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Oaths and vows and wells
by RS  admin@creationpie.org : 1024 x 640
1. Oaths and vows and wells
2. A swearing stooge
[slapstick humor]
[play on words]
From the Three Stooges episode Disorder in the court. The episode is one of the few in the public domain (used as a marketing promotion). Curly was fond of saying "nyuk nyuk nyuk".
3. Oaths and vows and wells
John 4:11 The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water? [kjv]
λεγει αυτω κυριε ουτε αντλημα εχεις και το φρεαρ εστιν βαθυ ποθεν ουν εχεις το υδωρ το ζων [gnt]

In John 4, Jesus talks to the woman at the "well" at Ber-Sheba. The history and name of that well is related to "oaths" "vows", and the number "seven".

The ancient Greek word "φρέαρ" ≈ "artificial well, tank, cistern". It is cognate with the Latin word "ferveo" ≈ "be hot, burn, boil" and the English words "burn" and "brew".

The Greek word for "oath" is related to the Greek word for "shoulder".
4. Pits and wells
Genesis 37:24 And they took him, and cast him into a pit: and the pit was empty, there was no water in it. [kjv]
και λαβοντες αυτον ερριψαν εις τον λακκον ο δε λακκος κενος υδωρ ουκ ειχεν [lxx]

Daniel 6:19 Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions. [kjv]
τοτε ο βασιλευς ανεστη το πρωι εν τω φωτι και εν σπουδη ηλθεν επι τον λακκον των λεοντων [lxx]

Well, a well is a pit. There are many Greek words for a pit or a well. The ancient Greek word "λάκκος" ≈ "pond, cistern, pit" and is related to the English words "lake" and "loch" as in the Loch Ness Monster. This is the pit into which Joseph and Daniel were thrown. The modern Greek word "λάκκος" (LAK-kos) ≈ "pit".

Information sign More: Tartarus and the bottomless pit
5. John 4:11
   John 4:11 
 All 
KJV: The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water?
Greek: λεγει αυτω η γυνη κυριε ουτε αντλημα εχεις και το φρεαρ εστιν βαθυ ποθεν ουν εχεις το υδωρ το ζων
Latin: dicit ei mulier Domine neque in quo haurias habes et puteus altus est unde ergo habes aquam vivam
6. John 4:12
   John 4:12 
 All 
KJV: Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle?
Hebrew: האתה גדול מיעקב אבינו אשר נתן לנו את הבאר הזאת וישת ממנה הוא ובניו ובעירו׃
Greek: μη συ μειζων ει του πατρος ημων ιακωβ ος εδωκεν ημιν το φρεαρ και αυτος εξ αυτου επιεν και οι υιοι αυτου και τα θρεμματα αυτου
Latin: numquid tu maior es patre nostro Iacob qui dedit nobis puteum et ipse ex eo bibit et filii eius et pecora eius
7. Strongs - well
8. Usage - well
*G5421 *7 φρέαρ (freh'-ar) : of uncertain derivation; a hole in the ground (dug for obtaining or holding water or other purposes), i.e. a cistern or well; figuratively, an abyss (as a prison):--well, pit.
Word usage per chapter Words: φρεαρ=4 φρεατος=3


The ancient Greek word "φρέαρ" ≈ "artificial well, tank, cistern". It is cognate with the Latin word "ferveo" ≈ "be hot, burn, boil" and the English words "burn" and "brew".

Strongs says that the word is of uncertain derivation, but below we will see that it is very similar to the corresponding Hebrew word for "well".
9. Name of th well
Genesis 21:31 Wherefore he called that place Beer-sheba; because there they sware both of them. [kjv]
… באר … נשבעו שניהם [he]
δια τουτο επωνομασεν το ονομα του τοπου εκεινου φρεαρ ορκισμου οτι εκει ωμοσαν αμφοτεροι [lxx]

The "well" or «φρεαρ» referred to in John 4 was named in Genesis 21:31.

The Greek word for "swear" is related to the "shoulder" and is discussed below.

The LXX (Septuagint) translates "Beer" "sheba" in the literal way as "φρεαρ" of the "ορκου" or "well" of the oath.

We will see some of the related words below.

The modern Greek word "φρέαρ" (FREH-ar) ≈ "pit, well".
10. Genesis 21:31
   Genesis 21:31 
 All 
KJV: Wherefore he called that place Beer-sheba; because there they sware both of them.
Hebrew: על כן קרא למקום ההוא באר שבע כי שם נשבעו שניהם׃
Greek: δια τουτο επωνομασεν το ονομα του τοπου εκεινου φρεαρ ορκισμου οτι εκει ωμοσαν αμφοτεροι
Latin: idcirco vocatus est locus ille Bersabee quia ibi uterque iuraverunt
11. Strongs - well
12. Beer-sheba
Genesis 26:23 And he went up from thence to Beer-sheba. [kjv]
… באר שבע [he]
ανεβη δε εκειθεν επι το φρεαρ του ορκου [lxx]

This same well from Genesis 21:31 is mentioned again in Genesis 26:23. Again the LXX translates "Beer" "sheba" in the literal way as "φρεαρ" of the "ορκου" or "well" of the "oath".

