What Does It Mean to Take God’s Name in Vain?

[phkrause]

By Dr. Nicholas J. Schaser

When I was growing up, I was told to use God’s name in church, prayer, or other spiritual contexts, but to say “God” in an irreligious way—after stubbing a toe or losing a game—was to break the commandment: “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain” (Exod 20:7). While I still refrain from saying “God” outside of religious discourse, this verse doesn’t mean what I was told growing up. When the Bible proscribes taking the Lord’s name in vain, it does not refer to saying “God” as an exclamation or expletive; instead, it prohibits invoking the divine name in an oath, and then failing to fulfill that oath.

In ancient Israel, an oath was a solemn statement that began חי־יהוה (chai Adonai)—“as the Lord lives”—and meant: “If I don’t fulfill the following oath, may the Lord who lives strike me dead!” For example, after Jonathan convinced Saul not to kill David, “Saul swore, ‘As the Lord lives (חי־יהוה; chai Adonai), he shall not be put to death’” (1 Sam 19:6). Saul’s oath means that if David dies at Saul’s hand, then Saul also deserves to die.

The Hebrew word commonly translated “take” in Exod 20:7 is נשא (nasa), meaning to “bear” or “lift up.” Invoking God’s “name” (שׁם; shem) means bearing it, just like Aaron was to “bear” (נשא; nasa) the names (שׁמות; shemot) of the Israelites” on his breastplate (Exod 28:29). As a bearer of God’s name, the oath-taker must accomplish the sworn oath, or else…. Yeshua protected his followers from taking God’s name in vain when he said to “not swear at all” (Matt 5:34) – that way, you’ll never swear an oath that you might not fulfill, so you can rest assured that you’ll never break the commandment!

 

I came across this on a Hebrew/Jewish web-site and thought it was pretty interesting!! I've thought about this myself from time to time and still do! What are your thoughts about this??

[Gustave]

23 minutes ago, phkrause said:

By Dr. Nicholas J. Schaser

When I was growing up, I was told to use God’s name in church, prayer, or other spiritual contexts, but to say “God” in an irreligious way—after stubbing a toe or losing a game—was to break the commandment: “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain” (Exod 20:7). While I still refrain from saying “God” outside of religious discourse, this verse doesn’t mean what I was told growing up. When the Bible proscribes taking the Lord’s name in vain, it does not refer to saying “God” as an exclamation or expletive; instead, it prohibits invoking the divine name in an oath, and then failing to fulfill that oath.

In ancient Israel, an oath was a solemn statement that began חי־יהוה (chai Adonai)—“as the Lord lives”—and meant: “If I don’t fulfill the following oath, may the Lord who lives strike me dead!” For example, after Jonathan convinced Saul not to kill David, “Saul swore, ‘As the Lord lives (חי־יהוה; chai Adonai), he shall not be put to death’” (1 Sam 19:6). Saul’s oath means that if David dies at Saul’s hand, then Saul also deserves to die.

The Hebrew word commonly translated “take” in Exod 20:7 is נשא (nasa), meaning to “bear” or “lift up.” Invoking God’s “name” (שׁם; shem) means bearing it, just like Aaron was to “bear” (נשא; nasa) the names (שׁמות; shemot) of the Israelites” on his breastplate (Exod 28:29). As a bearer of God’s name, the oath-taker must accomplish the sworn oath, or else…. Yeshua protected his followers from taking God’s name in vain when he said to “not swear at all” (Matt 5:34) – that way, you’ll never swear an oath that you might not fulfill, so you can rest assured that you’ll never break the commandment!

 

I came across this on a Hebrew/Jewish web-site and thought it was pretty interesting!! I've thought about this myself from time to time and still do! What are your thoughts about this??

That's accurate, and to add to that very few if any know God's name, especially the exact way to pronounce it. Still, I feel guilty and consider it a sin to use even the English version of the name (JC) as an expletive. To a Christian there is no other God so when one says G' Damnit that would also qualify as something it would be better not to do. 

