Promise

Promise - (Webster's 1828 Dictionary)

PROM'ISE, n. [L. promissum, from promitto, to send before or forward; pro and mitto, to send.]

1. In a general sense, a declaration, written or verbal, made by one person to another, which binds the person who makes it, either in honor, conscience or law, to do or forbear a certain act specified; a declaration which gives to the person to whom it is made, a right to expect or to claim the performance or forbearance of the act. The promise of a visit to my neighbor, gives him a right to expect it, and I am bound in honor and civility to perform the promise. Of such a promise human laws have no cognizance; but the fulfillment of it is one of the minor moralities, which civility, kindness and strict integrity require to be observed.

2. In law, a declaration, verbal or written, made by one person to another for a good or valuable consideration, in the nature of a covenant, by which the promiser binds himself, and as the case may be, his legal representatives, to do or forbear some act; and gives to the promisee a legal right to demand and enforce a fulfillment.

3. A binding declaration of something to be done or given for another's benefit; as the promise of a grant of land. A promise may be absolute or conditional; lawful or unlawful; express or implied. An absolute promise must be fulfilled at all events. The obligation to fulfill a conditional promise depends on the performance of the condition. An unlawful promise is not binding, because it is void; for it is incompatible with a prior paramount obligation of obedience to the laws. An express promise, is one expressed in words or writing. An implied promise, is one which reason and justice dictate. If I hire a man to perform a day's labor, without any declaration that I will pay him, the law presumes a promise on my part that I will give him a reasonable reward, and will enforce much implied promise.

4. Hopes; expectation, or that which affords expectation of future distinction; as a youth of great promise.

My native country was full of youthful promise.

5. That which is promised; fulfillment or grant of what is promised.

He commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father. Acts 1.

6. In Scripture,the promise of God is the declaration or assurance which God has given in his word of bestowing blessings on his people. Such assurance resting on the perfect justice,power, benevolence and immutable veracity of God, cannot fail of performance.

The Lord is not slack concerning his promises. 2 Pet 3.

PROM'ISE, v.t. To make a declaration to another, which binds the promiser in honor, conscience or law, to do or forbear some act; as, to promise a visit to a friend; to promise a cessation of hostilities; to promise the payment of money.

1. To afford reason to expect; as, the year promises a good harvest.

2. To make declaration or give assurance of some benefit to be conferred; to pledge or engage to bestow.

The proprietors promised large tracts of land.

PROM'ISE, v.i. To assure one by a promise or binding declaration. The man promises fair; let us forgive him.

1. To afford hopes or expectations; to give ground to expect good. The youth promises to be an eminent man; the wheat promises to be a good crop; the weather promises to be pleasant.

2. In popular use, this verb sometimes threatens or assures of evil. The rogue shall be punished, I promise you.

Will not the ladies be afraid of the lion?

--I fear it, I promise you.

In the latter example, promise is equivalent to declare; ""I declare to you.""

3. To promise one's self, to be assured or to have strong confidence.

I dare promise myself you will attest the truth of all I have advanced.

Promised - (Webster's 1828 Dictionary)

PROM'ISED, pp. Engaged by word or writing; stipulated.

prom'-is (most frequently in the Old Testament dabhar, "speaking," "speech," and dabhar, "to speak" also 'amar, "to say," once in Ps 77:8, 'omer, "speech"; in the New Testament epaggelia, and the verbs epaggellomai, and compounds): Promise holds an important place in the Scriptures and in the development of the religion that culminated in Christ. The Bible is indeed full of "precious and exceeding great promises" (2Pe 1:4), although the word "promise" is not always used in connection with them. Of the more outstanding promises of the Old Testament may be mentioned:

(1) the proto-evangelium (Ge 3:15);

(2) the promise to Noah no more to curse the ground, etc. (Ge 8:21,22; 9:1-17);

