Negative Commandment 62 (Digest)
Vain Oaths
"You shall not take the name of the L-rd, your G‑d, in vain"—Exodus 20:7.
It is forbidden to needlessly swear in the name of G‑d.
Examples:
* To swear falsely regarding something that is an obvious untruth [e.g., to swear regarding a simple pebble that it is made of gold].
* To swear that a phenomenon that is known to be impossible has occurred.
* To swear to do something that violates a Torah commandment.
* To swear in attestation of an obvious truth, e.g., to swear that all that are slaughtered die.
Unabridged English Text of this Mitzvah »
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> The 62nd prohibition is that we are forbidden to swear a sh'vuas shav (a vain oath).
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> The source of this commandment is G‑d's statement,;) "Do not take the name of G‑d your L‑rd in vain."
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> [A sh'vuas shav is] when one swears that something is the opposite of what it actually is;;) or that something exists, when in fact it cannot;;) or that he will violate a mitzvah of the Torah.;) So too if one swears to an obvious and undisputed fact, such as swearing to G‑d that anything which is slaughtered will die. This is also considered a sh'vuas shav.
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> The Mishneh says,;) "What is a sh'vuas shav? An oath which contradicts an obvious truth."
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> One who transgresses this prohibition intentionally is punished by lashes. If done unintentionally, he is exempt [from even bringing a sacrifice], as with many other prohibitions, as explained above.;)
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> There — i.e., in tractate Sh'vuos — it is said that this is the sh'vuas shav for which one is lashed if done intentionally and exempt if done unintentionally. The details of this mitzvah are explained there.
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> Footnotes
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> 1.
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> Ex. 20:7.
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> 2.
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> Such as swearing that a pillar of stone is made of gold.
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> 3.
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> Such as swearing that a camel can fly.
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> 4.
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> Such as swearing that one will not wear tefillin.
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> 5.
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> Sh'vuos 29a.
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> 6.
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> N61.