Matthew 5:37 - Swearing and Cursing, and Rotten Words

Matthew 5:33-37 - "Again you have heard that it was said to them of old time, 'You shall not make false vows, but shall perform to the Lord your vows,' [34] but I tell you, don't swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is the throne of God; [35] nor by the earth, for it is the footstool of his feet; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. [36] Neither shall you swear by your head, for you can't make one hair white or black. [37] But let your speech be, 'Yes, yes; No, no.' Whatever is more than these is of the evil one. -- World English Bible version.

Ephesians 4:29 -- Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear. -- New Revised Version. 

Today, many forms of swearing have become so common place and accepted, that many do not even realize that the words of exclamation they use may be a form of swearing. Indeed, many have a wrong concept of what swearing is, as they appear to limit it as being "taking the Lord's name in vain." Some have the false idea that if a phrase is not thought of as "profanity" by society in general, then it is no longer swearing to use such a phrase. Others have the false idea that by classing a phrase as being grammatically an exclamation then it is no longer "swearing".  Usually, the world classifies "swearing," "cursing," and profanity altogether and defines such by whether it is socially offensive to others or whether it is socially acceptable to others. This is not the Biblical way. Scripturally, if one is adding to his "yes" or "no", so to speak, anything that goes beyond saying what one means, then one is swearing by whatever is being added. "Cursing" would be to use words that are, in fact, words that pronounce a curse -- a condemnation -- upon a person or a thing. 

Add to this the fact that many actually promote swearing and cursing as being something "good", a way to let off steam, etc. The prophet Isaiah, however, warns us: "Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil." -- Isaiah 5:20.

This list presents common forms of swearing and/or cursing that many Christians may use without consciously realizing that they were swearing or cursing. Please note that words or expressions are not of themselves swear/curse words or expressions, but they are often used in a form by which they may become swearing or cursing.

Oh my God! -- Oh my Gosh! -- Oh my Goodness!  -- OMG!

Swearing by God; is used often and extensively as an exclamation without any thought of actually calling upon God, thus adding to one's "yes" and "no".

Gosh, Golly, By Gosh, Dog (as in "Oh, my Dog"), Gad,

Euphemisms for "God". Used as a form of swearing by God that is considered more socially accepted by man. Such swearing if often in forms of exclamation.

Egads

"The Gods"; a form of swearing by the gods.

Gol-darn, Gol-Dang; Dagnabit, Dad-gum, Geoffrey Daniel; Dog-gone-(It), Gosh-Darn.

Euphemisms for "God damn (it)", forms of cursing.

Gee, Gee whiz, Jiminy Cricket, Jeepers Creepers, Jeebuz, Geez, Jiminy Christmas, By Crakey, By Crickey, Pete, for Pete's sake, etc.

Euphemisms for "Jesus" or "Jesus Christ". Used as a form of casual swearing by Jesus.

George, By George

Appears to be associated with a form of swearing by the "patron saint"of England.

http://tinyurl.com/be69q8h

Could also have developed from swearing by King George of England

My Goodness, Oh My Goodness

Forms of swearing by one's own goodness, or using "goodness" as a euphemism for "God".

Son of a Biscuit, Son of a Bitch, etc.
These words could be used as a form of cursing, or a form of swearing, depending on how they are used.

By Jove

Euphemism for By Jehovah

Heck, Sam Hill, Tarnation, Infernal, Hell, Hades

The first few expression are some of the euphemisms for the word "hell". Forms of swearing by hell or hades, which, in turn, is often used as a name for the god, Pluto. 

Mama Mia

Italian (and also in some of the other Latin-based languages) meaning "my mother." Often used as a means of swearing by one's mother, or in some instances, by Mary, the mother of Jesus.

Darn, Dret, Dang, Durn, 

Euphemisms for "damn". A form of cursing, either telling God to condemn this or that, or taking it upon oneself to condemn (whatever); these could also be used as a form of swearing, swearing by the condemnation itself, depending on how they are used.

Glory Be

This appears to be taken from the Nicene Creed, and it also used in at least one doxology, the rosary, and some hymns. The expression, "Glory Be", is, however, often used casually as an exclamation to give an added impact to one's "yes" and "no", thus could be a form of swearing, possibly having its origins in swearing by the alleged trinity.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gloria_Patri

Hallelujah

Hallelujah means: "Praise Jah", "Jah" being a short form of "Jehovah". Used as an exclamation to add to one's "yes" or "no" without regard to any any actual thought of praise in one's heart to Jehovah, it becomes a form of swearing.