The Hebrew word "באר" (be-er) ≈ "well, pit". Note how the Greek word «φρεαρ» is very similar to the Hebrew word "be-er".
באר - well, pit
The Hebrew word "שבע" (sha-ba) ≈ "oath, vow". This word is related to the Hebrew word for seven with the same Hebrew letters but may have been pronounced differently.
שבע - oath, vow
13. Genesis 26:23
   Genesis 26:23 
 All 
KJV: And he went up from thence to Beer-sheba.
Hebrew: ויעל משם באר שבע׃
Greek: ανεβη δε εκειθεν επι το φρεαρ του ορκου
Latin: ascendit autem ex illo loco in Bersabee
Luther: Danach zog er von dannen gen Bersaba.
14. Beer-sheba
So in the Hebrew, "Beer-sheba" is two words. The first word (on the right) is "well" and the second word (on the left) is "oath". That is, "well of the oath".

So the word "Beer-sheba", in Hebrew, literally means "well of the oath", as translated above in the LXX.

From where does the Hebrew word for "oath" originate?
15. Hebrew oath: seven oneself
In Hebrew, the word for "seven" and the word for "oath" is the same. That is, it has the same Hebrew letters but may have been pronounced somewhat differently. שבע - seven
The value of seven was considered complete and/or lucky. The take an oath or vow was literally to "seven oneself".

So in the Hebrew, "Beer-sheba" is two words. The first word (on the right) is "well" and the second word (on the left) is "oath". That is, "well of the oath".
16. Sabbath
Consider the Hebrew word for Sabbath. שבת - sabbath
The Hebrew word for Sabbath and the Hebrew word for seven differ only in the last of the three letters.

Might the Hebrew word for seven related to the Hebrew word for Sabbath or Shabbot as in the seventh day? I could not find a definitive reference on that possible connection.
17. Greek oath
Mark 6:23 And he sware unto her, Whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give it thee, unto the half of my kingdom. [kjv]
και ωμοσεν αυτη ο τι εαν με αιτησης δωσω σοι εως ημισους της βασιλειας μου [gnt]

In ancient times, one might take an "oath" or "vow". The ancient Greek word "ὅρκος" ≈ "oath" as in the "object by which one swears" and is related to "ἕρκος" ≈ "fence".

The Greek word is related to the shoulder. In the next verse, Luke uses the word for "swear" (verb) as «ωμοσεαν» whereas the word «ορκον» (noun) is used for the "oath".

Luke 1:73 The oath which he sware to our father Abraham, [kjv]
ορκον ον ωμοσεν προς αβρααμ τον πατερα ημων του δουναι ημιν [gnt]

The root word is "ὠμός" ≈ "rude, raw, savage".
The modern Greek word "όρκος" (OR-kos) ≈ "oath, vow".
18. Mark 6:23
   Mark 6:23 
 All 
KJV: And he sware unto her, Whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give it thee, unto the half of my kingdom.
Greek: και ωμοσεν αυτη οτι ο τι εαν με αιτησης δωσω σοι εως ημισους της βασιλειας μου
19. Strongs - shoulder
20. Strongs - shoulder
Word usage per chapter Words: ομνυει=3 ομνυειν ομνυετε ομνυναι ομνυουσιν ομοσαι=2 ομοσας=3 ομοση=4 ομοσης ωμοσα=2 ωμοσεν=7

21. Luke 1:73
   Luke 1:73 
 All 
KJV: The oath which he sware to our father Abraham,
Greek: ορκον ον ωμοσεν προς αβρααμ τον πατερα ημων του δουναι ημιν
22. Strongs - oath
23. Strongs - oath
Word usage per chapter Words: ορκον=2 ορκος ορκου=2 ορκους=3 ορκω=2

24. Job 31:22
Job 31:22 Then let mine arm fall from my shoulder blade, and mine arm be broken from the bone. [kjv]
αποσταιη αρα ο ωμος μου απο της κλειδος ο δε βραχιων μου απο του αγκωνος μου συντριβειη [lxx]

The modern Greek word "ώμος" (O-mos) ≈ "shoulder".

What might the connection be between the "shoulder" and "swearing"? I could not find a definitive reference on that connection.
25. Job 31:22
   Job 31:22 
 All 
KJV: Then let mine arm fall from my shoulder blade, and mine arm be broken from the bone.
Hebrew: כתפי משכמה תפול ואזרעי מקנה תשבר׃
Greek: αποσταιη αρα ο ωμος μου απο της κλειδος ο δε βραχιων μου απο του αγκωνος μου συντριβειη
Luther: so falle meine Schulter von der Achsel, und mein Arm breche von der Röhre.
26. End of page
by RS  admin@creationpie.org : 1024 x 640