The Meaning of the Vow

The Commitment That Cannot Be Broken

Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me, and keep me in this way that I am going, and give me bread to eat and clothing to put on so that I come back to my father’s house in peace, then the Lord shall be my God. And this stone which I have set as a pillar shall be God’s house, and of all that You give me I will surely give a tenth to You.” Genesis 28:20-22

In the Bible, in Portuguese, we see the word “vow” several times, however, in Hebrew, there are different words that are used in these cases, such as brit, letzavêa, nishbah…, and each one of them reveals significant details.

In the case of Jacob’s vow – Genesis 29:20, the word “Neder” appears.

This means a commitment, commitment of the Word to itself, which cannot be broken.
According to the Hebrew Bible Dictionary, this word is used only for “vow with God and vow of marriage”.
“Neder” first appeared in this passage, it had not been mentioned until then, precisely because it was something between Jacob and God, something spontaneous, that departed from him towards God.

“The word “Neder” appears which means a commitment, commitment of the Word to itself, which cannot be broken.”
-Bishop Edir Macedo