oath” and omnyo, “swear” are both found in James 5:12. The Greek anathematizo means to bind with a curse. (Acts 23:12, 14, 21)
