3660. omnuó
Lexical Summary
omnuó: To swear, to take an oath

Original Word: ὀμνύω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: omnuó
Pronunciation: om-noo'-o
Phonetic Spelling: (om-noo'-o)
KJV: swear
NASB: swears, swear, swore, sworn, make an oath, make oath
Word Origin: [a prolonged form of a primary, but obsolete omo, for which another prolonged form omoo om-o'-o is used in certain tenses]

1. to swear, i.e. take (or declare on) oath

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
swear.

A prolonged form of a primary, but obsolete omo, for which another prolonged form omoo (om-o'-o) is used in certain tenses; to swear, i.e. Take (or declare on) oath -- swear.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
and omnumi; a prim. verb
Definition
to swear, take an oath
NASB Translation
make an oath (1), make...oath (1), swear (6), swears (10), swore (6), sworn (2).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 3660: ὀμνύω

ὀμνύω (Matthew 23:20; Matthew 26:74; Hebrews 6:16; James 5:12; (Winer's Grammar, 24)) and ὄμνυμι (ὀμνύναι, Mark 14:71 G L T Tr WH (cf. B. 45 (39))) form their tenses from ὈΜΟΩ; hence, 1 aorist ὤμοσα; the Sept. for נִשְׁבַּע ; to swear; to affirm, promise, threaten, with an oath: absolutely, followed by direct discourse, Matthew 26:74; Mark 14:71; Hebrews 7:21; followed by εἰ, Hebrews 3:11; Hebrews 4:3; see εἰ I. 5. ὀμνύειν ὅρκον (often so in Greek writings from Homer down (Winer's Grammar, 226 (212))) πρός τινα, to one (Homer, Odyssey 14, 331; 19, 288), Luke 1:73; ὀμνύειν with the dative of the person to whom one promises or threatens something with an oath: followed by direct discourse Mark 6:23; by an infinitive (Winer's Grammar, 331 (311)), Hebrews 3:18; with ὅρκῳ added, Acts 2:30 (Winer's Grammar, 603 (561)); τίνι τί, Acts 7:17 (Rec. i. e. genitive by attraction; cf. Buttmann, § 143, 8; Winer's Grammar, § 24, 1). that by which one swears is indicated by an accusative, τινα or τί (so in classical Greek from Homer down (cf. Winer's Grammar, § 32, 1 b. γ.; Buttmann, 147 (128))), in swearing to call a person or thing as witness, to invoke, swear by (Isaiah 65:16; Josephus, Antiquities 5, 1, 2; 7, 14, 5); τόν οὐρανόν, τήν γῆν, James 5:12; with prepositions (cf. Buttmann, as above): κατά τίνος (see κατά, I. 2 a.), Hebrews 6:13, 16 (Genesis 22:16; Genesis 31:54; 1 Samuel 28:10 (Complutensian); Isaiah 45:23; Isaiah 62:8; Amos 4:2; Demosthenes, p. 553, 17; 553, 26 (others, ἐπομνύειν), etc.; κατά πάντων ὠμνυε θεῶν, Long. past. 4, 16); in imitation of the Hebrew נִשְׁבַּע followed by בְּ, ἐν τίνι is used (Winers Grammar, 389 (364); Buttmann, the passage cited; see ἐν, I. 8{b}): Matthew 5:34, 36; Matthew 23:16, 18, 20-22; Revelation 10:6; εἰς εἰ, with the mind directed unto (Winers Grammar, 397 (371); Buttmann, as above; see εἰς, B. II. 2 a.), Matthew 5:35.

STRONGS NT 3660: ὁμόωὁμόω, see ὀμνύω.

Topical Lexicon
The Idea of Swearing in Scripture

Strong’s 3660 describes the solemn invocation of a higher power to guarantee truthfulness or fidelity. Every New Testament use presupposes that an oath calls God to witness, whether explicitly named or implicitly present. Accordingly, each occurrence either affirms or challenges integrity, highlights divine faithfulness, or exposes hypocrisy.

