Seeking explanation for the 3rd commandment.

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Karlon

Well-known member
Mar 8, 2023
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#21
Well gosh and goll are related to God but not explicitly.
(I guess "gad merd" is different enough not to imply being God-related :^)
i mean against God when i say "not God related".
 

birdie

Senior Member
Sep 16, 2014
546
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#22
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
Thanks Seeker of Knowledge, for your question. While I do not like it when someone curses using God's name, I am not so sure that this situation is what is being described in the 3rd commandment.

What happens when man builds something of his own strength that is not in line with God, but that person claims it is from God, then we might have a case of using God's name in vain. There are many who come claiming to be Christian but the Bible says to go not after them. Another way to say it is false brethren. If they say that they are from God but they are not from God. We read about that in this verse segment: "Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. "

It goes without saying that God will not hold guiltless the unsaved. But, happily, there are those whom God has saved by his own strength, and these will be guiltless.
 

Beckworth

Well-known member
May 15, 2019
813
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#23
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
Matthew 5:34-38 “…do not SWEAR. at all; neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne nor by earth, for it is God’s footstool.”
Psalms 111:9 “…holy and reverent is His name.”

Do not use God’s name to curse or as a “By word” or in any way that would demean it or show irreverence or disrespect.
 

Randy4u2c

Active member
Sep 13, 2022
200
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#24
Student of the word did an excellent job of defining the word vain as used in the 3rd commandment. You are not to degrade God's name or blame him for your problems. For an example of God's anger towards this read Jer 23:33-40.
 

Adstar

Senior Member
Jul 24, 2016
7,684
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113
#25
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
I explain it by stating that when ever one utters the Name of the LORD they need to be thinking of the LORD.. / referring to Him..

You often hear people saying Jesus in their dialog and they are definitely NOT thinking about Jesus or referring to Him when they say Jesus.. To me that's using the name of the LORD in Vain..

I hope that is simple enough..
 
Feb 16, 2025
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#26
Well, as an army chaplain I once felt led to share a sermon on cussing, which I analyzed into three main categories: the S-words, F-words and GD-words, which would be condemned by that commandment reaffirmed by Paul in:

TOP #164: Christians should not speak coarsely or unlovingly, but rather helpfully. [EPH 4:29 & 5:4] James states this teaching in terms of moral filth and controlling one’s tongue (JM 1:21 & 3:8-10).

I confess to not obeying this command sometimes, (usually when alone and an infernal inanimate object attacks me :^)
Yes. Inanimate objects has a strange hunger for your pinkie toe.
 

Blade

Well-known member
Nov 19, 2019
1,876
651
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#28
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
How was it done back then? Some to this very day will not speak His name. What name? He has many. Its like the fear of the lord reverence and honoring.. so forth. We do nothing that disrespects Him. For me.. GOD .. not His name and does not even begin to describe Him. He called Satan the god of this world.
 

Karlon

Well-known member
Mar 8, 2023
2,886
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#29
How was it done back then? Some to this very day will not speak His name. What name? He has many. Its like the fear of the lord reverence and honoring.. so forth. We do nothing that disrespects Him. For me.. GOD .. not His name and does not even begin to describe Him. He called Satan the god of this world.
reminds me that Jewish people won't even write the name of God because they believe they are too lowly to even write His name. they put the "g" on paper but that's it. going by that, why don't they stop speaking His name too? i say that's ridiculous.
 
Jan 31, 2025
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#30
reminds me that Jewish people won't even write the name of God because they believe they are too lowly to even write His name. they put the "g" on paper but that's it. going by that, why don't they stop speaking His name too? i say that's ridiculous.
The way they treat the old testaments different too. It's probably not a good idea to criticize the Israelites while they are suffering.
 

Karlon

Well-known member
Mar 8, 2023
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#31
The way they treat the old testaments different too. It's probably not a good idea to criticize the Israelites while they are suffering.
i admit that there was a bit of an element of criticism in my statement. i do not like Jewish people because around here, at least, they are nasty, they think they are better than you & they are very cheap. these are the facts. if anyone on CC lived here, they would experience the same thing. forget that it's Jewish people, it could be any group of people. sadly, i've only met 3 people in my life that are jovial with the Jewish.
 
Jan 31, 2025
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#32
i admit that there was a bit of an element of criticism in my statement. i do not like Jewish people because around here, at least, they are nasty, they think they are better than you & they are very cheap. these are the facts. if anyone on CC lived here, they would experience the same thing. forget that it's Jewish people, it could be any group of people. sadly, i've only met 3 people in my life that are jovial with the Jewish.

Karon, well, it sounds like you either live in California or New York. Liberal Jews and ultra-orthodox Jews sometimes feel superior. One because they have a lot of money while the other is self-righteous. But they’re not all like that. I'm sure if you met my great aunt you would like her. Also, Jews from Israel seem to be nicer than Jews from America in general (the women at least). I don't know why—maybe it's because they've suffered? But if you meet one, you might think the same.
 
