The Third Commandment

(Exodus 20:7 NIV) “You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.

Wow Lord.

If the Hebrew word translated as “misuse” or “vain” is negated “nasa” which means “to carry, lift up, or bear”, then I have not fully understand the implications of this commandment.

According to Biblical scholars, “nasa” means to “lift up the weight from the shoulders of one”- meaning to take away their guilt. Only God can do that, and He did it so completely through His Son, Jesus the Christ.

I think of Isaiah’s description of Christ in chapter 53 where the humbled one is “lifted up” referring to the Messiah.

Or I think of the words of Jesus who said, “If I be lifted up, I will draw all men to myself”.

Both instances imply that “lifting up” means humbling oneself, even unto death.

Now, apply this same word to the third commandment given by YHWH to Moses. The English translation seems to over simplify what is meant in the Hebrew..

Yes, it could mean we are not to take the name, title, or character of God lightly but to honour and glorify it. That is the “must not do” perspective.

But could it not also mean, “Do not refuse to humbly lift up the name of the Lord your God..even unto death”?

If this be the case, then the commandment does not so much emphasis what not to do (take God’s name in vain) as to what we should do (lift God’s name up in praise, honour, and glory) with an attitude of humility.

If we humbly honour, praise, and glorify the character and title of God, we cannot take His name in vain....unless we are hypocritical and duplicitous.