(3) most influential, the promise to Abraham to make of him a great nation in whom all families of the earth should be blessed, to give to him and his seed the land of Canaan (Ge 12:2,7, etc.), often referred to in the Old Testament (Ex 12:25; De 1:8,11; 6:3; 9:28, etc.);

(4) the promise to David to continue his house on the throne (2Sa 7:12,13,18; 1Ki 2:24, etc.);

(5) the promise of restoration of Israel, of the Messiah, of the new and everlasting kingdom, of the new covenant and outpouring of the Spirit (Isa 2:2-5; 4:2; 55:5; 66:13; Jer 31:31-34; 32:37-42; 33:14; Eze 36:22-31; 37:11 f; 39:25 f, etc.).

In the New Testament these promises are founded on, and regarded as having their true fulfillment in, Christ and those who are His (2Co 1:20; Eph 3:6). The promise of the Spirit is spoken of by Jesus as "the promise of my Father" (Lu 24:49; Ac 1:4), and this was regarded as fulfilled at Pentecost. The promise of a Saviour of the seed of David is regarded as fulfilled in Christ (Ac 13:23,32, 26:6; Ro 1:2; 4:13; 9:4). Paul argues that the promise to Abraham that he should be "heir of the world," made to him before circumcision, is not confined to Israel, but is open to all who are children of Abraham by faith (Ro 4:13-16; compare Ga 3:16,19,29). In like manner the writer to the Hebrews goes back to the original promises, giving them a spiritual and eternal significance (4:1; 6:17; 11:9, etc.). The New Testament promises include manifold blessings and hopes, among them "life," "eternal life" (1Ti 4:8; 6:19; 2Ti 1:1; Jas 1:12), the "kingdom" (Jas 2:5), Christ's "coming" (2Pe 3:9, etc.), "new heavens and a new earth" (2Pe 3:13), etc. For "promise" and "promised" in the King James Version, the Revised Version (British and American) has frequently other terms, as "word" (Ps 105:42), "spake," "spoken" (De 10:9; Jos 9:21; 22:4; 23:5,15, etc.), "consented" (Lu 22:6), etc. References to the promises occur repeatedly in the Apocrypha (Baruch 2:34; 2 Macc 2:18; The Wisdom of Solomon 12:21; compare 2 Esdras 3:15; 5:29).

W. L. Walker

Definition

When used as a verb, the term “promise” refers to the action of a person saying that he will do something in such way that he obligates himself to fulfill what he has said. When used as a noun, the term “promise” refers to the thing that a person obligates himself to do.

• The Bible records many promises that God has made for his people.
• Promises are an important part of formal agreements such as covenants.

Translation Suggestions

• The term “promise” could be translated as “commitment” or “assurance” or “guarantee.”
• To “promise to do something” could be translated as “assure someone that you will do something” or “commit to doing something.”

(See also: covenant, oath, vow)

Bible References

• Galatians 3:15-16
• Genesis 25:31-34
• Hebrews 11:9
• James 1:12
• Numbers 30:2

Examples from the Bible stories

• __3:15 God said, “I promise__ I will never again curse the ground because of the evil things people do, or destroy the world by causing a flood, even though people are sinful from the time they are children.”Â�
• __3:16 God then made the first rainbow as a sign of his promise. Every time the rainbow appeared in the sky, God would remember what he promised__ and so would his people.
• __4:8 God spoke to Abram and promised again that he would have a son and as many descendants as the stars in the sky. Abram believed God’s promise__.
• __5:4 “Your wife, Sarai, will have a son—he will be the son of promise__.”
• __8:15 The covenant promises__ that God gave to Abraham were passed on to Isaac, then to Jacob, and then to Jacob’s twelve sons and their families.
• __17:14 Though David had been unfaithful to God, God was still faithful to his promises__.
• __50:1 Jesus promised he would return at the end of the world. Though he has not yet come back, he will keep his promise__.

Word Data

• Strong’s: H0559, H0562, H1696, H8569, G18430, G18600, G18610, G18620, G36700, G42790