Dictionary of Bible Themes A solemn, binding promise, often involving the deposit of valuable items or property as a guarantee that the promise will be kept. To break a pledge is to sin against God. Numbers 30:2Pledges were binding See also Numbers 30:3-15In certain cases pledges made by daughters or wives could be nullified by fathers or husbands respectively. 2 Kings 23:3Pledges were solemn promises See also 1 Chronicles 29:24pp 2Ch 34:31-32 Ezra 10:19Ezekiel 17:16-18 Micah 7:20 1 Peter 3:21 Genesis 38:17-18 Pledges were guarantees that a promise would be kept See also Items deposited to secure a pledge Exodus 22:26-27Deuteronomy 24:10-13 Proverbs 20:16; 27:13 Deuteronomy 24:17 See also Unjust exaction of pledges condemned Job 22:4-6; 24:2-3Amos 2:6-8 Proverbs 11:15 Warning against making pledges on behalf of others See also Proverbs 6:1-5; 17:18; 22:26-27The foolishness of making a pledge as security for someone else's debt. Matthew 1:18-19Pledges and betrothal See also Exodus 22:16Betrothal was a pledge to marry and as such was much more binding than the modern Western practice of engagement. It could only be broken by divorce and the betrothed woman was already described as a wife. Deuteronomy 22:23-25Luke 1:27 See also 1346 covenants1690 word of God 3040 Holy Spirit, promise of 5330 guard 5429 oaths 5441 philosophy 5466 promises 5519 secretary 5654 betrothal 5708 marriage 5741 vows 5925 rashness |
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