General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: I've always had a beef with one of the Ten Commandments.. [View all]TexLaProgressive
(12,598 posts)Snip:
So let's consider the meaning of the original Hebrew word. What does it mean to lift or carry the name of the Lord? We lift the name of the Lord by praising Him and pointing others to His glory. This is lifting in the sense of elevating. And we carry the name of the Lord by bringing His name with us wherever we go. In other words, by identifying ourselves with Him. Sort of like an army hoisting a giant banner bearing Gods name, YHWH (יְהוָ֔ה ). It communicates to the world that He is our God and we are His people. Therefore, this commandment is perhaps better translated into English as, You shall not bear the name of the Lord your God in vain.
What, then, does it mean to bear Gods name in vain? The Hebrew word translated into English as in vain comes from שָׁוְא (shawv), which means emptiness or vanity. Thus, we are not to claim faith in God in an attempt to feed our vanity or in a way that leads to emptiness. This idea is captured in the words of Isaiah 29:13, as quoted by Jesus:
This people honors me with their lips,
but their heart is far from me;
in vain do they worship me,
teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.
Matthew 15:8-9nip:
So lets consider the meaning of the original Hebrew word. What does it mean to lift or carry the name of the Lord? We lift the name of the Lord by praising Him and pointing others to His glory. This is lifting in the sense of elevating. And we carry the name of the Lord by bringing His name with us wherever we go. In other words, by identifying ourselves with Him. Sort of like an army hoisting a giant banner bearing Gods name, YHWH (יְהוָ֔ה ). It communicates to the world that He is our God and we are His people. Therefore, this commandment is perhaps better translated into English as, You shall not bear the name of the Lord your God in vain.
What, then, does it mean to bear Gods name in vain? The Hebrew word translated into English as in vain comes from שָׁוְא (shawv), which means emptiness or vanity. Thus, we are not to claim faith in God in an attempt to feed our vanity or in a way that leads to emptiness. This idea is captured in the words of Isaiah 29:13, as quoted by Jesus:
This people honors me with their lips,
but their heart is far from me;
in vain do they worship me,
teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.
Matthew 15:8-9
https://rlsolberg.com/taking-gods-name-in-vain/
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