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Question

What does "take the name of the LORD thy God in vain" mean? What does "vain" (shav, H7723) mean in Hebrew? This is the only commandment with an attached consequence ("the LORD will not hold him guiltless"). How does the Bible apply this beyond profanity -- false oaths (Lev 19:12), misrepresenting God (Deu 18:20-22), profaning God's name through conduct (Isa 52:5; Rom 2:24)? What does Jesus teach about oaths (Mat 5:33-37)? What does "hallowed be thy name" (Mat 6:9) mean as the positive counterpart?

Topics

BLASPHEMY

General scriptures concerning: EXO 20:7; LEV 19:12; 22:32; 24:10-16; DEU 5:11; 2SA 12:14; 2KI 19:22; 2CH 32:19; JOB 9:16,17,34,35; 10:2-7; 13:7-9,25-27; 15:13,25,26; 16:9,11,14; 19:6,7,21,22; 21:13,14; 22:12-14,17; 30:21; 33:10,11; 34:5,6,9,16-19,37; 37:20; 40:2; PSA 5:1,2; 10:11,13; 50:21; 73:9,11; 74:18; 78:19,20; 94:7; 139:20; PRO 30:7-9; ISA 8:21,22; 29:15,16; 36:15,18,20,21; 37:10,23; 40:27; 45:9; 52:5; 65:7; JER 4:10; 17:15; 20:7; 23:10; EZK 8:12; 9:9; 18:25; 20:27; 33:17-20; 35:12,13; DAN 7:25; 11:36,37; HOS 7:13; ZEP 1:12; ZEC 5:3,4; MAL 3:13,14; MAT 10:25; 12:31,32; 15:19; MRK 3:29,30; 7:21-23; LUK 12:10; JHN 19:7; ROM 2:24; 1CO 12:3; COL 3:8; 2TH 2:4; 2TI 3:2; HEB 10:29; JAS 2:7; 3:10; 5:12; 2PE 3:3,4; REV 13:1,6; 16:9,11,21; 17:3

Prophecy of: REV 13:1,5,6; 16:9,11,21; 17:3

Instances of: - The depraved son of Shelomith, who cursed God: LEV 24:10-16 - The Israelites, complaining against God: NUM 21:5,6 - Infidels who used David's adultery to blaspheme: 2SA 12:14 - Shimei, in malice toward David: 2SA 16:5 - Rabshakeh, in the siege of Jerusalem: 2KI 18:22; 19; ISA 36:15-20; 37:10-33 - Job's wife, exhorting Job to curse God: JOB 2:9 - Peter, when accused of being a disciple: MAT 26:74; MRK 14:71 - Revilers of Jesus at crucifixion: MAT 27:40-44,63 - Early Christians compelled to blaspheme: ACT 26:11; 1TI 1:13 - Hymenaeus and Alexander: 1TI 1:20 - The man of sin: 2TH 2:3,4 - Backslidden Ephesians: REV 2:9

False indictments for: - Naboth: 1KI 21:13 - Jesus: MAT 26:65; MRK 14:58; LUK 22:70,71; JHN 19:7 - Stephen: ACT 6:11,13 - Jesus falsely accused previously: MRK 2:7; LUK 5:21

OATH

Used in solemnizing covenants: - Between Abraham and the king of Sodom: GEN 14:22,23 - Between Abraham and Abimelech: GEN 21:22,23 - Between Isaac and Abimelech: GEN 26:26-29,31 - Abraham requires oath of his servant Eliezer: GEN 24:2,3,9 - Esau confirms sale of birthright: GEN 25:33 - Jacob confirms covenant with Laban: GEN 31:53 - Joseph required to swear to bury his father: GEN 47:28-31; 50:25 - Rahab and the spies: JOS 2:12-14; 6:22 - Israelites and the Hivites: JOS 9:3-20 - Moses and Caleb: JOS 14:9 - Elders of Gilead and Jephthah: JDG 11:10 - Ruth and Naomi: RUT 1:17 - Boaz and Ruth: RUT 3:13 - Jonathan and David: 1SA 20:3,13-17 - David and Saul: 1SA 24:21,22; 2SA 21:7 - David and Bathsheba: 1KI 1:28,29 - Solomon: 1KI 2:23 - Peter confirming denial: MRK 14:71

