Pearls of the Word

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Taking the name of the Lord in vain

by Jean-Louis Coraboeuf

"You shall not take the name of the Lord [יהוה] your God in vain [shav], for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain [shav]" (Deuteronomy 5:11).

The Hebrew word shav means vain, false, lying, destruction; it has the same root as sho'ah meaning devastation, ruin. According to the dictionary 'vain' means 'meaningless', 'lacking in depth or value'. Now, the name of the Lord, יהוה, means 'He who is'. According to translations, this verse says, "Thou shalt not idly utter the name of Jehovah thy God" (Darby), "You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God" (NIV), "No using the name of God, your God, in curses or silly banter" (MSG).

Jesus asked us to sanctify God's name, יהוה (Matthew 6:9). So make sure not to trivialize it – as happens sometimes in Christian literature – representing God the Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit in the form of human figures. For the Lord will not hold unpunished he who takes His name in vain!