Hello,
Can someone explain the 3rd commandment "You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain " please? In as simple words as you can.
Thank you
The word "take" in "You shall not take" can also be translated "lift up". So it doesn't sound like it is referring to "put down" or "curse".
One possible explanation: Don't give God's name to an idol (a vain thing), like how the Israelites worshipped a golden calf and called it by God's name.
Second application: Don't say "Thus says the LORD" when He didn't say it. That is false prophecy.
Combining the two application above, "don't use God's name to endorse something that is false".
"O my God" is actually a quotation from the Bible (1 Chronicles 11:19; 17:25; Ezra 9:6; Nehemiah 13:14, 22, 29, 31; Psalm 3:7; 22:2; 25:2; 38:21; 40:8, 17; 42:6; 59:1; 71:4, 12, 22; 83:13; Daniel 9:18), where people are praying to God.
There is another rule about cursing or blaspheming God's name (Leviticus 24:10-16)
Jesus also instructed us to pray "Hallowed be Thy name" in the Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:9)