Not in Vain: What It Really Means to Take God’s Name

For centuries, the commandment 'Do not take the name of the Lord your God in vain' (Exodus 20:7, Deuteronomy 5:11) has been explained as little more than a warning about swearing.  For example, don't use God's name in anger, frustration, or even casual speech. However, what if we pause and consider that’s merely a superficial interpretation to satisfy itching ears looking for an easy explanation?

What if this commandment isn't about profanity at all, but about identity, or covenant?  Contemplate for a second, it’s more about how we choose to live, and not just about the words we use.

The Deeper Hebrew Meaning

The Hebrew word translated 'take' (nasa) means more than saying something out loud. It also means ‘to bear, to carry, or to lift-up. In this light, the commandment could be more accurately rendered:

            ‘You shall not bear the name of the Lord your God falsely.

This shifts the focus from vocabulary to integrity. It's not about avoiding bad words; it's about not misrepresenting the name you carry. To ‘take’ God's name is to carry His identity, like a person who takes a spouse’s name in marriage. You don’t enter a marital covenant and then live like you’re still single.

Ancient Reverence for the Name

The Israelites held God's name (YHWH) in such reverence they wouldn’t even say it aloud. Instead, they substituted it with titles like Adonai (Lord). Israelite scribes would even ritually purify themselves before writing it.

Scribes who copied Torah scrolls were trained in highly meticulous methods which included reverent handling of the divine name. One well-known rule from rabbinic tradition:

“Before writing the Name [of God], the scribe must sanctify himself.”

(Talmudic source: Mishnah Berurah 32:198, and referenced in the tractate Masechet Sofrim 5:7)

This sanctification wasn’t always full-body immersion, but it did involve intentional acts of spiritual preparation, including:

> Mikvah (ritual bath) in some communities

> Pronouncing aloud: “I am writing the name of God for the sanctification of his holy name”

> Writing with special quills or ink just for YHWH

Scribes were also forbidden from pausing, being distracted, or even greeting someone mid-writing once they began scripting the name.

This tradition underscores the issue wasn’t saying the name profanely, it was bearing the name without reverence, whether in action or word. Even scribes, who knew the name better than most, feared misrepresenting it.

Clearly, 'taking the Lord’s name in vain' wasn’t just about saying something out loud. It had to be about “how” one bore the name in their daily life.

Carrying the Name: Scriptural Echoes

Scripture is filled with references to God’s people being called by His name, not merely as a label, but as a relational identity.

2 Chronicles 7:14; "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves..."

Spoken by God during Solomon’s temple dedication. Even when Israel sins, being called by God’s name means they can return to Him—because He has claimed them as His own. God's people are name-bearers, not just followers.

Isaiah 43:7; "Everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory..."

Written to exiled Israel, this verse is a reminder that their identity is rooted in God’s name. God's name is tied to our purpose and identity.

Isaiah 4:1; "Let us be called by your name; take away our disgrace!"

A metaphor for covenant relationship, where taking someone’s name implies union and the covering of shame. It echoes the desire for belonging and redemption.  A metaphor for covenantal union, equal to taking a spouse’s name.

Jeremiah 14:9; "We are called by your name..."

Amid drought and judgment, the people cry out to God not based on merit, but on covenantal identity, they are His, even in rebellion. A plea rooted in relational belonging.

Romans 2:24; "God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you."

Paul’s warning to religious Jews: claiming God’s name while living contrary to it causes outsiders to mock the very God they profess. Paul rebukes those who claim God's name but live in contradiction.

John 17:11-12; "Protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me..."

Jesus prays that His followers would remain unified and protected, not just by His teachings, but by the shared identity carried in the divine name. Jesus entrusts His followers with the divine name as part of their unity.

Revelation 3:12; "I will write on them the name of my God..."

A future promise: those who endure will bear God’s name permanently, marked not by words, but by belonging. The name becomes a mark of eternal alignment and belonging.

A Name Worth Carrying

To take God's name is much more than using a swear word, rather it is to step into a sacred bond. It's not misconception, rather it’s an alignment. Therefore, to live in contradiction to the name you carry is to take it in vain. But, to live in a way that honors that name, is worship in motion.

So maybe the question isn’t just: “Do I say God’s name with reverence”, but rather:

            "Do I carry it with honor"?