Why when you swear on the bible do you hold it in your left hand?

Answer 1

This is to show that you are not holding a weapon in your right hand. The same basic principle applies to when a soldier is saluting his officer - he salutes using his right hand which is seen as submissive and nonthreatening and subordinate.

When swearing an oath on the bible you are not obliged to hold it or raise a hand but most people follow this procedure probably because they have seen it done like that in the movies.

To be honest, even though I was once a witness in a trial at the Old Bailey, I cannot even remember what the oath is in an English court. The only oath I can vaguely remember is the once used in an American court, which is something like, "I swear by almighty God to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help me God."

What exactly is truth? Should I ever be charged with a crime I want a lawyer who knows how to tell lies on my behalf. That's what they're for, isn't it?

Answer 2

In Britain, in court, the bible is held aloft in the right hand, and the oath is read from a card in the left hand (I swear by Almighty God that the evidence I shall give is the truth, the whole truth, & nothing but the truth - note, there is no "so help me God"). Since court proceedings in Britain have been in existence for much longer than the USA, I dont think arguements related to leaving the weapon hand free hold any water, or we would have been doing it over several hundred years

Answer 3

The tradition of raising your right hand when swearing an oath predates placing your hand on the Bible. So, when the two practices were combined, the only hand not currently allocated was the left.

I've also heard an amusing anecdotal explanation that the right hand (the right) speaks the truth without prompting, but the left hand (the left) needs to be reminded of the religious consequences. That actually goes back centuries, well before the currently political divide, to the origin of the word "sinister" which originally meant "left-side".

Answer 4

When the oath is administered, the person taking it is told to take the Bible (or other holy book) in his right hand. In fact, I have seen people attempt to use the left hand and be ordered to start all over again. The original idea comes from the Bible itself, Isaiah 62 v. 8: "The Lord has taken an oath by his right hand, and by the arm of his strength...." The right hand has been associated with the taking of oaths for thousands of years.

Answer 5

I believe you raise your right hand to swear, therefore, your left hand must be on the Bible. At least in court someone will hold it for you.

Answer 6

In Matthew 5:33-37, Jesus admonishes persons to no longer take oaths on some issue, now no longer God or the Temple or maybe the hair on your head. (Of route it does no longer say some issue about Bibles.) The aspect is, you do not quite have deal with over any of those concerns. it truly is only superstitition, designed to intimidate persons into taking the proceedings critically. absolutely everyone who intends to lie even after swearing "on" a Bible gained't be petrified of a thunderbolt from God. yet in case you violate even the silliest subculture, persons will talk.

Answer 7

Left hand on the bible, right hand in the air.

It goes back to old days when swords were common. Most people were right handed and when you swore on the bible, you showed you were unarmed when you raised your right hand.

Answer 8

As mentioned by a previous answer to show you did not have a weapon in your hand this is the same reason soldiers salute with there right hand palm outwards.
If he is carrying a rifle the salute is to slap his hand across the weapon to show that he is armed

Answer 9

i do not swear with or on the Bible,God said we should not swear. we can not add or remove thing to our body

Answer 10

You do in court and raise your right hand palm forward