James 5:12

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear—not by heaven or earth or any other oath. Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No’ mean ‘No,’ so that you may not fall under judgment.

Additional Resources

Other Translations

  • King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

    But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.

  • KJV1611 – Modern English

    But above all things, my brethren, do not swear, neither by heaven, nor by the earth, nor by any other oath: but let your 'yes' be 'yes,' and your 'no,' 'no'; lest you fall into condemnation.

  • King James Version 1611 (Original)

    But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.

  • American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

    But{G1161} above{G4253} all things,{G3956} my{G3450} brethren,{G80} swear{G3660} not,{G3361} neither{G3383} by the heaven,{G3772} nor{G3383} by the earth,{G1093} nor{G3383} by any{G5100} other{G243} oath:{G3727} but{G1161} let{G2277} your{G5216} yea{G3483} be{G2277} yea,{G3483} and{G2532} your nay,{G3756} nay;{G3756} that{G2443} ye fall{G4098} not{G3361} under{G1519} judgment.{G3956}

  • King James Version with Strong's Numbers

    But{G1161} above{G4253} all things{G3956}, my{G3450} brethren{G80}, swear{G3660}{(G5720)} not{G3361}, neither{G3383} by heaven{G3772}, neither{G3383} by the earth{G1093}, neither{G3383} by any{G5100} other{G243} oath{G3727}: but{G1161} let{G2277} your{G5216} yea{G3483} be{G2277}{(G5749)} yea{G3483}; and{G2532} your nay{G3756}, nay{G3756}; lest{G3363} ye fall{G4098}{(G5632)} into{G1519} condemnation{G5272}.

  • Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

    But above all thynges my brethre sweare not nether by heven nether by erth nether by eny other othe. Let youre ye be ye and youre maye naye: lest ye faule into ypocrecy.

  • Coverdale Bible (1535)

    But aboue all thinges my brethre, sweare not, nether by heaue, nether by earth, nether by eny other othe. Let youre ye be ye, and yor naye naye: lest ye faule in to ypocricy.

  • Geneva Bible (1560)

    But before all thinges, my brethren, sweare not, neither by heauen, nor by earth, nor by any other othe: but let your yea, be yea, and your nay, nay, lest ye fall into condemnation.

  • Bishops' Bible (1568)

    But aboue all thynges my brethren, sweare not, neither by heauen, neither by earth, neither any other othe: Let your yea, be yea, and your nay nay, lest you fall into condempnation.

  • Authorized King James Version (1611)

    ¶ But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and [your] nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.

  • Webster's Bible (1833)

    But above all things, my brothers, don't swear, neither by heaven, nor by the earth, nor by any other oath; but let your "yes" be "yes," and your "no," "no;" so that you don't fall into hypocrisy.{TR reads "under judgment" instead of "into hypocrisy"}

  • Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

    And before all things, my brethren, do not swear, neither by the heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath, and let your Yes be Yes, and the No, No; that under judgment ye may not fall.

  • American Standard Version (1901)

    But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by the heaven, nor by the earth, nor by any other oath: but let your yea be yea, and your nay, nay; that ye fall not under judgment.

  • American Standard Version (1901)

    But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by the heaven, nor by the earth, nor by any other oath: but let your yea be yea, and your nay, nay; that ye fall not under judgment.

  • Bible in Basic English (1941)

    But most of all, my brothers, do not take oaths, not by the heaven, or by the earth, or by any other thing: but let your Yes be Yes, and your No be No: so that you may not be judged.

  • World English Bible (2000)

    But above all things, my brothers, don't swear, neither by heaven, nor by the earth, nor by any other oath; but let your "yes" be "yes," and your "no," "no;" so that you don't fall into hypocrisy.

  • NET Bible® (New English Translation)

    And above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath. But let your“Yes” be yes and your“No” be no, so that you may not fall into judgment.

Referenced Verses

  • Matt 5:33-37 : 33 Again, you have heard that it was said to those of old, 'Do not break your oaths, but fulfill your vows to the Lord.' 34 But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne, 35 or by the earth, for it is His footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36 And do not swear by your head, because you cannot make even one hair white or black. 37 Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No'; anything more comes from the evil one.
  • 2 Cor 1:17-20 : 17 So, when I was planning this, did I act with fickleness? Or do I make plans in a worldly way, saying yes and no at the same time? 18 But as surely as God is faithful, our message to you is not "Yes" and "No." 19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was proclaimed among you by us—by me, Silvanus, and Timothy—was not "Yes" and "No," but in Him it has always been "Yes." 20 For as many promises as God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through Him, the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God.
  • 1 Cor 11:34 : 34 If anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, so that when you come together it will not result in judgment. And when I come, I will give further instructions.
  • Matt 23:16-22 : 16 Woe to you, blind guides! You say, 'If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is obligated.' 17 You fools and blind! Which is greater, the gold or the temple that sanctifies the gold? 18 And you say, 'If anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gift on it, he is obligated.' 19 You fools and blind! Which is greater, the gift or the altar that sanctifies the gift? 20 Therefore, whoever swears by the altar swears by it and everything on it. 21 And whoever swears by the temple swears by it and by the One who dwells in it. 22 And whoever swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by Him who sits upon it.

