Exodus 20:7
+ 20:7. Ex 20:7; Deut 5:11 (Ex 20:5-7) (#3.189): T. Not take or use the name of Yahweh your God in vain / R. Not to take an oath in vain Reason: For Adonai will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain T. Example: Blasphemy: idolaters, manifesting disrespect towards God, and insulting His chosen leaders Note: Hebrew Language: Nakav ·blaspheme· not only signifies to curse, or blaspheme, but also to express, or distinguish by name, to invoke a name R. Example: Blasphemy goes beyond pronouncing the divine name, especially in an inappropriate context ( Sanhedrin 7:5) / R. Example: Judaism views blasphemy as: using God’s name when swearing, using God’s name to call as a witness for truth when lying, or by joining God’s name to inappropriate or unacceptable actions or objects (The Nine Commands, Freedman, p47-49) Note: This name, the Tetragrammaton ·four letters·, is sacred and, with one exception, is never pronounced. When the Temple stood, on Yom Kippur ·Day of Atonement·, the Cohen Gadol ·High Priest· would pronounce the Name in a sacred ceremony Consider: The Greek word Tetragrammaton is not used in the Bible, but the Hebrew name it represents, YHVH or Yahweh, is used 5,410 total times in the Old Covenant. Total times in Torah 1,419 (Genesis 153 times, Exodus 364, Leviticus 285, Numbers 387, Deuteronomy 230); Total times in Prophets 2,696; Total times in Writings 1,295 R. Note: In Judaism there are multiple sacred and specific names for God, these names are designated by how many letters each name has. These names are sacred and should not be used lightly. Yah 3, Ha-Shem [The Name] which refers to YHVH 4, Shem ha-Meforash [Name The Distinguished] 12, Shem ha-Meyuḥad [Name The Extraordinary] 42, Shem Vayisa Vayet 72; word for word translation of the 72 is Shem [Name] Vayisa [Raised] Vayet [Stretched out / Turned]. Remember to always show respect when using God’s names “You shall not use את the name of Yahweh your God worthlessly, for Adonai will not hold him guiltless את who takes את his name in vain.
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In The King James Version
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Cross References
Genesis 27:20Isaac [Laughter] said to his son, “How is it that you have found it so quickly, my son?” He said, “Because Adonai your God gave me success.”
Leviticus 24:11The son of the Israelite [Descendant of God prevails] woman blasphemed HaShem [The Name], and cursed; and they brought him to Moses [Drawn out]. His mother’s name was Shelomith, the daughter of Dibri, of the tribe of Dan [He judged].
Deuteronomy 5:11+ 5:11. Deut 5:11; Ex 20:7 (Ex 20:5-7) (#3.189): T. Not to blaspheme God / R. We are warned against blasphemy and the penalty is death T. Example: Blasphemy: idolaters, manifesting disrespect towards God, and insulting His chosen leaders Note: Hebrew Language: Nakav ·blaspheme· not only signifies to curse, or blaspheme, but also to express, or distinguish by name, to invoke a name R. Example: Blasphemy goes beyond pronouncing the divine name, especially in an inappropriate context ( Sanhedrin 7:5) R. Example: Judaism views blasphemy as: using God’s name when swearing, using God’s name to call as a witness for truth when lying, or by joining God’s name to inappropriate or unacceptable actions or objects (The Nine Commands, Freedman, p47-49) Note: This name, the Tetragrammaton ·four letters·, is sacred and, with one exception, is never pronounced. When the Temple stood, on Yom Kippur ·Day of Atonement·, the Cohen Gadol ·High Priest· would pronounce the Name in a sacred ceremony Consider: The Greek word Tetragrammaton is not used in the Bible, but the Hebrew name it represents, YHVH or Yahweh, is used 5,410 total times in the Old Covenant. Total times in Torah 1,419 (Genesis 153 times, Exodus 364, Leviticus 285, Numbers 387, Deuteronomy 230); Total times in Prophets 2,696; Total times in Writings 1,295 R. Note: In Judaism there are multiple sacred and specific names for God, these names are designated by how many letters each name has. These names are sacred and should not be used lightly. Yah 3, Ha-Shem [The Name] which refers to YHVH 4, Shem ha-Meforash [Name The Distinguished] 12, Shem ha-Meyuḥad [Name The Extraordinary] 42, Shem Vayisa Vayet 72; word for word translation of the 72 is Shem [Name] Vayisa [Raised] Vayet [Stretched out / Turned]. Remember to always show respect when using God’s names “You shall not use את the name of Adonai your God worthlessly: for Adonai את will not hold him guiltless who takes את his name in vain.
Matthew Henry on Exodus 20:2-12
The Ten Commandments. ( b. c. 1491.) 1 And God spake all these words, saying, 2 I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me. 4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: 5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the… Read the whole commentary →