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Word Studies

H7723 -- shav (שָׁוְא) -- "vain / vanity / false"

Original: שָׁוְא Transliteration: shav Pronunciation: shawv Part of Speech: masculine noun Total Occurrences: 53 (BLB) / 54 (KJV translation database)

Definition (Strong's/BDB): From the same as H7722 in the sense of desolating; evil (as destructive), literally (ruin) or morally (especially guile); figuratively idolatry (as false, subjective), uselessness (as deceptive, objective; also adverbially, in vain): false(-ly), lie, lying, vain, vanity.

Translations in KJV

Translation Count Percentage
vanity 16 29.6%
in vain 11 20.4%
vain 8 14.8%
false 5 9.3%
of vanity 3 5.6%
lying 2 3.7%
Other 9 16.7%

Semantic Range

The word shav covers three main semantic areas: 1. Emptiness/worthlessness -- "vanity" (Psa 119:37; Job 15:31) 2. Falsehood/deception -- "false" witness (Exo 23:1; Deu 5:20); "lying" divination (Eze 13:6-9) 3. Moral evil -- "evil as destructive" (the root sense from H7722, desolation)

Key Verses Where Shav Appears

  • Exo 20:7 -- "Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain" (la-shav)
  • Exo 20:16 / Deu 5:20 -- "Thou shalt not bear false witness" (shav appears in Deu 5:20 version)
  • Exo 23:1 -- "Thou shalt not raise a false report"
  • Psa 24:4 -- "who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity"
  • Psa 139:20 -- "thine enemies take [thy name] in vain"
  • Pro 30:8 -- "Remove far from me vanity and lies"
  • Pro 30:9 -- "lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God [in vain]"
  • Eze 13:6 -- "They have seen vanity and lying divination"
  • Eze 13:7 -- "Have ye not seen a vain vision?"
  • Eze 13:8 -- "Because ye have spoken vanity, and seen lies"
  • Eze 13:9 -- "the prophets that see vanity, and that divine lies"
  • Mal 3:14 -- "Ye have said, It is vain to serve God"

LXX (Septuagint) Translations

The LXX translates shav with several Greek words, revealing its semantic range: | Greek Word | Count | PMI Score | Meaning | |------------|-------|-----------|---------| | G3152 mataios (ματαιος) | 22 | 7.26 | empty, vain, fruitless | | G5571 pseudes (ψευδης) | 14 | 6.32 | untrue, false, deceitful | | G3132 manteuomai (μαντευομαι) | 6 | 7.88 | to divine, prophesy (false) | | G3155 maten (ματην) | 5 | 7.04 | in vain, to no purpose | | G2756 kenos (κενος) | 7 | 5.81 | empty, vain | | G3153 mataiotes (ματαιοτης) | 6 | 5.95 | vanity, futility |

Critical Observation

Shav appears in both the 3rd commandment (Exo 20:7, "in vain") and the 9th commandment (Deu 5:20, "false witness"). This linguistic overlap suggests a deeper connection between taking God's name falsely and bearing false testimony.

H5375 -- nasa (נָשָׂא) -- "take / lift / bear / carry"

Original: נָשָׂא Transliteration: nasa Pronunciation: naw-saw Part of Speech: verb Total Occurrences: 654 (Strong's) / 754 (KJV translation database)

Definition: A primitive root; to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative: accept, advance, bear, burn, carry, cast, contain, desire, ease, exact, exalt, extol, fetch, forgive, furnish, further, give, go on, help, high, hold up, lift, lofty, marry, magnify, needs, obtain, pardon, raise, receive, regard, respect, set, spare, stir up, swear, take, yield.

Key Translations (top occurrences)

  • "lifted up" (27x), "lift up" (18x), "bear" (14x+), "take" (11x), "carry/carried" (various), "forgive" (multiple)

Significance for Exo 20:7

The verb nasa means far more than merely "to speak" or "to say." It means: 1. To lift up -- as in lifting up God's name (bearing it publicly) 2. To bear/carry -- as in carrying God's name as a representative 3. To swear -- nasa is used for oath-taking

The commandment literally reads "You shall not bear/carry the name of YHWH your God to emptiness/falsehood." This implies more than just casual misuse -- it means bearing God's name (as His representative) in a way that is empty, false, or worthless.

