You shall not take the name of YHWH your God in vain, for YHWH will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain. (Exodus 20:7)
What does it mean to “take God’s name in vain”? Many people think taking God’s name in vain means invoking Him in cursing, swearing, or profanity. This is a way of misusing God’s name, but it doesn’t fully capture what it means to take God’s name in vain. Taking God’s name in vain covers a larger and more subtle range of behaviors than just saying a swear word.
שֵׁם (Shem) — Name (a moniker or appellation one is called by), reputation, renown, or character
The word translated “name” in Exodus 20:7 is the Hebrew word Shem. Shem can mean “name” in the sense of a moniker one is called. My name is Jack, her name is Jill, etc. But the word shem has more meaning than just “name”. Shem encompasses the concept of one’s reputation, character, or renown. A person’s shem is how he or she is known, what he or she is known for, and how he or she is generally perceived by others.
When we read about taking God’s name in vain, the instruction covers more than just speaking the name of God in a disrespectful way. It is terrible to speak God’s name in a disrespectful manner, but the Biblical instruction goes much deeper than that. We take God’s name in vain when we say or do anything that would misrepresent God or tarnish His reputation before others.
The word translated “vain” in Exodus 20:7 is the Hebrew word Shav. The idea of shav in Exodus 20:7 is that we are not to use God’s name or character in a way that is empty, useless, or deceitful. We are not to ruin or destroy God’s name or reputation by speaking badly of Him or causing His character to be shamed or degraded.
When we put it all together, we are not to say or do anything that would mislead people in regard to God, misrepresent God to others, soil God’s reputation before others, or cause any damage to the name and fame of God. We break this instruction every time we cause God to lose face in the eyes of others.
How we Take God’s Name in Vain
And now, O priests, this command is for you. If you will not listen, if you will not take it to heart to give honor to my name, says YHWH of hosts, then I will send the curse upon you and I will curse your blessings. Indeed, I have already cursed them, because you do not lay it to heart. Behold, I will rebuke your offspring, and spread dung on your faces, the dung of your offerings, and you shall be taken away with it. So shall you know that I have sent this command to you, that my covenant with Levi may stand, says YHWH of hosts. My covenant with him was one of life and peace, and I gave them to him. It was a covenant of fear, and he feared me. He stood in awe of my name. The torah of truth was in his mouth, and no wrong was found on his lips. He walked with me in peace and uprightness, and he turned many from iniquity. For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of YHWH of hosts. But you have turned aside from the way. You have caused many to stumble by your instruction. You have corrupted the covenant of Levi, says YHWH of hosts, and so I make you despised and abased before all the people, in as much as you do not keep my ways but show partiality in your instruction. (Malachi 2:1-9)
In Speech
We profane the name of God when we say anything false about Him. Within the church, there are many false doctrines that misrepresent God and cast Him in a bad light. Some doctrines frame God as harsh, cruel, and overbearing. Some doctrines frame God as overly casual, as if there is no law and He exists to grant our wishes and give us our desires. All such misrepresentations do tremendous damage. Whether God is misrepresented as the cruel overseer or the accommodating buddy, His name and reputation become distorted in people’s eyes.
Erosions of God’s character cause many to reject the faith. It’s hard to convince people of God’s love when they’ve always heard He’s fickle and brutal. It’s hard to convince people God’s law has any power when they’ve always heard His law is nullified and He never really intended to keep and enforce it in the first place. It’s hard to convince people God even exists when all they’ve ever heard is hypocrisy and scathing rumors. The worst part is, people are far more inclined to believe the misrepresentation they heard than to do any research to find out the truth. So, when God’s reputation is wrecked we face a grueling uphill battle to undo the damage and present His true gospel message to the world.
We who are priests of God’s kingdom have a mandate to speak truth and give sound teaching according to His word. If we misrepresent God and ruin His reputation we won’t be able to turn others from sin or expect anyone to come to us for instruction.
In Action
We profane the name of God when people see us violate His teachings, instructions, or commandments. If we publicly identify ourselves as children of God, anytime people see us sin His reputation (as well as ours) takes a hit. We preach about love then we act unloving, and God’s reputation is hurt. We preach against one sin but indulge in another, and God’s reputation is hurt. We say the Bible is the infallible word of God then we don’t live it, and God’s reputation is hurt.
Again, our ruining of God’s reputation causes many to reject the faith. We can’t convince people they need salvation if they see us living a lifestyle of sin. People are inclined to believe their own perceptions and experiences much more than they are willing to seek God and study His word. If unbelievers see us act like fools they won’t be interested in hearing what we say; they will have already made up their minds according to what they saw in us. If there is no distinction between the life of the believer and the life of the unbeliever, why should anyone care to become a disciple of God?
How We Can Clean Up Our Language
In Speech
Our speech must be according to God’s will. We must be capable of properly teaching and representing God to others. The first step is to thoroughly study the scriptures. We’ve clearly been told through the prophet Malachi that we must have the torah of truth (teachings, instructions, and commandments of God) in our mouths, that our lips must guard knowledge and contain no wrong. To accomplish this, we must first thoroughly know and understand the Bible. To reach a high level of knowledge and understanding, we must devote ourselves to daily, rigorous, study. Not a casual reading. Not a sermon with one verse for every fifteen minutes of anecdote. Not a verse here and a verse there. We have to have a real passion to seek God, to know Him, and to gain understanding of His will. If we make study of God’s scripture a priority in our lives, we will grow in knowledge and wisdom so that we are prepared to speak.
In Action
Our actions must also be according to God’s will. If we’ve studied the scriptures and understood them, then we must put them into practice. God clearly told us through Malachi, when we deviate from His ways we cause others to stumble. And, when we fail to keep God’s ways we become despised and degraded in other people’s perspective. Popular doctrine says, “Jesus did it all, so I don’t have to do any of it”; however, the scriptures state from beginning to end that God requires obedience. James said faith without works is dead. Peter said we must be holy in our conduct just as Christ who called us is holy. John said nobody who keeps on sinning has ever seen or known Jesus. It’s not popular doctrine, but walking in God’s ways is a works-based faith. Salvation is by faith in Jesus’ atoning sacrifice, but after salvation we must roll up our sleeves and get to work.
Conclusion
What did God say He found pleasing about Levi? Levi stood in awe of God’s name. We must also stand in awe of God’s name, study His teachings, and put our faith into practice. Then, we will be ready to properly represent God to the world and turn others from sin.
