The third commandment, "You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain," involves more than just prohibiting the careless use of God's name in oaths or profanities. The Hebrew verb "nāśā'" (Strong's 5375) used in the commandment means "to lift," "to carry," "to take away," "to raise high," or "to bear." This suggests that God is concerned with how we carry or bear His name in all our daily activities, not just in moments of anger or casual speech. The Hebrew word for "name," "shem" (Strong's 8034), goes beyond mere identification to reveal God's character and behavior. When God speaks of bearing His name, He is referring to the quality of our example of godliness before others, making a righteous witness to them. The term "vain" in the commandment, derived from the Hebrew "šhāw'" (Strong's 7723), implies deceit, lie, falsehood, emptiness, worthlessness, and vanity. God forbids His people from speaking or acting in ways that deceive others about or devalue Him or His holy, righteous character. Instead, He requires His people to express the truth about Him and His way in every thought, word, and behavior, bearing His name in a manner that brings glory and honor to Him.

God's name is central to His identity and actions, as emphasized in the third commandment. This commandment warns that the Lord will not hold guiltless anyone who takes His name in vain, indicating that such a person will be considered sinful and blameworthy. The commandment uses the Hebrew verb "nasha," meaning to lift, carry, or bear, suggesting that bearing God's name encompasses all behavior, not just speech. Bearing His name in vain involves doing so thoughtlessly or unrighteously, which is a sin that breaks this commandment. God's name is a precious possession to Him, and our lives should reflect the highest honor and glory to His name through our speech, behavior, attitudes, and decisions. As signatories of the New Covenant, we bear His name, representing Him in the world. Our worship must be of the highest quality, befitting the perfect righteousness and holiness of God, and we must not bear His name in a false, worthless, uncaring, or unrighteous manner.

Bearing God's Name carries a profound responsibility for all members of God's church, as we inherit a Family name of immense value. We are tasked with upholding and honoring the nobility and dignity of God's name through our actions. The reputation we build for our church, businesses, or institutions becomes the legacy we pass on to our brothers, sisters, and children. Sadly, there are instances where individuals who have accepted this Family name bring disgrace upon us all, as seen in past events where inappropriate behavior by some has led to negative perceptions of the entire group. It takes years to build a reputation, but only moments to destroy it. Scripture warns that if we take on God's Family name and then show contempt for it through our behavior, our names risk being blotted out of the Book of Life. God holds His name in such high regard that one of His ten great laws addresses this, emphasizing that we must not take His name in vain, an admonition that extends beyond mere language to the way we live. If we claim His name and dishonor it, we fall below even those we might criticize. We must consider whether our behavior, as the sole representation of God's way to some, would lead others to acceptability before God. His name, now ours, surpasses all worldly riches in worth, and we must reflect on how others perceive and react to it when they encounter us.