Think about it, if you stub your toe really bad - no one blurts out Bob Jones - why are we tempted to use the either the English name of God the Son or Noun of What Jesus is? Good post PK!

 

[GHansen]

4 hours ago, Gustave said:

That's accurate, and to add to that very few if any know God's name, especially the exact way to pronounce it. Still, I feel guilty and consider it a sin to use even the English version of the name (JC) as an expletive. To a Christian there is no other God so when one says G' Damnit that would also qualify as something it would be better not to do. 

Think about it, if you stub your toe really bad - no one blurts out Bob Jones - why are we tempted to use the either the English name of God the Son or Noun of What Jesus is? Good post PK!

 

Jewish people don't use the divine name. Instead they say HaShem which simply means "The Name." The Baal Shem Tov  founded Hasidism. Baal Shem Tov means "Master of the Good Name." It's true that the exact pronunciation of YHVH is unknown. One option is to pronounce the individual letters Yod Hey Vav Hey  and forget about the vowels. The Name of God is as important to the Jews as the Sabbath, perhaps more so. The golem was a human like messianic figure made from the earth by a rabbi. It was brought to life by scratching the Divine Name into his forehead or writing the Divine Name on paper and inserting it into his ear, thus illustrating the life giving power of the Creator's name. 

[phkrause]

5 hours ago, Gustave said:

why are we tempted to use the either the English name of God the Son or Noun of What Jesus is?

Because we hear it so much, that we don't think!! For me I use more explicit words when I stub my toe, or whatever else happens. I pray each morning for God to guide my tongue, so most of the time when I say something that's not very nice I pretty much ask for forgiveness right away!!

[stinsonmarri]

On 7/7/2021 at 9:26 AM, phkrause said:

By Dr. Nicholas J. Schaser

When I was growing up, I was told to use God’s name in church, prayer, or other spiritual contexts, but to say “God” in an irreligious way—after stubbing a toe or losing a game—was to break the commandment: “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain” (Exod 20:7). While I still refrain from saying “God” outside of religious discourse, this verse doesn’t mean what I was told growing up. When the Bible proscribes taking the Lord’s name in vain, it does not refer to saying “God” as an exclamation or expletive; instead, it prohibits invoking the divine name in an oath, and then failing to fulfill that oath.

In ancient Israel, an oath was a solemn statement that began חי־יהוה (chai Adonai)—“as the Lord lives”—and meant: “If I don’t fulfill the following oath, may the Lord who lives strike me dead!” For example, after Jonathan convinced Saul not to kill David, “Saul swore, ‘As the Lord lives (חי־יהוה; chai Adonai), he shall not be put to death’” (1 Sam 19:6). Saul’s oath means that if David dies at Saul’s hand, then Saul also deserves to die.

The Hebrew word commonly translated “take” in Exod 20:7 is נשא (nasa), meaning to “bear” or “lift up.” Invoking God’s “name” (שׁם; shem) means bearing it, just like Aaron was to “bear” (נשא; nasa) the names (שׁמות; shemot) of the Israelites” on his breastplate (Exod 28:29). As a bearer of God’s name, the oath-taker must accomplish the sworn oath, or else…. Yeshua protected his followers from taking God’s name in vain when he said to “not swear at all” (Matt 5:34) – that way, you’ll never swear an oath that you might not fulfill, so you can rest assured that you’ll never break the commandment!

 

I came across this on a Hebrew/Jewish web-site and thought it was pretty interesting!! I've thought about this myself from time to time and still do! What are your thoughts about this??

If I may speak without offending anyone. I worked for the unemployment office and I have never seem so much fraud taking place, like it had since COVID started last year. The fraud Unit was overwhelm. These people would go through the smart phones get the claimant pin number, the go in to their unemployment account change their pen number to lock them out. They would change their bank to one of these online banks and unemployment deposited the money into the bank of fraudulent person. Because this caused a major problem they required all claimant to provide verification which includes: Driver license, birth certificate for those not a citizen yet certified documents. SSN Card, W-2 and their bank statement. If married, marriage license and if children their SSN card!

