The third of God's Ten Commandments, "You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain" (Exodus 20:7), carries a profound significance beyond merely prohibiting careless oaths or profanity. While it forbids using God's name in a degrading manner, this commandment encompasses a broader array of words and behaviors that reflect negatively upon Him. It stands as a bridge between commands against idolatry, emphasizing God's uniqueness and holiness, and those against unrighteous behaviors, highlighting its importance among the Ten Commandments. The commandment's depth lies in understanding three key words: "take," "name," and "vain." The Hebrew verb for "take," nāśā' (Strong's 5375), means to lift, carry, or bear, suggesting that God is concerned with how we carry His name in all daily activities, not just in moments of anger or casual speech. The word "name," or shem in Hebrew (Strong's 8034), elevates beyond mere identification when referring to God, revealing His character and essential Being. Bearing His name means reflecting the reality of who He is as the holy God in our example of godliness before others. The term "vain," from the Hebrew shāw' (Strong's 7723), implies deceit, falsehood, emptiness, and worthlessness. God forbids His people, those called by His name, from speaking or acting in ways that deceive others about or devalue His holy, righteous character. Instead, He calls His covenant people to express the truth about Him and His way in every thought, word, and behavior, bearing His name in a worthy manner that brings glory and honor to the Most High God.

The omnipotent God of the Bible is deeply concerned about how we use His name, commanding us not to take it in vain. Jesus instructs us to pray to the Father in His name, while the Psalms urge us to honor and glorify His name. The writers of the Bible refer to God by many different names, each revealing a distinct virtue or characteristic of His nature. The spiritual principle of fearing God's glorious and awesome name is paramount to obeying Him. In Genesis, the name Elohim, a plural noun, is used to describe the one true God Family, including God the Father and Jesus Christ, though it is also used over 200 times to refer to pagan idols. This dual usage shows it is acceptable to use a word like "god" for both true and false deities, despite Satan's counterfeiting of references to the Supreme Being. The name YHWH, introduced in Exodus as LORD, derives from a Hebrew verb meaning "to be," akin to "I AM," and signifies "He exists" or "He causes to be," reflecting God's everlasting nature. Though scholars suggest it was pronounced as Yahweh, the exact pronunciation was lost over time as Jews considered it too sacred to speak, substituting it with Adonai, meaning Lord or Master. The name Jehovah, a hybrid created in AD 1520, has no biblical basis. The name El, meaning "mighty one," was used by Canaanites for their deities, yet God is called El in Scripture, and many men of God had "el" in their names without displeasure from Him. In Aramaic portions of the Old Testament, written by Daniel and Ezra, the name Elah replaces Hebrew names for God, showing it is proper to translate these into the English word God. In the New Testament, written in Greek, the apostles used Theos for God and Kurios for Lord, demonstrating reverence for God's character and authority rather than adhering to a specific pronunciation like YHWH. Some have used the Hebrew name Yahshua instead of Jesus, but Paul and other writers used the Greek Iesous, and the power behind the name Jesus is evident in healings performed in His name, showing its sacredness across languages. The Hebrew text contains many names of God, each describing an aspect of His character, such as El Shaddai (Almighty God) and YHWH Rapheka (The Eternal that heals). God demands fear and reverence for the attributes His names represent, revealing His nature and affecting how we worship Him. The proper attitude toward God's name is crucial to worshiping Him appropriately. Salvation is not based on pronunciation, and God may have obscured the exact pronunciation of His name to prevent focus on sound rather than the reality of who He is. Reverential fear and genuine respect through obedience truly honor God, not the superstitious use of a name's sound or spelling. Jesus emphasizes that doing the will of the Father, not merely saying "Lord, Lord," is necessary to enter the kingdom of heaven. God's name and what it represents should be exalted, praised, and loved, and whether we use Yahweh, Elohim, the Eternal, the Creator, God, or Lord, the pronunciation is not as critical as properly revering the One behind the name, the Lord Your God.