Related uses of nasa for bearing guilt/sin: - Exo 28:43 -- priests "bear iniquity" - Lev 5:1,17 -- "bear his iniquity" - Lev 24:15 -- "Whosoever curseth his God shall bear his sin" (same verb, nasa)

H8034 -- shem (שֵׁם) -- "name"

Original: שֵׁם Transliteration: shem Pronunciation: shame Part of Speech: masculine noun Total Occurrences: 864

Definition: A primitive word; an appellation, as a mark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character: base, (in-)fame(-ous), named(-d), renown, report.

Key Translations

  • "name" / "the name" / "his name" / "thy name" / "my name" etc. (vast majority)
  • "renown" / "fame" / "report" (small minority)

Significance

Shem means far more than a label in Hebrew. It represents: 1. Character -- one's essential nature (Gen 32:28, Jacob's name changed to Israel) 2. Reputation -- one's standing (Gen 6:4, "men of renown" = "men of name") 3. Authority -- acting "in the name of" someone (1Sa 17:45; Deu 18:20) 4. Presence -- God places His name in a location (Deu 12:5,11)

Key verses connecting shem to God's character: - Exo 34:5-7 -- God proclaims His name and it IS His character attributes - Exo 34:14 -- "the LORD, whose name is Jealous" - Psa 111:9 -- "holy and reverend is his name" - Deu 28:58 -- "fear this glorious and fearful name, THE LORD THY GOD"

H5352 -- naqah (נָקָה) -- "hold guiltless / acquit / clear"

Original: נָקָה Transliteration: naqah Pronunciation: naw-kaw Part of Speech: verb Total Occurrences: 44

Definition: A primitive root; to be (or make) clean (literally or figuratively); by implication (in an adverse sense) to be bare, i.e. extirpated: acquit at all, altogether, be blameless, cleanse, (be) clear(-ing), cut off, be desolate, be free, be (hold) guiltless, be (hold) innocent, by no means, be quit, be (leave) unpunished, utterly, wholly.

Key Translations

  • "be unpunished" (6x)
  • "guiltless" (2x)
  • "be innocent" (2x)
  • "hold guiltless" (Exo 20:7)
  • "by no means clear" (Exo 34:7)
  • "will not at all acquit" (Nah 1:3)

Critical Connection: Naqah in God's Self-Description

The phrase "will not hold guiltless" (lo yenaqqeh) in Exo 20:7 is the same phrase used in God's self-revelation: 1. Exo 34:7 -- "and that will by no means clear [the guilty]" (naqeh lo yenaqqeh) 2. Num 14:18 -- "and by no means clearing [the guilty]" 3. Nah 1:3 -- "will not at all acquit [the wicked]"

This is the ONLY commandment where the consequence clause directly echoes God's own description of His justice. The phrase is part of God's character declaration, not just a legal penalty.

H2490 -- chalal (חָלַל) -- "profane / defile / begin / bore"

Original: חָלַל Transliteration: chalal Pronunciation: khaw-lal Part of Speech: verb Total Occurrences: 141

Definition: A primitive root; properly, to bore, i.e. (by implication) to wound, to dissolve; figuratively, to profane (a person, place or thing), to break (one's word), to begin: begin, defile, break, eat (as common things), gather the grape thereof, pipe, player on instruments, pollute, (cast as) profane (self), prostitute, slay (slain), sorrow, stain, wound.