I stated the above show that we have the same name if changed it must be proved that is was changed. Can I ask when have THE MOST HIGH or HIS SON every asked anyone to invoke THEM? I am glad that the Hebrew words are used. In Exodus Chapter 3, Moses encounter the burning bush and introduced to THE MOST HIGH SON! After, it was related what Moses needed to do; Moses wanted know THE NAME to take back to the children of IsraEL. This is what was said to Moses:

And Moses said to the ELOHIYM Behold, I shall come to the sons of IsraEL and say to them, THE ELOHE of your fathers has sent me to you; and they will say to me, What is HIS NAME? What shall I say to them? And ELOHIYM Said to Moses, EHYAH ASHER EHYAH (I AM THAT I AM); and HE said, You shall say this to the sons of IsraEL, EHYAH (I AM) has sent me to you. And ELOHIYM Said to Moses again, You shall say this to the sons of IsraEL, YAHWEH, the ELOHE of your fathers, the ELOHE of Abraham, the ELOHE of Isaac, and the ELOHE of Jacob, has sent me to you. This is MY NAME FOREVER, and this is how I should be remembered from generation to generation. Ex 3:13-15

Now, why would ELOHE'S SON as I went back over these verses shown me something I miss. Abraham, Jacob, Issah believe in just ELOHE, THE FATHER! I miss this and now it make sense that THE SON was introducing HIMSELF, stating their was more than just ONE of THEM. MICHAEL let Moses know that THE SON was coming in ELOHE'S NAME-YAHWEH! It was time for them to fully understand as I truly do now. You see Melchisedec was the Priest King of THE MOST HIGH and the Canaanites, Ebla knew YAHWEH ELOHE. The Children of IsraEL, was given more light to know both THE SON and THE FATHER! Soon later own IsraEL would know THE HOLY SPIRIT during the time of King Saul by Samuel!

THE NAME YAHWEH was hidden because of sin that rose more and more upon this earth. THE ALMIGHTY ONES were not going to let you take THEIR NAMES in vain. However, it was always in the Scriptures. 

When the pioneers had moved away from the Millerites to become a small assembly. EGW wrote how YAHWEH THE SON, placed HIS HANDS to cover up the truth, until the time it was ready to be understood:

I have seen that the 1843 chart was directed by the hand of the Lord, and that it should not be altered; that the figures were as HE wanted them; that HIS HAND was over and hid a mistake in some of the figures, so that none could see it, until HIS HAND was removed. Then I saw in relation to the “daily” (Daniel 8:12) that the word “sacrifice” was supplied by man’s wisdom, and does not belong to the text, and that the Lord gave the correct view of it to those who gave the Judgment hour cry. EW p. 38 The Gathering

The time now has come to understand; what does it mean to take HIS NAME in vain. The word "vain," needs to be understood:

c. 1300, "devoid of real value, idle, unprofitable," from Old c. 1300, "devoid of real value, idle, unprofitable," from Old French vain, vein "worthless, void, invalid, feeble; conceited." (Before in the 12th cent) French vain, vein "worthless, void, invalid, feeble; conceited" before in the 12th cent (12c.), from Latin vanus "empty, void," figuratively "idle, fruitless," from PIE *wano-, suffixed form of root *eue- "to leave, abandon, give out." Etymology Online

Now, are THE ELOHIYM vain? Of course not so why was this word used? First, what the word that translated it from to supposedly used this word. The Hebrew word 

H7723: shâv'    shav-From the same as H7722 in the sense of desolating; evil (as destructive), literally (ruin) or morally (especially guile); figuratively idolatry (as false, subjectively), uselessness (as deceptive, objectively; also, adverbially in vain): - false (-ly), lie, lying, vain, vanity. Strong Hebrew Dictionary

H7723: shâv'  shav- 1) emptiness, vanity, falsehood; 1a) emptiness, nothingness, vanity; 1b) emptiness of speech, lying; 1c) worthlessness (of conduct). BDB Definition

What should have been used is not to use HIS NAME falsely or lie about HIS NAME! Here are some new versions of the Bible:

(BBE)  You are not to make use of the name of the Lord your God for an evil purpose; whoever takes the Lord's name on his lips for an evil purpose will be judged a sinner by the Lord

(CEV)  Do not misuse my name. I am the LORD your God, and I will punish anyone who misuses my name.

