like if swaer to someone u can say i swear on ur life which means if u lied u want them to die! What does it mean when u swear on someones grave?
2007-01-13 06:06:48 · 6 answers · asked by Cody 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Other - Cultures & Groups
Swearing on someone's grave is an old type of statement of honor. A long time ago,(as in years, not centuries) people used to respect the dead, no matter how they lived in life. To swear on something that was hallowed, such as a grave, or the grave of someone that was respected amongst both parties involved was a statement of honor that was not to be taken lightly. If you were to swear by the grave of someone that was considered honorable, like the family matriarch, for example (everyone loves their momma, right?), It would be an indescribeable insult to go back on your word and could get you excommunicate from the family (which meant losing any access to title and family monies), and depending on the religion of the person doing the swearing or being sworn to, could cause the person doing the swearing to be excommunicated from the church, supposedly banished to Hell for all eternity. So this statement was NOT to be taken or made lightly.
But this statement, like so many other oaths (take marriage for example... know anyone who has been through more than one divorce?) actually mean little these days. They are taken lightly and are discarded just as lightly. We have evolved beyond the need for honor, I guess. I wish it were otherwise, but...
Hope this helps...
2007-01-13 06:22:47 · answer #1 · answered by Simple Man Of God 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's supposed to be like a sacred thing, meaning you are telling the truth. Some people swear on their own lives, some family members, graves, I've heard people swear on their children's eyes. Go figure. I swear to God, and I am never lying when I say that.
2007-01-13 14:14:17 · answer #2 · answered by ♥ Zoey ♥ 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think people usually mean "I swear on my life" which means they would stake their own life on what they are swearing. Graves often had crosses on them so when you swear on a grave you are swearing on the cross. In old times, people sometimes swore on their sword because a sword is shaped like a cross.
2007-01-13 14:15:58 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Actually, you swear on your life, not on the person you are making the promise to.
2007-01-13 14:15:04 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
it means that you swear on the soul of that person....like if you lied then that person is condemmed to eternal hell
2007-01-13 14:14:47 · answer #5 · answered by outofmymind 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You want them to come back to life???
2007-01-13 14:14:34 · answer #6 · answered by Josh 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