GOD’S NAME, THE THIRD COMMANDMENT: TAKING GOD’S NAME IN VAIN

A good friend of mine gave me his interpretation of the 3^rd Commandment (Exod 20:7; Deut 5:11): any business that advertises itself as “Christian” is taking God’s name in vain.  In Second Temple Jewish tradition, the proper name of God – consonants YHWH* – given to Moses (Exod 3:11-14) was not to be pronounced.  Instead, when Jews came to this name when reading a scroll, they said, “Adonai” (Lord).  In the Dead Sea Scrolls, copyists sometimes used a stamp rather than accidentally mess up writing the divine name.  Jews today often write G_d.  Even in English translations of the OT, the convention is to use the substitute LORD.  Of course, these applications are examples of stretching a proper understanding to the extreme.  So, what does this command mean?

You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain [Hebrew shav'] for the LORD will not hold guiltless anyone who takes his name in vain [shav'] (Exod. 20:7 NET)

It builds on the first two.  The 1^st command, have no other gods besides/before YHWH, was moving the Hebrews, who grew up in Egypt, away from polytheism and to henotheism, the worship of just one God.  The people were not yet true monotheists (only one God exists).  God’s signs and wonders in Egypt had displayed that YHWH was superior to the Egyptian gods and goddesses; and He had delivered them.  Therefore, they should worship YHWH alone.
The 2^nd, not to make an idol or worship any, addressed the manipulative magic of their polytheistic upbringing.#  Making a representation of a god/goddess and caring for it, was believed to invoke a coercive kind of magic to get the god’s attention, favor, and action on one’s behalf.
The 3^rd commandment takes matters a step further, with the key words being “name” and “vain” (shav').  To know a god's name allowed one to know the power realm of that god and to involve oneself in that god's power by magical, manipulative means of worship.  That is a key point in Exod 3:11-14.  Moses there is demanding to know God’s name.  God’s reply was a play on the verb “to be,” (hwh) and is often translated “I am who I am” (3:14).  In other words, God refused to give such a name to Moses.  It is analogous to saying, “My name is ‘NO NAME’ because I cannot be comprehended or manipulated; I just am!”  The word shav’ (vain) has the sense of that which is unsubstantial, fleeting, vaporous, and was sometimes used in reference to the worthlessness of idols.  [Note in Psalm 24:4, the implication of the whole/perfect person not lifting up oneself to “vanity” (again, shav’) is that the person is not set on an ephemeral god/idol, but on the one substantial God.  See Sept. 25, 2023.]  Therefore, when God takes the Hebrews as His people, under His name, His people should never reference nor represent God in any false, shallow, or manipulative way.

Conclusion:
The Jewish tradition of not even pronouncing God’s name makes sense.  Taking God’s name in vain would apply to oath taking and perjury under oath, but more generally to any false representation of God's character by those speaking and acting "in his name" as his people or representatives.  So, don’t invoke the name of God at all.

In Catholic tradition, God's name is to be used only to bless, praise. or glorify.

Among all the words of Revelation, there is one which is unique: the revealed name of God. God confides his name to those who believe in him; he reveals himself to them in his personal mystery. The gift of a name belongs to the order of trust and intimacy. "The Lord's name is holy." For this reason man must not abuse it. He must keep it in mind in silent, loving adoration. He will not introduce it into his own speech except to bless, praise, and glorify it.  (Catechism, (2143)

My friend was correct.  He even took it one step further by reflecting on what it means to pray “in Jesus’ name.”  We have been granted access to the Father by sharing in the character, power, authority, and glory of Jesus’ name.  That, too, should never be taken in vain.

Lord, there is no greater privilege than belonging to you as one of your people.  Help me never to take for granted having your Name nor to misrepresent you -- as in reality I so often do.  May your Name be praised and glorified forever!  Amen.

*Probably pronounced something like Yahweh.
#To be clear, the tradition of the “God of their Fathers” existed among them, but it seems to have lost its force and was probably just recognized as one god among many.