Old Testament Foundations

The concept is rooted in covenant life. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David, and the prophets all swore oaths before the Lord. The Septuagint often employs ὀμνύω to translate Hebrew שָׁבַע, supplying a bridge into New Testament usage. Mosaic law regulated oaths (Exodus 20:7; Numbers 30:2; Deuteronomy 6:13), insisting that every vow be truthful, necessary, and faithfully kept.

Teaching of Jesus

During the Sermon on the Mount Jesus redirects attention from formula to character: “But I tell you not to swear at all…” (Matthew 5:34-37). His prohibition does not outlaw every formal vow; He Himself answered under oath before the Sanhedrin (Matthew 26:63-64). Rather, disciples are called to such consistent truthfulness that formal guarantees become superfluous. Anything beyond straightforward honesty “comes from the evil one” (Matthew 5:37).

Pharisaic Casuistry Exposed

Matthew 23:16-22 records six uses of the verb. By distinguishing between oaths “by the temple” and “by the gold of the temple,” or “by the altar” versus “by the gift,” the religious leaders created loopholes that trivialized truth. Jesus dismantles the scheme: “Whoever swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by Him who sits on it” (Matthew 23:22). The point is unavoidable—every word is spoken before God.

The Apostolic Witness

James echoes the Lord: “Above all, my brothers, do not swear—either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath. Let your ‘Yes’ be Yes, and your ‘No,’ No, so that you will not fall under judgment” (James 5:12). Peter’s denial in Mark 14:71 and Matthew 26:74 illustrates the tragic misuse of an oath. Conversely, Paul’s narration in Acts 2:30 reminds the Church that David “swore an oath” pointing to the Messiah, underscoring the reliability of God’s promises.

The Divine Oath

Nine occurrences center on God Himself swearing. Luke 1:73 recalls “the oath He swore to our father Abraham.” Hebrews devotes special attention:
Hebrews 3:11, 3:18, 4:3 cite Psalm 95, where God “swore in My wrath, ‘They shall never enter My rest.’”
Hebrews 6:13-18 explains why God, “since He had no one greater to swear by, … swore by Himself,” providing “two unchangeable things” so believers might have “strong encouragement.”
Hebrews 7:21 contrasts the Levitical priesthood with Christ: “The Lord has sworn and will not change His mind, ‘You are a priest forever.’”

Divine oaths therefore reveal both His absolute faithfulness and His absolute justice.

Eschatological Certainty

Revelation 10:6 portrays a mighty angel “and he swore by Him who lives forever and ever … that there would be no more delay.” The sworn declaration announces the irreversible advance of God’s purposes toward final judgment and restoration.

Ethical and Pastoral Implications

1. Truthfulness is a daily act of worship; every word is spoken coram Deo.
2. Formal vows (marriage, courtroom testimony, ordination) remain permissible when required by lawful authority, yet they must rest upon lives already characterized by honesty.
3. Casual or manipulative oath-taking invites divine judgment.
4. God’s sworn promises furnish unshakable assurance; thus faith rests securely, hope perseveres, and ministry is energized.

Historic Christian Usage

Early Christian writers (e.g., Justin, Tertullian) cited Matthew 5 and James 5 to commend simple speech. Councils permitted oaths only when truth or justice demanded. The Reformers allowed lawful civil oaths while warning against profanity. Evangelical confessions echo the same balance.

Synthesis for Ministry

Because God’s own oaths anchor redemption and judgment, preachers must proclaim both gracious promise and solemn warning. Counselors should guide believers to keep vows, confess broken ones, and cultivate transparent speech. Worship leaders may highlight covenantal hymns celebrating God’s “oath and covenant and blood.” In public life, Christians honor Christ when their unsworn words prove as dependable as any notarized document, thereby reflecting the character of the God who “cannot lie” and whose oath secures our everlasting hope.

