oath
Sign in to savethumb|Henry Kissinger places his hand on a [[Hebrew Bible as he takes the oath of office as Secretary of State, 1973.]]
AI overview
An oath is a solemn promise or pledge, often made in formal settings like taking office, where a person swears to uphold certain duties or tell the truth. Oaths matter because they establish public commitment to important responsibilities and are often considered binding on a person's honor, integrity, or legal standing.
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Article
20 sectionsContents
- Etymology
- Historical development as a legal concept
- Jewish tradition
- Roman tradition
- Hindu tradition
- Greek tradition
- Christian tradition
- Islamic tradition
- Germanic tradition
- Modern law
- Hand gestures
- Schwurhand
- Serbian custom
- International customs
- Types of oaths
- Notable oaths in history and fiction
- See also
- Notes
- References
- External links
thumb|Henry Kissinger places his hand on a [[Hebrew Bible as he takes the oath of office as Secretary of State, 1973.]]
Traditionally, an oath (from Anglo-Saxon ', also a plight) is a statement of fact or a promise taken by a sacrality as a sign of verity. A common legal substitute for those who object to making sacred oaths is to give an affirmation instead. Nowadays, even when there is no notion of sanctity involved, certain promises said out loud in ceremonial or juridical purpose are referred to as oaths. "To swear" is a verb used to describe the taking of an oath; to make a solemn vow.