Jan 15, 2025
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#33
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)
 

Karlon

Well-known member
Mar 8, 2023
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#34
Karon, well, it sounds like you either live in California or New York. Liberal Jews and ultra-orthodox Jews sometimes feel superior. One because they have a lot of money while the other is self-righteous. But they’re not all like that. I'm sure if you met my great aunt you would like her. Also, Jews from Israel seem to be nicer than Jews from America in general (the women at least). I don't know why—maybe it's because they've suffered? But if you meet one, you might think the same.
correct, New York. i believe Jews from the U.S. have conditioned themselves to be forever on the defensive because of their long time suffering. so a question is: were they that way centuries ago? i'm sure Jews know that they have that reputation worldwide. you'd think that they would have corrected it by now.
 
Jan 31, 2025
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#35
Karlon, It doesnt matter how the world views them. It's not illegal haggle things down. They see it as their responsibility to leave money for their grandchildren. Proverbs 13:22 As for their attitude toward others well some of them are zionistic meaning they only associate with those from the within Jewish community. It's not that there unfriendly it's just that they don't trust outsiders. Also jews have no rest when they are not following the Lord and not in Israel (Deuteronomy 28:64-67) though I believe God saw them repent during the war. Deuteronomy 30:1-3 and as for the self rightoues some jews have well even Christians have trouble with that one. Some Saints have been known had to stand to stand in garbage cans saying they were nothing but garbage not to get prideful. Becuase through them the holy spirit preformed miracles.
 

Karlon

Well-known member
Mar 8, 2023
2,886
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#36
Karlon, It doesnt matter how the world views them. It's not illegal haggle things down. They see it as their responsibility to leave money for their grandchildren. Proverbs 13:22 As for their attitude toward others well some of them are zionistic meaning they only associate with those from the within Jewish community. It's not that there unfriendly it's just that they don't trust outsiders. Also jews have no rest when they are not following the Lord and not in Israel (Deuteronomy 28:64-67) though I believe God saw them repent during the war. Deuteronomy 30:1-3 and as for the self rightoues some jews have well even Christians have trouble with that one. Some Saints have been known had to stand to stand in garbage cans saying they were nothing but garbage not to get prideful. Becuase through them the holy spirit preformed miracles.
when i say "cheap", i mean they try to pay a small fee for a job done. they are well known for that. every parent should leave $ for their offspring, common sense. have you lived here, near Saratoga? how can you say, "it's not that they are unfriendly"? & it's not just Saratoga, it's nearly everywhere. Daisy2, it seems you are on the protective side of Jewish people. their ways are worldwide known as all other peoples.
 

homwardbound

Senior Member
Oct 24, 2012
17,317
708
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#37
What is your purpose for quoting me and posting these verses. A plain-English response, please.
Okay, Not accusing not saying anything to be anyway offensive
I hear, I write and post as I hear, thanks
Are you guilty, or not, that is between God and you. I am guilty, I need God to lead and God leads. I see to not doubt that or second guess that anymore, as religion taught me to do that, which put me under the curse of Law. Not the Law itself, me the first born person of flesh and blood is that curse passed down fro the first Adam.
God Won, I believe, have received and see new in this love for me and all the world too, thank you. Not concerned over sin anymore seeing Romans 7, hearing what Paul is talking about being under Law. Also in Galatians
How did you receive God, by belief, or work?
Galatians 3. Amazing to me to get this gift given them, me, you and all that choose to believe God. Then we get taught we have to take on Law and prove to others you are in by your work, Oh, what a reward one gets from other flesh that can't please God either. Wow, woe is me as in Isaiah 6:1-7 the tongs from the Holy Fire, cleansed Isaiah's lips, as today present and forever Christ cleansed us all in the risen Son given us to walk new in love to all, at least for me thank you
It is done on the cross, the reconciling of all, to Father through Son, the two as 'Won for us all to walk new, having a new focus on new life in thanksgiving and praise to Father through risen Son given us.

Made alive in Spirit and Truth, dead to not sin anymore, Amen.
Oh and if you are in an angst over sin you now hate and yet still do, wanting it to leave you. Turn to Father and Son as Won for you, it is done for you (John 19:30), not the self (even with Daddy's help) having to do what is already done for you too by Son thanks
Believe God completed what was needed to be completed, then in the risen Life of Son, new life in God's Spirit and /truth begins in each in sincere belief as I think you are in sincere belief
I am in still in process too
 

Bob-Carabbio

Well-known member
Jun 24, 2020
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#38
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
"In vain" essentially indicates that what you're doing has no importance and means nothing.

One thing that struck me many years back was an "Exclamation" I used to use: "Gadzooks". I worked with a Londoner for a while, and asked him (since it was a common word in English slang) what it's derivation was.

He told me that "Gadzooks", and "Oddsbodkins" were synonymous nouns. And any English slang with "Odd", "Gor" or "Gad" as a first syllable, were direct references to GOD. SO - you've got "God's hooks", or "God's Bodkins" - and there were three of them - one in each hand, and one for his feet.

Obviously, I don't use those terms any more, now that I know what they mean. but using God's name (which implies having His AUTHORITY) is such a profane way would be "Using it in vain".

More practically when we pray, we tag the prayer with "In Jesus' name", implying that we're praying with HIS AUTHORITY. If all it means to us is "We're done pray'in" it's used in vain.
 

Kroogz

Well-known member
Dec 5, 2023
1,371
629
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#39
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
To see Him as anything other than what God is.....Is taking His name in vain.

Namely as our Savior. If we don't see and believe God as our Savior, we are taking His name in vain.

It's not some naughty word we use or about some sin that we might do.

If we don't see and believe Him as our Savior.....we are taking His name in vain.