Swearing

• Exodus 20:7

Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

• Matthew 5:33-37

Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:

But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne

• Rachel Hosie, "Swearing Makes You Stronger and Increases Stamina, Study Finds", Independent, 5 May 2017

• Stephen Matthews, "The healing powers of swearing! Shouting expletives mends a broken heart by diluting the intensity of emotional pain", Daily Mail, 2 Jun 2017

Notes

The term "swearing" is currently used to cover a broad swath of objectionable speech. Here are some categories:

• Swearing Oaths: Tying the truth of one statement to some item or concept of respect.
• Taking a Name in Vain: Using a name of some respected figure for some reason other than to actually refer to the person in any articulate fashion.
• Cursing: Calling down damnation or some other misfortune.
• Using Taboo Words: Various magic buzz words that are considered bad for other reasons.

Scriptural injunctions against swearing oaths exist, as well as injunctions against taking the name of the Lord in vain.

Cross-References

• The 10 Commandments
• Curses
• Unforgivable Sin