God's name holds profound significance, as evidenced by its central place in the third commandment. The Lord will not hold guiltless anyone who takes His name in vain, emphasizing the seriousness with which He regards it. Taking God's name in vain extends beyond mere speech; it encompasses all behavior in bearing or carrying His name. The Hebrew verb for "take," nasha, means to lift, carry, or bear, suggesting that this commandment covers how we represent God in every aspect of life. Wherever we go, whatever we do—through speech, demeanor, attitudes, behavior, decisions, and even appearance—we bear His name as His children, reflecting His character and being. The term "name" in relation to God covers His being, character, instruction, and possession of us as His children. As signatories of the New Covenant, we bear His name, representing Him in the world as witnesses. The phrase "in vain," from the Hebrew saw, means emptiness, vanity, or falsehood, indicating anything insubstantial or worthless. God's name must never be associated with such qualities; instead, our worship and response to Him must be of the highest quality, befitting His perfect righteousness and holiness. Bearing His name in a false, worthless, uncaring, or unrighteous way is sin, and God holds us accountable for such actions. God's name also contrasts with His glory. While His glory is unapproachable, overwhelming, and incomprehensible, His name is approachable and understandable, offering comfort through attributes like love, mercy, goodness, justice, and righteousness. These characteristics, proclaimed to Moses, reveal God's compassionate, gracious, patient, and loyal nature, abounding in truth and forgiveness while maintaining justice. His name encapsulates all that His people need to know about His person, distilled into traits they can grasp and relate to in everyday life and worship. Furthermore, God's name stands for His complete divine nature, representing all that He is through the attributes communicated in a calm, gentle manner, unlike the dramatic displays of His presence. When baptized into His name, we enter a relationship with Him, come under His Lordship, and begin the process of becoming like Him, immersed in everything His name represents. This includes inclusion into His very nature and character, aiming for oneness with Him. In the context of the church, those who keep God's Word and do not deny His name, showing humility, obedience, and loyalty, are promised the reward of having His name inscribed upon them. This ties together the placement of God's name in the Temple and ultimately in the New Jerusalem, symbolizing unity with Him. Bearing His name fully as His children, one with Him for all time, reflects the ultimate goal of embracing all that He is with unwavering faithfulness.

In the narrative of the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11, mankind sought to make a name for themselves, desiring reputation, renown, and continuance, to distinguish themselves and elevate their status as equal to God. However, only God rightfully makes a name for Himself, as seen in Isaiah 63, where He establishes His identity and authority among His people. At Babel, after confusing the languages and scattering the people, God, in His sovereignty, named the place Babel, meaning confusion, reflecting the chaos of man attempting to usurp His position. The concept of God's name carries profound significance throughout Scripture, often tied to the Hebrew word "shem," which appears frequently in the Old Testament. God's name represents not just identity but also authority, superiority, and presence. In Exodus 3, God names Himself as Yahweh, I AM that I AM, asserting His supreme position, as no one higher exists to name Him. When God names, it is always a true name, reflecting the essence of the named, as with Abraham, renamed as the father of many nations, and Sarah, as princess, in Genesis 17, or Jesus Christ, named Savior and Immanuel, meaning God with us. God's name also embodies His power and protection. Scriptures like Proverbs 18 describe His name as a strong tower, a refuge for His people, signifying that His name alone is sufficient for defense and salvation. Furthermore, His name denotes His presence, as seen in Deuteronomy 7 and 9, where the presence of an entity is equated with its name, indicating God's nearness to His people. In Deuteronomy 14, the place where God chooses to put His name is a singular, consecrated location, often tied to the Tabernacle, Temple, or specifically the Ark of the Covenant, as it moved from Shiloh to Kiriath Jearim, and finally to Jerusalem under David. This phrase, repeated throughout Deuteronomy, underscores that God, not man, selects the place for His name, with Jerusalem as His eternal choice, intended to abide forever, as affirmed in II Chronicles 6 during Solomon's dedication of the Temple. Placing His name in Jerusalem signifies His superiority, authority, glory, and presence, where His people can approach Him, offer sacrifices, and be heard, as reflected in II Chronicles 7 and Psalm 46. Even when His glory departed from Jerusalem during the Babylonian invasion, as described in Ezekiel 9, God promises in Zechariah 1:17 to again choose Jerusalem, showing His enduring commitment. Additionally, placing His name on Jerusalem implies possession, marking it as His Holy City, the city of the great King, as Jesus Christ affirms in Matthew 5:34-35. In Isaiah 49, God expresses His care by inscribing Zion on His hand, indicating His attentive protection over the place and people where His name resides.