Proverbs 20:25
It's a mistake to make a promise to God and then have second thoughts about it later.
Free Bible Version
In The King James Version
It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, and after vows to make enquiry.
In Context
24The Lord shows us the way to go, so how would we decide for ourselves?
26A wise king separates out the wicked by winnowing and punishes them by threshing.
Cross References
Leviticus 5:15“If any of you neglects unintentionally anything that the Lord has declared belong to him and are holy, you must bring your guilt offering to the Lord: a ram without defects from your herd or the equivalent value in silver shekels (according to the sanctuary shekel standard). It is a guilt offering.
Leviticus 27:9If when you fulfill your promise you bring an animal that is permitted as an offering to the Lord, the animal given to the Lord shall be considered holy.
Numbers 30:2If a man makes a solemn promise to the Lord, or pledges to do something by swearing an oath, he must not break his promise. He must do everything he said he would.
Deuteronomy 23:23But make sure to carry out what you've said to the Lord your God, because it was you who freely chose to make such a promise.
Judges 21:22If their fathers or brothers come complaining to us, we'll tell them, ‘Please do us a favor, because we couldn't find enough wives for them in the war. And it's not as if you're guilty of breaking the oath since you didn't give them in marriage.’”
Ecclesiastes 5:2Don't say rash things, and think before you speak to God. For God is in heaven, and you are on earth, so keep it short.
Matthew Henry on Proverbs 20:25
24 Man's goings are of the Lord ; how can a man then understand his own way? We are here taught that in all our affairs, 1. We have a necessary and constant dependence upon God. All our natural actions depend upon his providence, all our spiritual actions upon his grace. The best man is no better than God makes him; and every creature is that to us which it is the will of God that it should be. Our enterprises succeed, not as we desire and design, but as God directs and disposes. The goings even of a strong man… Read the whole commentary →