Attributed to God: GEN 22:16; PSA 89:35; 95:11; 105:9; 132:11; ISA 14:24; 45:23; JER 11:5; 22:5; 49:13; 51:14; LUK 1:73; HEB 3:11,18; 4:3; 6:13,14,17; 7:21,28; REV 10:6

Unclassified scriptures: EXO 20:7; 22:10,11; 23:1; LEV 6:2-5; 19:12; NUM 5:19-24; DEU 5:11; 6:13; 10:20; 1KI 8:31,32; PSA 15:1,2,4; ECC 8:2; ISA 48:1; JER 4:2; 5:2,7; 7:8,9; 12:16; DAN 9:11; 12:7; HOS 4:15; MAT 5:33-37; 14:3-12; 23:18-22; 26:63; MRK 6:26; ACT 23:12-14; 2CO 1:23; GAL 1:20; HEB 6:16; JAS 5:12; REV 10:5,6

Cross-refs: COVENANT; FALSE WITNESS; GOD, PROFANING HIS NAME; PERJURY

GOD -- NAME OF

Proclaimed: EXO 34:5,14; EXO 6:3; 15:3; PSA 83:18

To be reverenced: EXO 20:7; DEU 5:11; 28:58; PSA 111:9; MIC 4:5; 1TI 6:1

Praised: PSA 34:3; 72:17

Not to be profaned: EXO 20:7; LEV 18:21; 19:12; 20:3; 21:6; 22:2,32; DEU 5:11; PSA 139:20; PRO 30:9; ISA 52:5; ROM 2:24; REV 16:9

Profaned: PSA 139:20; MAT 26:74

Cross-refs: BLASPHEMY; PERJURY

PERJURY

General scriptures concerning: LEV 6:2-7; 19:12; ISA 48:1; JER 5:2; 7:9; HOS 10:4; ZEC 5:4; 8:17; MAL 3:5; MAT 5:33; 1TI 1:9,10

Instances of: - Zedekiah: 2CH 36:13 - Witnesses against Naboth: 1KI 21:8-13 - David: PSA 35:11 - Jesus: MAT 26:59; MRK 14:56,57 - Stephen: ACT 6:11,13,14 - Peter, denying Jesus with an oath: MAT 26:74; MRK 14:71

Cross-refs: FALSEHOOD; FALSE WITNESS; OATH

CURSING

  • Of parents
  • Shimei curses David: 2SA 16:5-8
  • Precepts of Jesus concerning: MAT 5:44; LUK 6:28
  • Apostolic: ROM 12:4

Cross-refs: ANATHEMA MARAN-ATHA; BLASPHEMY; GOD, NAME OF, NOT TO BE PROFANED; OATH

FALSEHOOD

General scriptures concerning: EXO 20:16; 23:1; LEV 6:2-7; 19:11,12,16; JOB 13:4; 21:34; 27:4; 31:5,6,33; 36:4; PSA 5:6,9; 10:7; 12:2,3; 28:3; 31:18; 34:13; 36:3; 50:19,20; 52:2-5; 55:21,23; 58:3; 59:12; 62:4; 63:11; 101:5,7; 109:2; 116:11; 119:29,69,163; 120:2-4; 144:8,11; PRO 2:12-15; 3:3; 6:12,13,17-19; 10:9,10,18,31; 11:9; 12:17,19,20,22; 13:5; 14:5,8,25; 17:4,7; 19:5,9,22,28; 20:17; 21:6; 26:18,19,24-26,28; 27:14; ECC 5:6; ISA 28:15; 32:7; 57:11; 59:3,4,12,13; 63:8; JER 7:8,28; 9:3,5,6,8; 12:6; 50:36; EZK 22:9; HOS 4:1,2; OBA 1:7; MIC 6:12; NAM 3:1; ZEP 3:13; MAT 25:44-46; JHN 8:44,45; EPH 4:25,29; COL 3:9; 1TI 1:9,10; 4:2; 1PE 3:10,16; REV 21:8,27; 22:15

Cross-refs: ACCUSATION, FALSE; CONSPIRACY; DECEIT; DECEPTION; FALSE WITNESS; FLATTERY; HYPOCRISY; PERJURY; TEACHERS, FALSE