(GNB)  "Do not use my name for evil purposes, for I, the LORD your God, will punish anyone who misuses my name.

(ISV)  "You are not to misuse the name of the LORD your God, because the LORD will not leave the one who misuses his name unpunished.

You also need to know that the words, his, my, thy ect. is not in the Hebrew. They were put there by the translators!

Satan, deliberately had the translator to use the word vain, to relate to him and not THE ALMIGHTY ONES! THE SON Said HE  came in HIS FATHER'S NAME! EHYAH or YAH IS THE FATHER'S NAME! SHUA means salvation. John 3:16 proves that YAH so loved the world, that HE Gave HIS ONLY SON to died for all of us!

YAHWEH never called us to invoke HIM! HE blesses us!

Evoke and invoke are both fairly formal words that look and sound a lot alike—and, for what it’s worth, you can summon a spirit with either one (we’ll get to that, don’t worry). Dictionary.com

Recently since THE NAME of YAHWEH has come back. Satan has done many things. Many people who gives all these different names or sounds are not aware of the ancient language. It has mechanic, gramar, vowels and context that is totally different then the English language. These people do not know what an epigraphy means: the study or decipherment of inscriptions, especially of ancient ones;  palaeography means: The study of old/ancient forms of writing. Both of these studies are a branch of  Archaeology that works with Historians.

All of a sudden the invoked means to conjure up evil spirits and was never used by THE ALMIGHTIES ONE. You call upon them, you not summons them! Now, I pray and hope no misunderstanding comes out of what I have provided. It is up to each everyone to serve THE ALMIGHTY ONES correctly. If our name is our bond or must be verified. Why do we not respect THEIR NAMES. Any other name is false and will not be accepted that's what the Bible says and please not me!

If MY people, which are called by MY NAME, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek MY NAME, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I Hear from Heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 2Ch 7:14 

Even every one that is called by MY NAME: for I have created him (them) for MY honor, I have formed him (them); yea, I have made him (them). Isa 43:7

Blessings to you all pray for me as I pray for you!

[stinsonmarri]

On 9/4/2021 at 8:02 PM, stinsonmarri said:

 

If MY people, which are called by MY NAME, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek MY NAME, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I Hear from Heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 2Ch 7:14 

Even every one that is called by MY NAME: for I have created him (them) for MY honor, I have formed him (them); yea, I have made him (them). Isa 43:7

I pull down these Scriptures to deal with the problems we have in making everything pointing to the male and not to both, male and female. Many have misunderstood what MICHAEL Said to both people in the Garden of Eden.

 Unto the woman (WIFE) HE Said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. Gen 3:16

I have wrote many times that the English word woman is an awful substitute for the Hebrew words combine 'ishshâh nâshı̂ym, that means wife. It is sad that the male wanted rule over female that everything centered around the male. I guess you are wondering why am I bringing this up on this thread. Well, truthfully speaking how can you respect YAHWEH'S NAME if you do not respect the female and how she was named? If you falsely label any of YAHWEH"S creation, then you cannot love HIM or HIS NAME. That is why we replace HIM with the Greek god Zeus.

Theos is the name that the Greeks call their gods:

Theos Is the common word denoting a god, especially one of the great gods (see olympian gods). Although often referring to an individual deity in his anthropomorphic representation, the term is rarely used to address a god: no vocative exists. The term is often used instead of the proper name of a god, e.g. when the god's name is under certain restrictions or reserved for direct dealings with the deity, as in the mysteries. Oxford University Press 2021.

Those who worshipped pagan deities, changed YAHWEH ELOHE TITLE. It was changed to Theo from the Greeks. Returning to the Bible, when both the male (zâkâr) and female (neqêbâh) was dealing with their reproductive organs.

