But if thou shalt forbear to vow, it shall be no sin in thee.
Parallel translations
- WEB But if you refrain from making a vow, it shall be no sin in you.
- BSB But if you refrain from making a vow, you will not be guilty of sin.
- ESV But if you refrain from vowing, you will not be guilty of sin.
- NKJV But if you abstain from vowing, it shall not be sin to you.
- NASB However, if you refrain from making vows, it will not be a sin for you.
- NLT However, it is not a sin to refrain from making a vow.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Choosing not to make a vow at all is no sin. God leaves vows voluntary while requiring faithfulness once they are made.
Overview
This balances the previous verse: while broken vows are sinful, refraining from vowing carries no guilt. God does not demand vows but does demand that promises made to Him be kept. The principle encourages thoughtful, sincere commitment rather than rash religiosity, and it points to the value God places on truthful integrity in all our words (Matt 5:37).
Cross-references & the web
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Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Moses promised a Prophet like himself to whom Israel must listen (18:15); Jesus is that Prophet, the one who keeps the covenant we broke and becomes the curse for us by hanging on a tree (Gal 3:13).
How Deuteronomy 23:22 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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