The Third Commandment and HIS Name

Could there be another understanding about the Third Commandment besides the traditional one?

How is the Third Commandment understood? The Third Commandment is understood to mean that we should not swear or curse using His Name. It certainly does mean this. We break the Third Commandment through profanity, using His Name in a trivial manner and by hypocrisy, "praeching" one thing but not acting accordingly bringing disgrace to the Almighty. Is that all that we get out of this Commandment? Could there be more than what the traditional view is?

Examining the Scriptures, what additional meanings does the expression “taking the name of the LORD in vain” could have?

Nowhere in the scriptures is there a prohibition against writing or pronouncing His Name. There are, however, instructions to not blaspheme or take the Name in vain.

Let us see, within the Ten Commandments themselves, such reference. Most tend to go to Exodus chapter 20 for the Ten Commandments but not too many make reference to the book of Deuteronomy. The Third Commandment reads slightly different, not in translations but in the original language, the Hebrew, in the book of Deuteronomy. For a better and complete understanding of the Third Commandment, let us take a look at both accounts, Exodus and Deuteronomy. It reads:

Thou shalt not take <5375> the name of the LORD thy God in vain <7723>; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh His name in vain <7723>. [Exodus 20:7]

Thou shalt not take <5375> the name of the LORD  thy God in vain <7723>: for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh His name in vain <7723>. [Deuteronomy 5:11]

The numbers next to the words above, within these symbols, "< >", are their reference number to the Strong's Exhaustive Concordance.

First, let us consider the word "take" in the verses:

Strong’s Hebrew #5375: nasa' {naw-saw'} or “nacah” (Ps 4: 6 [7]). This word means different things like:  bare (up), lift (up), take (away, up), swear, carry (away), regard, to cause to bring, and many others.

Second, let us consider the word "vain' in the verses:

Strong's Hebrew #7723: shav {shaw} Meaning:  desolating, vain, uselessness, lie, lying, vanity, as well as falsehood, emptiness, nothingness and even used figuratively of idolatry. (from the same as #7722)

The Third Commandment means a lot more than meet the eyes or ears. More than just not to swear in His Name. It means as well to not desolate, bring to nothing, bear falsely, take away His Name.

Now let us look in these very same Ten Commandments, in Exodus and Deuteronomy, and see what else can we find about this Hebrew word, "shav" (vain) <S.#7723>. This time, from the Ninth Commandment:

Thou shall not bear false <7723> witness against thy neighbour. [Exodus 20:16]

Neither shalt thou bear false <7723> witness against thy neighbour. [Deuteronomy 5:20]

Even though it is translated differently in the English translations, the word "false" is in fact the same word used for "vain" in the Third Commandment, "shav" <7723>, translated this time as "FALSE".

With the understanding that in the English translations of the Hebrew Bible (Christian "Old Testament"), where you see the term "the LORD or GOD (all capitals), the Hebrew has HWHY (read from right to left) YHWH. His Name appears in Scriptures more than 5,000 times! How many times have you read "YHWH" in the English Translations?

If we were to replace anybody's name by a different name, would that be considered bearing a false witness to the person? It certainly be so.

Now, what has been done to His Name, YHWH, in Scriptures translations? It has been REPLACED. A blunt person might say, it has been FALSIFIED. It has been taken out of the way and from the hearer's ears and the reader's eyes, lifted out of the majority of translations, thereby taken in vain, turned into a lie, brought to naught and of no effect. Translations have borne a false witness to His Name following the traditions of man.

The Third Commandment could easily be translated:

"Thou shalt not take up in falsify the name of YHWH thy Elohim: for YHWH will not hold (him) guiltless that brings to naught His name."  or

"Thou shall not bear in falsehood the name of YHWH thy Elohim: for YHWH will not hold (him) guiltless that takes away His name."

If our desire is to do those things that pleases our Father, let us keep this Commandment as well as the other nine as YHWH would have us. We should never replace His Name with a false one as "LORD" or any other titles. Doing so, would be breaking the Third Commandment and one will not be hold guiltless for breaking it.

And Elohim said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and He said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.

O YHWH our Adonai, how excellent is Thy name in all the earth! who hast set Thy glory above the heavens. [Psalm 8:1]

Let them praise the name YHWH: for His name alone is excellent; His glory is above the earth and heaven. [Psalm 148:13]

May you be blessed as you study His word and I pray that our hunger for Truth never fades.

May our Father keep us faithful to His word.

Shalom.