Key Translations

  • "began / begin" (22x + 6x)
  • "profane" (4x) -- Lev 21:6; 21:12; 22:15; Amo 2:7
  • "polluted / be polluted" (4x+)
  • "defiled / have defiled" (multiple)
  • "wound / wounded" (2x)

Profaning God's Name -- Key Verses

Reference Text
Lev 18:21 "neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God"
Lev 19:12 "neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God"
Lev 20:3 "to profane my holy name"
Lev 21:6 "not profane the name of their God"
Lev 22:2 "that they profane not my holy name"
Lev 22:32 "Neither shall ye profane my holy name"
Eze 20:9,14,22 "I wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be profaned"
Eze 36:20-23 "they profaned my holy name" / "I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned"
Amo 2:7 "to profane my holy name"
Mal 1:12 "ye have profaned it"

Significance

Chalal (to profane) is the direct opposite of qadash (to sanctify/hallow). When Lev 22:32 says "Neither shall ye profane my holy name; but I will be hallowed among the children of Israel," it sets up the exact positive-negative pair that Jesus invokes in "Hallowed be thy name" (Mat 6:9).

H7650 -- shaba (שָׁבַע) -- "swear"

Original: שָׁבַע Transliteration: shaba Pronunciation: shaw-bah Part of Speech: verb Total Occurrences: 187

Definition: A primitive root; properly to be complete, but used only as a denominative from H7651; to seven oneself, i.e. swear (as if by repeating a declaration seven times): adjure, charge (by an oath, with an oath), take an oath, straitly, (cause to, make to) swear.

Key Verses for This Study

  • Lev 19:12 -- "ye shall not swear by my name falsely"
  • Deu 6:13 -- "shalt swear by his name"
  • Deu 10:20 -- "swear by his name"
  • Jer 4:2 -- "thou shalt swear, The LORD liveth, in truth, in judgment"
  • Jer 5:2 -- "surely they swear falsely"
  • Jer 5:7 -- "thy children have forsaken me, and sworn by [them that are] no gods"

Significance

Shaba is the standard Hebrew verb for oath-taking. Deuteronomy commands Israel to swear by God's name (Deu 6:13; 10:20), while Leviticus prohibits false swearing (Lev 19:12). The issue is not whether to swear but whether one swears truthfully. This creates a framework for understanding the 3rd commandment: carrying God's name is not prohibited -- carrying it falsely/emptily is.

H6942 -- qadash (קָדַשׁ) -- "sanctify / hallow / consecrate"

Original: קָדַשׁ Transliteration: qadash Pronunciation: kaw-dash Part of Speech: verb Total Occurrences: 172

Definition: A primitive root; to be (causatively, make, pronounce or observe as) clean (ceremonially or morally): appoint, bid, consecrate, dedicate, defile, hallow, (be, keep) holy(-er, place), keep, prepare, proclaim, purify, sanctify(-ied one, self), wholly.

Significance

Qadash is the Hebrew counterpart to Greek G37 (hagiazo). It is the positive opposite of H2490 (chalal, profane). The key verse connecting all three is:

Lev 22:32: "Neither shall ye profane [chalal] my holy name; but I will be hallowed [qadash] among the children of Israel: I am the LORD which hallow [qadash] you."

H6944 -- qodesh (קֹדֶשׁ) -- "holy / holiness / sanctuary"

Original: קֹדֶשׁ Transliteration: qodesh Pronunciation: ko-desh Part of Speech: masculine noun Total Occurrences: 468

Definition: From H6942; a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract, sanctity: consecrated (thing), dedicated (thing), hallowed (thing), holiness, (most) holy (day, portion, thing), saint, sanctuary.

Significance

Qodesh (noun form of qadash) appears in key passages about God's name: - Lev 20:3 -- "to profane my holy name" - Lev 22:2 -- "that they profane not my holy name" - Lev 22:32 -- "profane my holy name" - Psa 111:9 -- "holy and reverend is his name" - Isa 52:10 -- "The LORD hath made bare his holy arm"

G37 -- hagiazo (ἁγιάζω) -- "hallow / sanctify / make holy"

Original: ἁγιάζω Transliteration: hagiazo Pronunciation: hag-ee-ad-zo Part of Speech: verb Total Occurrences: 29

Definition: From G40; to make holy, i.e. (ceremonially) purify or consecrate; (mentally) to venerate: hallow, be holy, sanctify.