Forms and Transliterations
ομείσθε ομείται ομή ομνυει ομνύει ὀμνύει ομνυειν ομνύειν ὀμνύειν ομνυετε ομνύετε ὀμνύετε ομνυναι ὀμνύναι ομνύοντας ομνύοντες ομνύοντος ομνύουσι ομνυουσιν ὀμνύουσιν ομνύω ομνύων ομοσαι ομόσαι ὀμόσαι ομοσας ομόσας ὀμόσας ομόσατέ ομοσάτω ομοση ομόση ὀμόσῃ ομοσης ομόσης ὀμόσῃς όμοσον όμοσόν ομόσω ομούμαι ομούνται ομώμοκα ομωμόκαμεν ώμνυον ωμοσα ώμοσα ώμοσά ὤμοσα ωμόσαμεν ώμοσαμεν ώμοσαν ώμοσας ωμόσατε ώμοσε ώμοσέ ωμοσεν ώμοσεν ὤμοσεν omnuei omnuein omnuete omnunai omnuousin omnyei omnýei omnyein omnýein omnyete omnýete omnynai omnýnai omnyousin omnýousin omosa ōmosa ṓmosa omosai omósai omosas omósas omose omosē omósei omósēi omóseis omósēis omosen ōmosen ṓmosen omoses omosēs
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Englishman's Concordance
Matthew 5:34 V-ANA
GRK: ὑμῖν μὴ ὀμόσαι ὅλως μήτε
NAS: But I say to you, make no oath
KJV: say unto you, Swear not at all;
INT: to you not to swear at all neither

Matthew 5:36 V-ASA-2S
GRK: κεφαλῇ σου ὀμόσῃς ὅτι οὐ
NAS: Nor shall you make an oath by your head,
KJV: Neither shalt thou swear by thy
INT: head of you shall you swear because not

Matthew 23:16 V-ASA-3S
GRK: Ὃς ἂν ὀμόσῃ ἐν τῷ
NAS: Whoever swears by the temple,
KJV: Whosoever shall swear by
INT: whoever anyhow shall swear by the

Matthew 23:16 V-ASA-3S
GRK: δ' ἂν ὀμόσῃ ἐν τῷ
NAS: but whoever swears by the gold
KJV: but whosoever shall swear by the gold
INT: however anyhow shall swear by the

Matthew 23:18 V-ASA-3S
GRK: Ὃς ἂν ὀμόσῃ ἐν τῷ
NAS: And, 'Whoever swears by the altar,
KJV: Whosoever shall swear by
INT: whoever anyhow shall swear by the

Matthew 23:18 V-ASA-3S
GRK: δ' ἂν ὀμόσῃ ἐν τῷ
NAS: but whoever swears by the offering
KJV: but whosoever sweareth by the gift
INT: however anyhow shall swear by the

Matthew 23:20 V-APA-NMS
GRK: ὁ οὖν ὀμόσας ἐν τῷ
NAS: whoever swears by the altar,
KJV: Whoso therefore shall swear by
INT: He that therefore having sworn by the

Matthew 23:20 V-PIA-3S
GRK: τῷ θυσιαστηρίῳ ὀμνύει ἐν αὐτῷ
NAS: by the altar, swears [both] by the altar
KJV: by the altar, sweareth by it,
INT: the altar swears by it

Matthew 23:21 V-APA-NMS
GRK: καὶ ὁ ὀμόσας ἐν τῷ
NAS: And whoever swears by the temple,
KJV: And whoso shall swear by the temple,
INT: And he that having sworn by the

Matthew 23:21 V-PIA-3S
GRK: τῷ ναῷ ὀμνύει ἐν αὐτῷ
NAS: by the temple, swears [both] by the temple
KJV: by the temple, sweareth by it,
INT: the temple swears by it

Matthew 23:22 V-APA-NMS
GRK: καὶ ὁ ὀμόσας ἐν τῷ
NAS: And whoever swears by heaven, swears
KJV: And he that shall swear by heaven,
INT: And he that having sworn by

