What Does “Don’t Take the Lord’s Name in Vain,” Really Mean?

Countless millions of us throughout the centuries have believed that the third of the Ten Commandments meant we shouldn’t swear, but that’s wrong. Uh, what I mean is that, while using God’s name in such an irreverent way is wrong, it has nothing at all to do with the Third Commandment. So, what does “Don’t take the Lord’s name in vain,” really mean then?

As with all verses in the Bible, we need to understand the context of the culture and time in which the commandments had been written. The people in the land where God directed Israel to live had been sacrificing to false gods.

Their offerings included more than the material possessions demanded by the priests of Baal. Those serving Moloch said god required the sacrifice of their first-born child in his fires.

God forbids the use of His name to force people to submit to unrighteous practices, acquire unearned wealth, or gain power over others. We don’t much like it when someone uses our name to make promises for us to keep either, do we?

This morning I asked our junior high kids at the Samaritan House Children’s Center in West Africa what it meant to not take the Lord’s name in vain. The unanimous response from the class was, “What does ‘vain’ mean?”

I chose to reply by providing examples, using their names, which served to spotlight why anyone would take the Lord’s name in vain.

Material gain

“Koumba Hawa, Madeleine said that if you gave me your pay envelope, she would give you hers.”

The spontaneous response, “No! I never said that ” triggered a class-wide protest for my deception.

“I used Madeleine’s name in vain to get something I wanted from Koumba Hawa,” I said, reassuring the girls I’d never ask them to give me their dish washing allowance.

Power over another

“Saa, God told me that you must study to be a priest when you grow up.”

Not surprisingly, the avid footballer who has playing for Barcelona in his sights, said, “No way! I’m not gonna do that.”

I used the Lord’s name in vain when I told Saa that God said I should tell him he must be a priest.

Power and wealth by threatening disaster

“This is what the Lord says: ‘Children, you must tell your mom or dad to bring 20,000 francs to Auntie Dannie today, or I won’t let their crops get any rain.’”

This is another example of taking the Lord’s name in vain. God never told me to say that. Leaders sometimes do that because they know frightening people will fill their own greedy pockets.

Of course, I had no power or authority to demand that God withhold the rain if the parents couldn’t come up with the $3 that day. This sum represents several days wages for most of these folks.

Yes, there are specific instances in the Bible where God commanded His prophets to speak for Him. Familiar stories include:

• Jonah. Once the large fish spit him out, Jonah rushed to obey God’s orders. Clad in desperation and seaweed, Jonah shouted all over the metropolis of Nineveh that God said He’d destroy them if they didn’t repent of their evil ways.(Note: No money had been slipped to Jonah for him to get God to change His mind. The people of Nineveh repented. Jonah didn’t get a single shekel out of the deal.) (Jonah 2 and 3)

• Elijah. As God commanded Elijah to pray, no rain fell for three and one half years. Then, when God told Elijah to pray again, the rain came. Elijah’s reward came from God, not the people. (I Kings 17-18 and James 5:17)

So, what does “Don’t take the Lord’s name in vain,” really mean?

The bottom line is this: Except when giving reverence, obeying God’s direct order is the only right way to use His name. Everything else falls under taking the Lord’s name in vain.

Tragically, examples of this transgression are easily found amongst Christian work today. I’ve heard preachers on television declare that for every person who gives $100 right at that moment, God will return it to them four, seven, or even one hundred times. Clearly, that’s using God’s name in vain.

Reading Exodus 20:7, we learn that God’s got plans for those who use His name in vain. “You are not to misuse the name of the Lord your God, because the Lord will not leave unpunished the one who misuses his name.” (Exodus 20:7 ISV)

At sixty-five, I heard this issue raised by a Jewish Believer in Jesus, so I did my own research on the Third Commandment. Until that study, I thought I understood what taking God’s name in vain meant.

Just goes to show you, we’re never too old to correct our mistakes. I’m delighted to know the truth.

Is this news to you? Please, feel free to share any tidbits you’ve discovered about the third commandment.