Dict: easton - Oath

Oath @ a solemn appeal to God, permitted on fitting occasions kjv@Deuteronomy:6:13; kjv@Jeremiah:4:2), in various forms kjv@Genesis:16:5; kjv@2Samuel:12:5; kjv@Ruth:1:17; kjv@Hosea:4:15; kjv@Romans:1:9), and taken in different ways kjv@Genesis:14:22 kjv@Genesis:24:2; kjv@2Chronicals:6:22). God is represented as taking an oath kjv@Hebrews:6:16-18), so also Christ kjv@Matthew:26:64), and Paul kjv@Romans:9:1; kjv@Galatians:1:20; kjv@Philippians:1:8). The precept, "Swear not at all," refers probably to ordinary conversation between man and man kjv@Matthew:5:34 kjv@Matthew:5:37). But if the words are taken as referring to oaths, then their intention may have been to show "that the proper state of Christians is to require no oaths; that when evil is expelled from among them every yea and nay will be as decisive as an oath, every promise as binding as a vow."