GLORIFYING GOD

Commanded: 1CH 16:28; PSA 22:23; ISA 42:12

Due to him: 1CH 16:29

For his holiness: PSA 99:9; REV 15:4

Accomplished by: - Relying on his promises: ROM 4:20 - Praising him: PSA 50:23 - Doing all to glorify him: 1CO 10:31 - Dying for him: JHN 21:19 - Suffering for Christ: 1PE 4:14,16 - Glorifying Christ: ACT 19:17; 2TH 1:12 - Bringing forth fruits of righteousness: JHN 15:8; PHP 1:11 - Patience in affliction: ISA 24:15 - Faithfulness: 1PE 4:11

Required in body and spirit: 1CO 6:20

The holy example of saints may lead others to: MAT 5:16; 1PE 2:12

All, by nature, fail in: ROM 3:23

Punishment for not: DAN 5:23,30; MAL 2:2; ACT 12:23; ROM 1:21

PROFANITY

Cross-refs: BLASPHEMY; OATH; GOD (under Miscellaneous Sub-topics -- Name of)

SWEARING

Cross-refs: BLASPHEMY; GOD, NAME OF NOT TO BE PROFANED; OATH

HOLINESS

General scriptures concerning: GEN 17:1; 35:2; EXO 19:6; 22:31; 28:36; 39:30; LEV 10:8-10; 11:44,45,47; 19:2; 20:7,26; DEU 13:17; 14:2; 18:13; 26:19; 28:9; 30:2,10; JOS 7:12,13; JOB 5:24; 28:28; 36:21; PSA 4:4; 15:1-5; 24:3-5; 32:2; 37:27; 68:13; 73:1; 85:13; 94:15; 97:10; 119:1-3; PRO 11:23; 12:5; 16:17; 21:8,15,29; 22:1; ECC 7:1; ISA 4:3; 26:2,8,9; 32:17; 35:8; 51:7; 52:1,11; 57:2; 60:1,21; 61:3,9-11; MIC 6:8; ZEP 2:3; ZEC 8:3; 14:20,21; MAT 5:6,8,29,30,48; 12:33; MRK 9:49,50; LUK 1:74,75; 6:45; JHN 1:47; 4:14; 5:14; 6:35; 15:19; 17:23; ACT 24:16; ROM 2:28,29; 6:1-23; 7:4,6; 8:1,4,12; 11:16; 12:1,2,9; 13:12-14; 14:17; 16:19; 1CO 3:16,17; 5:7; 6:12,13,19,20; 7:23; 8:12; 10:21,31,32; 12:31; 15:34; 2CO 6:14-17; 7:1; 10:3,5; 11:2; 13:7,8; GAL 2:17; 5:22-25; 6:15; EPH 1:4,13,14; 2:21,22; 4:20-24; 5:1,3,8-11; PHP 1:10,11; 2:15; 4:8; COL 1:22; 3:5-10,12-15; 1TH 2:12; 3:13; 4:3,4,7; 5:5,22,23; 2TH 2:13; 1TI 1:5; 4:8,12; 5:22; 6:6,11,12; 2TI 2:16,17,19,21,22; 3:17; TIT 1:15; 2:9,10,12; HEB 4:3,9; 10:22; 12:1,10,14,15; 13:9; JAS 1:21,27; 3:17; 4:4; 1PE 1:14-16; 2:1,5,9,11,12,24; 3:11; 4:1,2,6,7; 2PE 1:2-8; 3:11,12,14; 1JN 1:6,7; 2:1,5,29; 3:3,6-10; 5:4,5,18,21; 2JN 1:4; 3JN 1:11; REV 14:4,5; 18:4; 19:8

Cross-refs: DESIRE, SPIRITUAL; GOD, HOLINESS OF; RIGHTEOUSNESS; SANCTIFICATION; SINLESSNESS

  • PERJURY -- False swearing; specifically violating oaths. LEV 6:2-7; 19:12; JER 5:2; 7:9; MAL 3:5; MAT 5:33
  • PROFANITY / SWEARING -- Both redirect to BLASPHEMY, OATH, and GOD NAME OF NOT TO BE PROFANED
  • HOLINESS -- The positive counterpart to profaning: being holy as God is holy (LEV 19:2; 1PE 1:14-16)