Key Verses

  • Mat 6:9 -- "Hallowed be thy name" (hagiastheto to onoma sou)
  • Mat 23:17 -- "the temple that sanctifieth the gold"
  • Mat 23:19 -- "the altar that sanctifieth the gift"
  • Jhn 17:17 -- "Sanctify them through thy truth"
  • Jhn 17:19 -- "for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified"
  • Heb 2:11 -- "he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one"

Significance

Hagiazo in Mat 6:9 ("Hallowed be thy name") is the NT Greek equivalent of Hebrew qadash. It is the positive counterpart to the prohibition in the 3rd commandment. Where the commandment says "do not bear God's name in vain/emptily/falsely" (negative), the Lord's Prayer says "let God's name be made holy/treated as sacred" (positive).

G987 -- blasphemeo (βλασφημέω) -- "blaspheme"

Original: βλασφημέω Transliteration: blasphemeo Pronunciation: blas-fay-meh-o Part of Speech: verb Total Occurrences: 35

Definition: From G989; to vilify; specially, to speak impiously: (speak) blaspheme(-er, -mously, -my), defame, rail on, revile, speak evil.

Key Verses for This Study

  • Rom 2:24 -- "the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you" (quoting Isa 52:5)
  • 1Ti 6:1 -- "that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed"
  • Tit 2:5 -- "that the word of God be not blasphemed"
  • Jas 2:7 -- "Do not they blaspheme that worthy name?"
  • Rev 13:6 -- "he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name"
  • Rev 16:9 -- "and blasphemed the name of God"
  • Rev 16:11 -- "and blasphemed the God of heaven"
  • Rev 16:21 -- "men blasphemed God because of the plague"

G988 -- blasphemia (βλασφημία) -- "blasphemy"

Original: βλασφημία Transliteration: blasphemia Part of Speech: feminine noun Total Occurrences: 19

Definition: From G989; vilification (especially against God): blasphemy, evil speaking, railing.

Key Verses

  • Mat 12:31 -- "All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven"
  • Rev 13:1 -- "upon his heads the name of blasphemy"
  • Rev 13:5 -- "a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies"
  • Rev 13:6 -- "he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God"
  • Rev 17:3 -- "a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy"

G3660 -- omnuo (ὀμνύω) -- "swear"

Original: ὀμνύω Transliteration: omnuo Pronunciation: om-noo-o Part of Speech: verb Total Occurrences: 27

Definition: A prolonged form of a primary; to swear, i.e. take (or declare on) oath: swear.

Key Verses

  • Mat 5:34 -- "Swear not at all"
  • Mat 5:35-36 -- "Nor by the earth... Neither shalt thou swear by thy head"
  • Mat 23:16 -- "Whosoever shall swear by the temple"
  • Mat 23:18 -- "Whosoever shall swear by the altar"
  • Mat 23:20-22 -- "Whoso therefore shall swear by the altar... by the temple... by heaven"
  • Heb 6:13 -- "because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself"
  • Heb 6:16 -- "men verily swear by the greater"
  • Jas 5:12 -- "swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath"

H8267 -- sheqer (שֶׁקֶר) -- "falsehood / lies"

Occurrences: 113. An untruth; by implication a sham: without a cause, deceit(-ful), false(-hood, -ly), feignedly, liar, lie, lying, vain (thing), wrongfully. Key: Exo 20:16 (false witness uses sheqer); Jer 5:2 (swearing falsely); Jer 7:9 (swear falsely).

H7385 -- riyq (רִיק) -- "emptiness / in vain"

Occurrences: 12. From H7324; emptiness; figuratively a worthless thing; adverbially in vain: empty, to no purpose, (in) vain (thing), vanity. Parallel concept to shav but less frequent.

H1442 -- gadaph (גָּדַף) -- "blaspheme / reproach"

Occurrences: 7. A primitive root; to hack (with words), i.e. revile: blaspheme, reproach. Key: 2Ki 19:22 (Sennacherib); Isa 37:23; Num 15:30 (sinning presumptuously = "blasphemed the LORD").

H422 -- alah (אָלָה) -- "adjure / imprecate / curse / swear"

Occurrences: 6. A primitive root; properly to adjure, i.e. (usually in a bad sense) imprecate: adjure, curse, swear. Related to oath-breaking with curse component: Hos 4:2; 10:4.