Today’s curious word origin: Testify.
So why do (Christians) swear an oath on the Bible, when the original sense of swearing an oath was to grab someone by the testicles?
Genesis 24:1-4
1 And Abraham was old, and well stricken in age: and the Lord had blessed Abraham in all things.
2 And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh:
3 And I will make thee swear by the Lord, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell:
4 But thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac.
Why place a hand on the Bible instead of the Judge’s genitals when taking an oath? (Goes to English Language Usage)