Today I found out that the word ‘man’ was originally gender neutral, meaning more or less the same as the modern day word “person”. www.todayifoundout.com

This is true because the word Adam which meant flesh from the dirt created with blood! Both zâkâr and neqêbâh were Adams and was giving that title. I would like to show you what was Hebrew and what was put in by old Bible scholars, who were all men back then:

 This H2088 is the book H5612 of the generations H8435 of Adam. H121 In the day H3117that God (ELOHIYM) H430 created H1254 man (Adam) H120,in the likeness H1823 of God ELOHIYM) H430 made H6213  (he him these two words were added. The expression in English should have been the Adams and that would have been correct (this would been based on the correct mechanic)); Male (zâkâr ) H2145 and female (neqêbâh) H5347 created H1254[ he them: the reason why this should be express in English because the verse states both zâkâr and neqêbâh] ; and blessed H1288 them [again correct expression for both zâkâr and neqêbâh], and called H7121 (H853) their name H8034 Adam (both of them was called this name),H121 in the day H3117 when they were created.H1254 Gen 5:1, 2

The rib still comes from the dirt and until THE BREATH of LIFE from MICHAEL was put in them both then they became living souls. YAHWEH brought to Adam, Adam neqêbâh who was already HIS WIFE! The zâkâr knew her to be his wife. Strong admits that there is no expression in the English language and using the word woman is the worse!  The male (zâkâr) think they are better then (neqêbâh)! Why, because the wife talked to the serpent and took the fruit first and ate. However, they did not read all of it:

And when the woman (wife)  saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. Gen 3:6  

The word for husband is 'ı̂ysh but funny they don't say wife 'ishshâh nâshı̂ym; instead they use woman. This word includes wife, female are all no good and whorish! Read for yourself please!

ELOHIYM did curse the female ((neqêbâh)) with the menstruation for the preparation as a wife in conceiving children. As the wife she would feel the pain of sorrow having children. This is true, but HE did not continually put a curse on (neqêbâh), but the 'ishshâh nâshı̂ym! She would be subjugated to him in the home but if they both return completely to YAHWEH; there is a reprieve!

Too closed, you cannot respect our CREATORS if the male do not respect the female. The Bible talks about a good, neqêbâh who have committed sinful acts. But like Rahab, and Mary Magdalene; they can become virtuous. It is through THE POWER of THE HOLY SPIRIT! When the Male respect all females and remember both are equal in the SITE of YAHWEH! Then you will honor THE ALMIGHTY ONES NAME'S! You will not be ashamed of what others say! You will say YAHWEH, ELOHIYM, YAHSHUA ELOHIYM , THE MESSIAH ELOHIYM, THE HOLY SPIRIT ELOHIYM; then you will not used THEIR NAMES falsely! 

Again, I pray that I have not been rude or offended anyone. If I did please forgive and let me know, I will apologized!

Blessings to All, please pray for me as I pray for all of you on this forum!

[JoeMo]

I liked phkrause's definition of taking the Lord's Name in vain as failing to fulfill an oath taken in the Name of G-d.  I don't think saying GD upon stubbing your toe or breaking a jar of mayo on the kitchen floor is breaking the 3rd commandment.

I thing the main way people take the Lord's name in vain is when they break His commandments in His Name. Like the Crusades wiping out most of Judaism and Islam in the Name of Jesus and Catholic explorers forcing indigenous American people to convert or die; or radical Islamists torturing and brutally killing their people and turning children into suicide bombers in the name of allah in today's world.  The ultimate taking of the Lord's Name in vain will be when people begin killing Christians and Jews in the soon-coming end days thinking they are doing a service for the god they worship (the antichrist).

[B/W Photodude]

20 hours ago, JoeMo said:

I thing the main way people take the Lord's name in vain is when ...

The ultimate taking of the Lord's Name in vain will be when ...

We can come up with many ways the name of God is taken in vain and probably are all right. However, the most common way to take His name in vain is to call yourself a Christian when nothing in your life looks like God in any way. Christ formed within you has not occurred. So, "tell me you are not a  Christian without telling me you are not a Christian!"

