The Third Commandment

Today, we look at the Third Commandment: "You shall not take the Name of Hashem, your God, in vain, for Hashem will not absolve anyone who takes His Name in vain. God takes His Name very seriously. Jews refer to God as "Hashem" which means "The Name" to avoid misusing His Name. This Commandment extends the prohibition seen in the Second Commandment which prohibited idolatry. Just as we would show contempt for God by making an idol, we would equally show contempt for God by using His Name for no valid purpose. The plain meaning of this verse is that it is prohibited to use God's Name casually.

Now, let us examine how we use God's Name. Do you utter the phrase, "OMG?" Do you casually use the name of God when surprised? These examples demonstrate how easy it is to violate this Commandment. Further, one should not watch television shows, movies, or other entertainment where God's Name is profaned. We are to take this very seriously because God takes it seriously. This Commandment goes way beyond using God's Name as a curse word. Most everybody knows that is wrong; this prohibition includes all casual use of His Name.

Today, watch what you say and observe. Check your entertainment time to be sure that God's Name is not being profaned by a casual use. Remember, this is God's instruction to us to live in a way that pleases Him.