Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary James 5:12

"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." — James 5:12 (ASV)

James next places special emphasis on the prohibition of oaths: “Above all... do not swear.” As in v.9, the grammatical construction shows that the use of oaths was an existing practice that ought to be discontinued. James is echoing the words of Jesus in Mt 5:34–37, which forbid swearing altogether. It should be obvious that what is referred to in Matthew and James is the light, casual use of oaths in informal conversation—not formal oaths in such places as courts of law. God himself is said to have taken an oath (Psalms 110:4), and Paul sometimes called God to witness (2 Corinthians 1:21; Galatians 1:20). Rather than employing an oath to convince people that a statement is true, Christians should let their “ ‘Yes’ be yes,” and their “ ‘No,’ no.” That is, they should be honest in all their speech so that when they make an affirmation or denial, people will know it is unquestionably the truth. In the careless use of oaths people are in danger of taking God’s name in vain, for which they will come under judgment (cf. Exodus 20:7).