[stinsonmarri]

20 hours ago, JoeMo said:

I thing the main way people take the Lord's name in vain is when they break His commandments in His Name. Like the Crusades wiping out most of Judaism and Islam in the Name of Jesus and Catholic explorers forcing indigenous American people to convert or die; or radical Islamists torturing and brutally killing their people and turning children into suicide bombers in the name of allah in today's world.  The ultimate taking of the Lord's Name in vain will be when people begin killing Christians and Jews in the soon-coming end days thinking they are doing a service for the god they worship (the antichrist).

Not to be offensive but the Jews at the end time is not IsraEL. That is the true House or Assembly that YAHWEH stated a House of Prayer for all people. The beast will not been identified after  the Time of Trouble that will be poured out on the wicked. Things will be different, YAHWEH'S people will have the power. We will received the same SPIRIT that Elijah had. We are going to finish the work during that time.

And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. Rev 11:3  

Literally the Two Witness is the Old and New Testament that the remnant (144,000) will prophesy. The two hundred and threescore days, is literally 3 1/2 years. This is what Gabriel told Daniel, and why he was also told to close the book until the time of the end. John is the book of Daniel reopened but in more detail!

And at that time shall MICHAEL stand up, THE GREAT PRINCE which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time:*and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the Book. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.  And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. But thou, *O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased. And I heard THE MAN clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when HE held up HIS RIGHT HAND and HIS LEFT HAND unto Heaven, and sware by HIM *(THE FATHER) that liveth for ever that it shall be for *a time, times, and an half; and when HE shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the Holy people, all these things shall be finished. Dan 12:1-4, 7 

* Here Daniel people are all those who are written in the Book of Life. From Adam to those sealed during the Time of Trouble. Rev 9:4; 13:8; 17:8; 20:15 The book was sealed and open for John to complete. Rev 1:1 Here Daniel the exact literal time 3 1/2 years when MICHAEL/YAHSHUA raises HIS HAND to HIS FATHER the Time of Trouble has ended and the 144,000 and those who will arise to assist them have brought in the great multitude. Rev 7:13-17; 9:4

IsraEL, that has THE TITLE of THE FATHER, like what was told to Moses in Ex 3:15 in Hebrew. The ELOHE of Abraham, Issac, and Jacob! HIS NAME IS EHYAH which means YAHWEH. Those IsraEL written in the book will respect THE NAME of YAHWEH because MICHAEL/YAHSHUA SAID it is HIS FATHER NAME FOREVER! HE SAID that HE came IN HIS FATHER'S NAME! John 5:43

YAHSHUA answered them, I told you, and you did not believe. The works which I do in THE NAME of MY FATHER, these bear witness about ME. John 10:25

Again, this is not to offend, or to be rude but to only give what the Bible says. I urge all to please read the Scriptures that was provided for yourself.

May all be bless on this forum and pray for me as I pray for you all!

[stinsonmarri]

1 hour ago, B/W Photodude said:

We can come up with many ways the name of God is taken in vain and probably are all right. However, the most common way to take His name in vain is to call yourself a Christian when nothing in your life looks like God in any way. Christ formed within you has not occurred. So, "tell me you are not a  Christian without telling me you are not a Christian!"

The majority of people in United States have one main first name on their licenses'.  Why would MICHAEL tell Moses that the ELOHE of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob knew THE FATHER'S NAME, and that HIS FATHER NAME has always been YAHWEH? Why was Moses told that this is HIS NAME FOREVER? Do we believe the Bible? Is it the Word of THE MOST HIGH? YAHSHUA Told those in HIS day that they hold on to the traditions of man, instead of the truth in the Bible!

The questions I ask, are not to be rude or to offend anyone but comment on what the Bible says!

Blessing to all on this forum, pray for me as I for you!

[Ron Amnsn]

My wife recently read a book by Carmen Imes that examines the question in the title of this thread.  I have yet to read the book myself, but from what my wife has said, I think the book is correct and provides ample evidence.  Bearing God's name encompasses several of the things mentioned in this thread.

This book review gives some of the main points: 
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/reviews/bearing-god-name-sinai-carmen-joy-imes/