Commandments #3 & #4

An interesting development that everyone observes is the change in our language from our time as a child through our later years. We see new jargon coming into play and then pass into obscurity. One of the primary drivers of language is television, where change happens on cutting edge shows where the writers bring out new slogans and slang every season. For instance, who said ‘Shut up, Meathead’? (pause). Who said ‘I think we need a bigger boat’?(pause). Who said, ‘D’oh!’ (Pause). All of these are cultural changes that have been added into our lexicon.

Another change is the definition of words. Who knows what ‘gay’ originally met? Who knows what ‘bad’ meant in the 1990s versus the 1960s? How many definitions can be attributed to the word ‘fag’ or ‘faggot’? Bottom line is that our language is in perpetual state of change as generations come and go. This causes all kinds of difficulties when dealing with older writings, especially the Bible where context, language, and translations change over thousands of years. We have seen this in a couple of examples in words like ‘neighbor’ and ‘jealous’. With the third commandment we run into a biggie.

The third commandment is one that people seem to use a lot in a narrow, focused context. There are two ways to look at the third commandment. First off, it reads as such:

English Standard Version Chapter 20

You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.

Another translation starts to shed some light on the context of what the commandment really means:

The Holman Christian Standard Bible Chapter 20

7 Do not misuse the name of the LORD your God, because the LORD will not leave anyone unpunished who misuses His name.

You basically have two ways this is translated, one being ‘take the Lord’s name in vain’, the more common public usage or to ‘misuse’ the name of the Lord. So naturally which one is correct? The answer can be found in the original Hebrew. The word used is ‘sawe’ and in the verse is meant to render empty, worthless, or nothing. To make matters worse the word also pertains to usage in a vow or oath. In Judaism, the usage in this manner was to say something along the lines of swearing in the name of God, such as ‘I swear to God’. This usage was in itself not wrong, because you are putting yourself at the mercy of God in holding yourself to the truthful intent of what oath you are swearing or promise you are making to someone.