UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament

Sense 1: to swear, to make an oath, oath

Semantic entry: 33.463

Semantic domains: Communication

Subdomains: Swear, Put Under Oath, Vow

Definition: to affirm the truth of a statement by calling on a divine being to execute sanctions against a person if the statement in question is not true (in the case of a deity taking an oath, his divine being is regarded as validating the statement)

Notes: In a number of languages it is necessary to be quite specific in referring to the swearing of an oath, for example, ‘to say something by calling upon God to listen’ or ‘to state that something is true and asking God to punish if it is not true’ or ‘to make God responsible for what one has said.’