ἐπιορκέω

I take an oath, swear falsely

Definition

The verb ἐπιορκέω means to swear an oath falsely or to commit perjury. It specifically denotes the act of making a solemn vow or promise, invoking a higher authority (like God), while having the intention to break it or while stating something untrue. In the New Testament, its sole occurrence is in Jesus' teaching in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:33), where He contrasts the old legal prohibition against false oaths with His new kingdom ethic of radical truthfulness. The word carries a strong moral and legal weight, implying a deliberate deception that violates both social trust and divine law.

Biblical Usage

ἐπιορκέω is used only once in the New Testament, in Matthew 5:33. It appears in Jesus' authoritative reinterpretation of the Mosaic Law. The context is a series of antitheses ('You have heard that it was said... but I say to you'), where Jesus addresses the commandment against false oaths (based on Leviticus 19:12). Here, the word is cited as part of the old standard that Jesus is transcending, as He calls His followers to a truthfulness so integral that oaths become unnecessary.

Etymology

Derived from the preposition ἐπί (epi, meaning 'upon' or 'over') combined with the root related to ὅρκος (horkos), meaning 'oath'. Literally, it means 'to swear upon' something, but it developed the specialized negative sense of swearing falsely upon that which is invoked (like God's name). The root conveys the solemn, binding nature of an oath, which the prefix ἐπί intensifies in the context of a violation.

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant as it highlights Jesus' teaching on the kingdom ethic of truthfulness. In Matthew 5:33-37, Jesus uses it to show that the old law focused on the external act of perjury, but His new standard addresses the heart's orientation toward truth. He calls disciples to such integrity that their 'Yes' or 'No' is utterly reliable, making oaths superfluous and preventing any attempt to divide truth into graded categories. Understanding this Greek term enriches the reading by clarifying that Jesus is not merely condemning lying under oath but is fundamentally redefining the source of truthful speech for His followers.

In the 1st-century Jewish and Greco-Roman world, oaths were serious, legally-binding declarations used to guarantee truthfulness or the performance of a promise, often invoking God or sacred objects. The cultural practice, however, had led to casuistry—finding loopholes where certain oaths were considered more binding than others. Jesus' teaching directly confronts this hypocrisy by rejecting the entire system of graded oaths that allowed for deceptive intent, calling instead for simple, unvarnished honesty in all communication.

ψεύδομαι (pseudomai, G5574) — a general term for 'I lie' or 'deceive', not specific to oath-taking. ἐξορκίζω (exorkizō, G1844) — 'I adjure' or 'put under oath', a neutral term for administering an oath.

Word Details

Scripture References