Bless You

"Bless you", of course, is usually a form of prayer of wishing God to bless another. One may often use expressions such as "God bless you", or "Jah bless", or something similar, which could or not not be considered swearing, as it depends on how it is used. However, we should note that even the heathen use this expression "bless you" to invoke the "blessing" from their gods on someone or something, or even to "curse" a person.

Of course, it is proper to bless others, but when used routinely rather than prayerfully, it becomes meaningless words added to one's "yes" and "no". The phrase is also used ritualistically to invoke a spell to stop some evil from happening (such as the alleged idea of a person's soul leaving the body while sneezing), or to invoke a spell against someone; in such cases, it can become idolatrous.

Some other forms of swearing often used are:  "By God", "Holy Cow", "Holy Smoke", "Great Caesar's Ghost","Fudge," "Slam the Door" etc. Many love to swear by slang words or phrases used to refer to the refuse of one's body or of the sexual act. Can you think of others?

Please note that most of the words may be used in a proper sense without swearing or cursing involved. What determines if they are being used as swear words depends on the context in which the words are stated, or how the words are being used.

The list of swear/curse words, however, could go on and on; most often people swear with many words that are often generally accepted socially without even realizing that they are swearing in the sense that Jesus described. We are constantly bombarded with forms of swearing and cursing at practically every turn, so it is easy to have our minds conditioned to mimic such expressions in our own speech. Practically everything one might watch on TV has forms of swearing and cursing, and many popular songs also have such.

We will add that there are many lists of alleged "swear" words that may be found on the internet, but most of these appear to overlook many of the words listed above, and at the same time list a lot of words that, although they are defamatory terms, they may not actually be swear words. Nevertheless, all such rotten sayings are not appropriate for a new creature in Christ, though the flesh of the new creature often proves too weak in this area.

While we should all be endeavoring to bring our flesh in harmony with the spirit by endeavoring to refrain from any form of such swearing, the fact that all of us do swear or curse at times shows that none of us are perfect in our flesh, for he who has learned to perfectly control is tongue is a perfect human. -- James 3:2,8.

If however, such swearing is done in full willfulness by the new creature (rather than just by the old flesh condemned in Adam -- Romans 5:12-19), then it would be a sin denoting a willful rejection of the blood of Christ, and such is a sin that cannot be forgiven, since it is a sin that is to death, the second death, for there is no sacrifice for such sin. -- Hebrews 10:26; 1 John 5:16,17.

Ephesians 4:29
Do not spread abroad from your mouth any rotten word, but such as is good for edifying up as the need may be, that it may give grace to those who hear.  -- Restoration Light Improved Version.

This scripture is not about swearing or cursing itself, but one should realize that swearing and cursing is a form of "rotten" speech.  The word rendered as "rotten" above is the Greek word σαπρὸς, often transliterated as "sapros." This word literally means "rotten" or "putrid", and was often used in reference to fruit and other foods that had become spoiled. Thus, as applied to a word we might speak, it is used figuratively as being a rotten word, or a word used in such a way as though something old, and thus corrupted. Adam Clarke refers to it this way:

1. Useless, particularly that which has been rendered so by old age and corruption.

2. Putrid, impure; so Aristophanes in Lysistrat., p. 859, calls a bad woman σαπραεμοισυλουτρονωσαπρα. Tune, Spurca! balneum mihi parabis?

3. Calumnious, or reproachful; whatever has a tendency to injure the name, fame, or interest of another.

In short, it appears to mean any word or thing obscene, any thing that injures virtue, countenances vice, or scoffs at religion. In the parallel place, Colossians 4:6, the apostle exhorts that our speech may be seasoned with salt, to preserve it from putrefaction. See Kypke and Macknight.

Thus, Paul speaks of any kind of bad language, evidently, especially that of spreading gossip about others, which involves the usage of words to spread a bad report concerning someone. No doubt all of us have been guilty of doing this at times.

In this regard, some present an excuse that the information being spread is true. The truth is that it does not matter if what is being said is true or false, an evil report concerning others should not become a topic to spread about. Such does not reflect a loving course, but a hateful course. 

Nevertheless, bridling the tongue (James 1:26) covers all kinds of bad speech, including swearing, cursing and gossip.

Some helpful information written by others (we do not necessarily agree with all conclusions presented):

Blessing God and Cursing Men

What "Corrupt Communication" Signifies

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