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

  • Matt 5:33-38
    6 verses
    83%

    33 Again, you have heard that it was said to those of old, 'Do not break your oaths, but fulfill your vows to the Lord.'

    34 But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne,

    35 or by the earth, for it is His footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.

    36 And do not swear by your head, because you cannot make even one hair white or black.

    37 Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No'; anything more comes from the evil one.

    38 You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.'

  • Lev 5:4
    75%

    4 Or if someone makes a rash oath to do something evil or good, whatever they may rashly utter with an oath, and it is hidden from them, but they later realize it, they are guilty in one of these cases.

  • Lev 19:11-12
    2 verses
    75%

    11 Do not steal. Do not deceive or lie to one another.

    12 Do not swear falsely by my name and so profane the name of your God. I am the LORD.

  • Eccl 5:5-6
    2 verses
    74%

    5 Do not let your mouth cause you to sin, and do not tell God’s messenger that it was a mistake. Why should God be angry at your words and destroy the work of your hands?

    6 Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore, fear God.

  • 2 Cor 1:17-19
    3 verses
    73%

    17 So, when I was planning this, did I act with fickleness? Or do I make plans in a worldly way, saying yes and no at the same time?

    18 But as surely as God is faithful, our message to you is not "Yes" and "No."

    19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was proclaimed among you by us—by me, Silvanus, and Timothy—was not "Yes" and "No," but in Him it has always been "Yes."

  • Jas 5:9
    73%

    9 Do not grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be judged. Look, the Judge is standing at the door.

  • Heb 6:16
    73%

    16 People swear by someone greater than themselves, and an oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument.

  • Jas 3:10
    72%

    10 Out of the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things should not be this way.

  • Num 30:2
    72%

    2 Moses spoke to the leaders of the tribes of Israel, saying, 'This is what the LORD has commanded:'

  • Jas 4:11
    71%

    11 Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it.

  • Jas 3:1-2
    2 verses
    71%

    1 Not many should become teachers, my brothers, because you know that we will receive a stricter judgment.

    2 For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to also control his whole body.

  • Matt 23:22
    71%

    22 And whoever swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by Him who sits upon it.

  • Eccl 5:2
    70%

    2 Dreams come from too much activity, and a fool’s voice is known by many words.

  • Matt 12:36-37
    2 verses
    70%

    36 I tell you, on the Day of Judgment, people will give an account for every idle word they speak.

    37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.

  • Zech 8:17
    70%

    17 Do not plot evil in your hearts against your neighbor, and do not love false oaths, for I hate all these things, declares the LORD.

  • 1 Cor 6:7-8
    2 verses
    70%

    7 The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated?

    8 Instead, you yourselves wrong and cheat—and you do this to your brothers and sisters.

  • Jas 1:19
    70%

    19 My beloved brothers and sisters, let every person be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger.

  • Jas 1:16
    70%

    16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers and sisters.

  • Deut 5:11
    70%

    11 You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who takes His name in vain.

  • Eph 5:6
    70%

    6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience.

  • Lev 5:1
    70%

    1 If someone sins by hearing an oath and is a witness, whether they have seen it or know it, yet they do not report it, they will bear their guilt.

  • Zech 5:3
    69%

    3 Then he said to me, 'This is the curse that is going out over the whole land: for everyone who steals will be judged according to what is written on one side, and everyone who swears falsely will be judged according to what is written on the other side.'

  • Matt 23:18
    69%

    18 And you say, 'If anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gift on it, he is obligated.'

  • Ps 15:4
    69%

    4 Who despises a vile person in his eyes but honors those who fear the LORD; who keeps his word even when it hurts and does not go back on his promise.

  • Deut 5:20
    69%

    20 You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.

  • Jas 2:7
    69%

    7 Are they not the ones who blaspheme the noble name that was invoked over you?

  • Prov 30:6
    69%

    6 Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar.

  • 1 Thess 4:6
    69%

    6 And that no one transgresses or defrauds their brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger of all these things, as we have forewarned and solemnly testified to you.

  • Jer 5:2
    69%

    2 Even when they say, 'As surely as the Lord lives,' they swear falsely.

  • 1 Thess 5:15
    69%

    15 See that no one repays evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good, both for one another and for everyone.

  • Rom 3:4
    69%

    4 Absolutely not! Let God be true, and every human being a liar. As it is written: "So that You may be justified in Your words and prevail when You are judged."

  • 1 Kgs 8:31
    69%

    31 If someone sins against a neighbor and is asked to swear an oath, and they come and take the oath before Your altar in this house,

  • Eccl 7:21
    69%

    21 Do not pay attention to every word people say, or you may hear your servant cursing you.

  • Isa 65:16
    69%

    16 Whoever invokes a blessing in the land will do so by the God of truth, and whoever takes an oath in the land will swear by the God of truth. For the past troubles will be forgotten and hidden from my eyes.

  • 1 Pet 3:9
    68%

    9 Do not repay evil for evil or insult for insult, but on the contrary, give a blessing, because to this you were called, so that you may inherit a blessing.

  • Matt 7:1
    68%

    1 Do not judge, so that you will not be judged.

  • Exod 20:16
    68%

    16 You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.

  • Jas 2:12
    68%

    12 Speak and act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty.