Exodus 20:7 kjv
Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
Exodus 20:7 nkjv
"You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.
Exodus 20:7 niv
"You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.
Exodus 20:7 esv
"You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.
Exodus 20:7 nlt
"You must not misuse the name of the LORD your God. The LORD will not let you go unpunished if you misuse his name.
Exodus 20 7 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 5:11 | ‘You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain...’ | Direct restatement of the commandment. |
| Lev 19:12 | ‘You shall not swear by My name falsely, nor shall you profane the name of your God: I am the LORD.’ | Explicitly links false oaths to profaning God's name. |
| Lev 24:16 | ‘And whoever blasphemes the name of the LORD shall surely be put to death...’ | Shows the extreme seriousness of profaning God's name. |
| Num 6:27 | ‘So they shall put My name on the children of Israel, and I will bless them.’ | Priests "bear" God's name, blessing the people through it. |
| Psa 8:1 | O LORD, our Lord, How excellent is Your name in all the earth! | Acknowledges the supremacy and glory of God's name. |
| Psa 29:2 | Give unto the LORD the glory due to His name; Worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness. | Calls for rightful honor and worship of God's name. |
| Psa 74:10 | O God, how long will the adversary reproach? Will the enemy blaspheme Your name forever? | Lament concerning those who revile God's name. |
| Psa 111:9 | He has sent redemption to His people; He has commanded His covenant forever: Holy and awesome is His name. | Highlights the holy and awe-inspiring nature of God's name. |
| Psa 139:20 | For they speak against You wickedly; Your enemies take Your name in vain. | Those hostile to God are described as misusing His name. |
| Isa 52:5 | ...and My name is blasphemed continually all day long. | Shows how Israel's actions caused God's name to be scorned among Gentiles. |
| Jer 14:14 | And the LORD said to me, “The prophets prophesy lies in My name..." | Warning against false prophets who claim to speak for God. |
| Eze 36:20-23 | "When they went to the nations... they profaned My holy name..." | Israel's unholy conduct among nations defiled God's name. |
| Mal 1:6 | "...But you say, ‘How have we defiled Your name?’ By offering defiled food on My altar.” | Priests defiling God's name through disrespect in worship. |
| Matt 5:33-37 | "...Do not swear at all... but let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No.'" | Jesus deepens the understanding, calling for complete integrity, making oaths unnecessary. |
| Acts 11:26 | ...And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. | Believers bearing the "Christ-name," signifying allegiance and identity. |
| Rom 2:24 | For “the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you..." | Echoes Isa 52:5; Gentile slander caused by Jewish hypocrisy. |
| Phil 2:9-11 | Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name... | The supreme reverence and authority associated with Jesus' name. |
| 1 Tim 6:1 | ...lest the name of God and His doctrine be blasphemed. | Slaves advised to honor masters, so God's name is not disparaged by their actions. |
| Jas 5:12 | But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth... | Reinforces Jesus' teaching on sincerity and avoiding oaths. |
| 2 Tim 2:19 | Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: "The Lord knows those who are His," and, "Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity." | To "name the name of Christ" implies a corresponding separation from sin. |
| 1 Pet 4:14 | If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you... | Suffering for bearing Christ's name is a blessing. |
| Rev 13:6 | Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name... | The beast directly opposes God by blaspheming His name and tabernacle. |
Exodus 20 verses
Exodus 20 7 Meaning
Exodus 20:7 prohibits taking or bearing the name of the LORD your God for vain, empty, or false purposes. This commandment forbids not only the misuse of God's sacred name in casual speech, oaths, or blasphemy but also encompasses the broader disrespect for God's revealed character, authority, and holiness. It demands that those who claim to serve Him represent His name with integrity and truth, ensuring their actions and words genuinely reflect His nature, for God will assuredly hold accountable anyone who profanes His unique and holy identity.
Exodus 20 7 Context
Exodus chapter 20 begins with God's direct revelation of the Ten Commandments (also known as the Decalogue) to the Israelite nation at Mount Sinai. These commandments form the foundational ethical and moral code for Israel's covenant relationship with Yahweh. The first three commandments primarily concern the worship and honor due to God. The first forbids worshipping other gods (Exod 20:3). The second prohibits idolatry and worshipping God through graven images (Exod 20:4-6). This third commandment, therefore, logically follows by emphasizing the reverence for God's very name, which represents His presence, character, and authority. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, a god's name carried significant weight and power; taking an oath by a deity's name invoked that deity as a witness and enforcer. For the original Israelite audience, understanding "the name of the LORD your God" as encompassing His unique and holy person was crucial to maintaining a distinct and pure worship in contrast to surrounding polytheistic nations.
Exodus 20 7 Word analysis
You shall not take / Bear (לֹא תִשָּׂא - lo tissah):
- Word: nasa' (נָשָׂא)
- Meaning: To lift, carry, bear, utter, pronounce.
- Significance: This word has a broader meaning than just speaking. It implies "bearing" or "carrying" God's name. This suggests that the commandment extends beyond mere verbal utterance (like blasphemy or profanity) to how one represents God's name through one's life, conduct, and promises. It’s about bearing His reputation.
the name (אֶת־שֵׁם - et-shem):
- Word: shem (שֵׁם)
- Meaning: Name, reputation, character, presence, renown, fame.
- Significance: In Hebrew thought, a name is not just a label but is intimately tied to the person's identity, character, authority, and presence. "The name of God" (shem Yahweh) signifies God Himself, His revealed nature, His power, His holiness, and His sovereignty. To misuse His name is to dishonor Him completely.
of the LORD your God (יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ - YHWH Eloheykha):
- Words: YHWH (יְהוָה) and Elohim (אֱלֹהִים), plus suffix kheh (your).
- Meaning: YHWH is God's personal, covenant name (often rendered "LORD" in English Bibles, avoiding direct pronunciation due to Jewish reverence). Elohim is a general term for God or a deity. Eloheykha means "your God."
- Significance: Using YHWH emphasizes the specific, personal, covenantal relationship God established with Israel. This commandment protects the uniqueness and holiness of the one true God whom Israel covenanted with. It underscores that this God is their God, demanding specific reverence.
in vain (לַשָּׁוְא - la-shav'):
- Word: shav' (שָׁוְא) with prefix la- (for, to).
- Meaning: Emptiness, falsehood, worthlessness, nothingness, futility, deceit, destruction, for no good purpose, idly, groundlessly.
- Significance: This is a crucial adverb defining the nature of the "taking." It means using God's name without proper substance or truth. This can include:
- False oaths/Perjury: Invoking God as a witness to a lie.
- Trivializing/Profanity: Using God's name lightly, casually, or in curses.
- Deceptive/Empty claims: Claiming divine authority for selfish or untrue purposes (e.g., false prophecy, religious hypocrisy).
- Superstitious use: Treating God's name as a magic charm.
- Worthless conduct: Living a life that contradicts one's profession of faith, bringing disrepute to God.
for the LORD will not hold him guiltless / innocent (כִּי לֹא יְנַקֶּה יְהוָה - ki lo yenaqeh YHWH):
- Word: naqah (נָקָה) in negative (lo) Piel (intensive active) imperfect.
- Meaning: To be clean, to be clear, to be acquitted, to be innocent. The negative, "will not hold him guiltless," means "will not leave unpunished," "will surely punish," or "will not declare innocent."
- Significance: This clause highlights the solemn and certain consequence of violating this commandment. God, as the righteous judge, will not excuse or overlook this sin. There is an inescapable divine judgment for those who profane His name, emphasizing His unwavering holiness and justice.
Words-group analysis:
- "You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain": This is a prohibition not merely against blasphemy but against any misuse of God's name that fails to accord with His holiness and truth. It's about respecting the Divine being and ensuring integrity when representing or invoking Him. It applies to formal oaths, casual speech, and the entire conduct of one's life as one who claims to be "named" by Him.
- "for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain": This is a divine consequence clause, emphasizing that God will actively and certainly enforce this commandment. It functions as both a warning and a guarantee of His commitment to His own holy name. God takes personal offense and will ensure that such affronts to His character are met with appropriate justice.
Exodus 20 7 Bonus section
The concept of "the name" in ancient Israelite thought was extremely rich. It encapsulated not just sound or syllables but the entire essence, authority, and presence of the person or entity. For God, His name (especially YHWH) was so sacred that it was rarely uttered, leading to substitutions like "Adonai" (Lord). This avoidance reflected the awe and fear evoked by the commandment against taking His name in vain, preventing even accidental profanation. The Hebrew word shav' also implies emptiness or nothingness, suggesting that using God's name la-shav' means treating His sacred character as if it were of no substance or reality. It warns against a nominal faith, where one claims connection to God but where that connection holds no true power or integrity. For Christians, this also extends to the name of Jesus (Phil 2:9-11), recognizing its supreme authority and the call for believers to "name the name of Christ" in holiness (2 Tim 2:19).
Exodus 20 7 Commentary
The third commandment safeguards the sanctity and truthfulness of God's revelation. More than a simple ban on profanity, it is a profound injunction against misrepresenting the Most High God, exploiting His authority, or invoking His presence for trivial, selfish, or deceptive ends. At its heart, it calls for absolute integrity from those who claim allegiance to YHWH. The name of God represents His character, His power, His identity, and His very being. To "take His name in vain" implies a disregard for this profound reality.
Historically, this command served to protect the integrity of oaths and covenants, which were common practice and legally binding. Perjury committed by invoking God's name was a direct assault on divine truth and justice. Furthermore, it guards against empty ritualism or false prophecy where one claims God's endorsement without true divine mandate. Beyond direct verbal misuse, the commandment extends to how one's life as a believer represents God. When people who call themselves "children of God" live hypocritical, immoral, or careless lives, they implicitly "bear God's name in vain," bringing reproach upon His reputation among those who observe them. God's name is sacred; its proper use always demands reverence, honesty, and consistency between profession and practice. His promised consequence, "He will not hold him guiltless," underscores the gravity of this offense, for God's holiness demands accountability.
- Example 1: Swearing an oath in court, invoking God's name, but knowing one is about to lie.
- Example 2: A Christian living a publicly sinful life while professing deep faith, causing unbelievers to mock Christianity.
- Example 3: Using phrases like "Oh my God" casually or in anger, devoid of genuine reverence or prayer.
- Example 4: A religious leader teaching falsehoods or seeking personal gain while claiming divine inspiration.