Mitzvah —
215
Not to break oaths or vows
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אִישׁ֩ כִּֽי־יִדֹּ֨ר נֶ֜דֶר לַֽיהֹוָ֗ה אֽוֹ־הִשָּׁ֤בַע שְׁבֻעָה֙ לֶאְסֹ֤ר אִסָּר֙ עַל־נַפְשׁ֔וֹ לֹ֥א יַחֵ֖ל דְּבָר֑וֹ כְּכׇל־הַיֹּצֵ֥א מִפִּ֖יו יַעֲשֶֽׂה׃ - פָּרָשַׁת מַּטּוֹת
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Numbers 30:3 - "If a man makes a vow to the Lord or makes an oath to prohibit himself, he shall not violate his word; according to whatever came out of his mouth, he shall do."
This Mitzvah's Summary
מִצְוָה עֲשֵׂה - Positive Commandment
מִצְוָה לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה - Negative Commandment
Faith – אֱמוּנָה
It is forbidden to break one’s oaths or vows.
This mitzvah prohibits violating vows (nedarim) and oaths (shevuot). Once spoken, these commitments become binding. To disregard them profanes one’s word and desecrates Hashem’s sanctity.
While mitzvah 214 commands the positive fulfillment of vows, mitzvah 215 forbids their violation. Together they show the Torah’s dual emphasis: keeping our words and avoiding their desecration.
Commentary & Classical Explanation:
- Rambam (Hilchot Nedarim 1:2): Breaking vows transgresses this prohibition directly, even if one also fails to fulfill the positive commandment.
- Sefer HaChinuch (Mitzvah 406): The root is to train us in truthfulness and guard us from casual speech. To break a vow weakens personal discipline and communal trust.
- Talmud (Nedarim 2b): Notes that vows are serious because they transform the optional into the obligatory, making their violation a grave sin.
- Rashi (Numbers 30:3): Explains “he shall not profane his word” as teaching that words have inherent sanctity; violating them desecrates that sanctity.
Commentaries
(Source: Chabad.org)
Applying this Mitzvah Today
Notes on this Mitzvah's Fundamentals
Faith – אֱמוּנָה
- Rambam (Hilchot Nedarim 1:2) rules that breaking vows undermines belief that Hashem hears and judges speech. Keeping vows demonstrates faith in His omniscience.
Reverence – יִרְאַת שָׁמַיִם
- Sefer HaChinuch (Mitzvah 406) explains that vows train us in reverence. Fearing Hashem leads us to guard our words, knowing that the Divine Name is linked to every vow.
Holiness – קְדֻשָּׁה
- Rashi (Numbers 30:3) teaches that “he shall not profane his word” means words are inherently sacred. Violating them desecrates that sanctity, while fulfilling them preserves holiness.
Speech – דָּבָר
- Talmud (Nedarim 2b) emphasizes that vows turn voluntary matters into binding obligations. This highlights the power of speech to create binding realities — a sacred responsibility not to be corrupted.
Truth / Justice – צֶדֶק
- Sefer HaChinuch notes that broken vows erode trust and justice. When promises are unreliable, fairness in both personal and judicial settings collapses.
Vows / Oaths – נדרים / שבועות
- Rambam codifies this mitzvah as central to the halachic system of vows. Breaking them not only fails the positive command (214) but also violates this prohibition (215).
Community – קְהִלָּה
- Sefer HaChinuch stresses that communal trust depends on individuals keeping their word. If vows are broken freely, society loses its cohesion and reliability.
Bein Adam L’Makom (between a person and G-d)
- A vow invokes Hashem’s presence. To break it is a direct affront to His sanctity, since it misuses His Name or the commitment made before Him.
Bein Adam L’Chavero (between people)
- When vows involve others — promises, financial obligations, or communal commitments — breaking them harms relationships, undermines trust, and damages social harmony.
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