THEOSISCyrill of Alexandria
Cyril. It is essential for us to honor our commitments to God; anyone who has made a promise should fulfill it promptly. Delay in doing so can lead to grave consequences, as I believe, and as Scripture clearly states. If we consider it unacceptable to face accusations of dishonesty among people, how can it not be disgraceful to make a promise and then fail to uphold it before God? Thus, the law holds accountable anyone who has made a vow and procrastinates in fulfilling it, as well as those who do not fulfill their pledges at all. However, those who possess nothing of their own and are bound by necessary obligations under the authority of another are exempt from guilt.
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The book of Numbers states: ‘And Moses spake unto the chiefs of the tribes of the children of Israel, saying, This is what the Lord hath commanded: if a man make a vow unto the Lord, or swear by an oath, having put a vow upon his soul, he shall not break his word, but shall fulfil all that came out of his mouth. If a woman shall make a vow unto the Lord, and put a vow upon herself in her father's house, in her youth, and her father shall hear her vow, and the vow which she hath put upon her soul, and her father shall be silent concerning it, then all her vows shall take place, and every vow which she hath put upon her soul shall take place; But if her father, when he hears, forbid her, all her vows and her vows which she hath put upon her soul shall not come to pass, and the Lord shall forgive her, because her father hath forbidden her’ (Num. 30:2-6). Furthermore, if a woman is united with her husband under the law, the same principles apply (Num. 30:7-9).