If a man vow a vow unto the Lord, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth. (Numbers 30:2)
Literally, “not untie his pledged word,” in the sense of “to loosen,”“to set free from obligation,”“to make lawful,”“to profane.” To refrain from carrying out one’s solemn promises to God is an act of base ingratitude and sinful neglect (Deut. 23:21; Eccl. 5:4; Matt. 5:33). It is better that a man make no vow than to promise and not carry it out (Eccl. 5:2-5).
A bond.
An obligation, such as abstinence from wine, food, etc. (see 1 Sam. 14:24; Ps. 132:3; Acts 23:21). The Hebrew verb is used frequently with the meaning “to bind,”“to imprison,”“to harness.”
A vow.
A pledge or promise to give something to God: a promise of personal service, as by Jacob at Bethel (Gen. 28:20; 31:13), Hannah’s consecration of her son (1 Sam. 1:11), Jephthah’s pledge concerning his daughter (Judges 11:30, 39).