Matthew 23:22 V-PIA-3S
GRK: τῷ οὐρανῷ ὀμνύει ἐν τῷ
NAS: by heaven, swears [both] by the throne
KJV: by heaven, sweareth by the throne
INT: heaven swears by the

Matthew 26:74 V-PNA
GRK: καταθεματίζειν καὶ ὀμνύειν ὅτι Οὐκ
NAS: to curse and swear, I do not know
KJV: and to swear, [saying],
INT: to curse and to swear not

Mark 6:23 V-AIA-3S
GRK: καὶ ὤμοσεν αὐτῇ πολλά
NAS: And he swore to her, Whatever you ask
KJV: And he sware unto her, Whatsoever
INT: And he swore to her whatever

Mark 14:71 V-ANA
GRK: ἀναθεματίζειν καὶ ὀμνύναι ὅτι Οὐκ
NAS: to curse and swear, I do not know
KJV: and to swear, [saying], I knowINT: to curse and to swear not

Luke 1:73 V-AIA-3S
GRK: ὅρκον ὃν ὤμοσεν πρὸς Ἀβραὰμ
NAS: which He swore to Abraham
KJV: The oath which he sware to our
INT: [the] oath which he swore to Abraham

Acts 2:30 V-AIA-3S
GRK: ὅτι ὅρκῳ ὤμοσεν αὐτῷ ὁ
NAS: that GOD HAD SWORN TO HIM WITH AN OATH
KJV: God had sworn with an oath
INT: that with an oath swore to him

Hebrews 3:11 V-AIA-1S
GRK: ὡς ὤμοσα ἐν τῇ
NAS: AS I SWORE IN MY WRATH,
KJV: So I sware in my
INT: so I swore in the

Hebrews 3:18 V-AIA-3S
GRK: τίσιν δὲ ὤμοσεν μὴ εἰσελεύσεσθαι
NAS: And to whom did He swear that they would not enter
KJV: to whom sware he that they should
INT: to whom moreover swore he [that they] not will enter

Hebrews 4:3 V-AIA-1S
GRK: εἴρηκεν Ὡς ὤμοσα ἐν τῇ
NAS: as He has said, AS I SWORE IN MY WRATH,
KJV: he said, As I have sworn in my
INT: he has said So I swore in the

Hebrews 6:13 V-ANA
GRK: εἶχεν μείζονος ὀμόσαι ὤμοσεν καθ'
NAS: He could swear by no one
KJV: because he could swear by no
INT: he had greater to swear swore by

Hebrews 6:13 V-AIA-3S
GRK: μείζονος ὀμόσαι ὤμοσεν καθ' ἑαυτοῦ
NAS: greater, He swore by Himself,
KJV: no greater, he sware by himself,
INT: greater to swear swore by himself

Hebrews 6:16 V-PIA-3P
GRK: τοῦ μείζονος ὀμνύουσιν καὶ πάσης
NAS: For men swear by one greater
KJV: men verily swear by the greater:
INT: the greater swear and of all

Hebrews 7:21 V-AIA-3S
GRK: πρὸς αὐτόν Ὤμοσεν Κύριος καὶ
NAS: to Him, THE LORD HAS SWORN AND WILL NOT CHANGE HIS MIND,
KJV: him, The Lord sware and will
INT: as to him swore [the] Lord and

James 5:12 V-PMA-2P
GRK: μου μὴ ὀμνύετε μήτε τὸν
NAS: my brethren, do not swear, either
KJV: my brethren, swear not, neither
INT: of me not swear neither [by]

Strong's Greek 3660
26 Occurrences


ὤμοσα — 2 Occ.
ὤμοσεν — 7 Occ.
ὀμνύει — 3 Occ.
ὀμνύειν — 1 Occ.
ὀμνύετε — 1 Occ.
ὀμνύναι — 1 Occ.
ὀμνύουσιν — 1 Occ.
ὀμόσαι — 2 Occ.
ὀμόσας — 3 Occ.
ὀμόσῃ — 4 Occ.
ὀμόσῃς — 1 Occ.

3659
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