Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (v. t.) To place under moral or legal duty; to hold by a constraining motive; as to obligate one to donate. 2. (v. t.) To bind or firmly hold to an act; to compel; to constrain; to bind to any act of duty or courtesy by a formal pledge.

Multi-Version Concordance Obligate (2 Occurrences) Numbers 30:2 When a man vows a vow to Yahweh, or swears an oath to bind his soul with a bond, he shall not break his word; he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth. (See NIV) Nehemiah 10:35 and to bring the first fruits of our ground, and the first fruits of all fruit of all manner of trees, year by year, to the house of Yahweh; (See RSV)