Exodus 20:7 in the Light of Hebrew


Very few people in the world, religious or secular, have not heard or read Exodus 20:7, “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.” Most would hold to a general idea of what this means. Many believe it refers to swearing or profanity using “God” or “Jesus” in the epithet. Others believe it has to do with speak- ing or writing the sacred Name of God, as He revealed Himself to Moses casually, and the handling of materi- als that contain the Name, such as Torah scrolls.


While all of this may be contained in the command- ment, the original Hebrew actually reveals a more sublime understanding of the text, which we miss in the English.


Te Hebrew word translated as “take” in this verse is nasa. Strong’s Concordance H5375 primarily defines nasa to mean “to liſt,” “bear,” “carry,” and finally, “take.” However, the preponderance of usage of nasa through- out the Scriptures is primarily “to liſt or carry,” and sometimes “to bear.”


In this context, we find the commandment instructing us not to liſt up or carry the name of the Lord in vain. What does vain mean? Strong’s H7723 reveals the He- brew word for vain is shav, meaning “emptiness, vanity, falsehood, emptiness of speech, lying, worthlessness (of


Take—Strong’s H5375 Hebrew: 1) to liſt, bear up, carry, take


Genesis 21:18 – "Arise, liſt up (nasa) the lad and hold him with your hand."


Genesis 50:13 – "For his sons carried (nasa) him to the land of Canaan."


Exodus 28:29 – "And Aaron shall bear (nasa) the names of the children of Israel." Psalm 10:12 – "Arise, O LORD! O God, liſt up (nasa) Your hand!"


conduct)."


Terefore, through the lens of Hebrew, we now can fully understand this critical commandment: We are not to liſt up or carry the Name of the Lord falsely, in improper manner, or with empty, lying speech.


We who bear His Name must be circumspect as we carry the sacred Name before all men—do we bring reproach or praise to His Name?


Based on an interview with Danny Ben-Gigi, Jewish Voice with Jonathan Bernis, April 2010


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Both good choices!


`yp `yp, nasa


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