And her father hear her vow, and her bond wherewith she hath bound her soul, and her father shall hold his peace at her: then all her vows shall stand, and every bond wherewith she hath bound her soul shall stand.
Ver. 4. And her father shall hold his peace.] Qui tacet, consentire videtur, a rule in civil law; silence is a kind of consent.
Then all her vows shall stand.] Provided that she vow, (1,) Such things as are lawful and warrantable by the word; for to vow to do evil is an utter abomination; as Act 23:14 Deu 23:18 (2.) Such things as are possible and in her power, either naturally or by the assistance of God's grace promised to her: such is not the Popish vowing of virginity, since omnes non capiant hoc, all men cannot contain. Their vows of continency breed all manner of incontinency in their clergy.