Biblical Hebrew Forum

[Yigal Levin <leviny1 AT mail.biu.ac.il>]

Dear Bryant,

Since nobody brought the 3rd Commandment into the discussion before, there
was no reason to change the subject line. Now if you like, we can discuss
the 3rd Commandment as a separate subject. Just remember, all, that the
primary purpose of this list is to discuss language. That can include the
use of language as well, but we will NOT get into a theological discussion!

Personally, I've always understood "not taking God's name in vain" as
meaning not to invoke the Name in false oaths. But I suppose that a wider
interpretation could have added to the reluctance of Second Temple Period
and later Jews to fully pronounce the Name.

In Orthodox Judaism today, YHWH is pronounced Adonai in prayer and in Torah
study when complete biblical passages are being read, and "Hashem" (meaning
"the Name") in almost all other contexts. Likewise, many Orthodox Jews will
avoid saying "Elohim" except in prayer and in Torah study when complete
biblical passages are being read, and say "Elokim" instead, say "Kel" for
"El" and so on, all in order to avoid saying any of God's names "in vain".
BTW, I have never heard anyone avoid saying "Ehyeh". 

Yigal Levin

-----Original Message-----
From: Bryant J. Williams III [mailto:bjwvmw AT com-pair.net] 

Dear List,

I am thinking that this thread should change the subject heading to:
Understanding Exodus 20:7.

The reason for the change is that the central tenet amongst all the
responses is
how to understand the 3rd Commandment,
    "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"(cf also Deut 5:11; RSV).

It also appears that God told the Israelites not to make a covenant with the
nations of Canaan including their behavior and religious worship (Exod
34:11ff;
Lev 18:1-22:33; et al). Thus, it seems that whole issue behind the
prohibitions
of the 3rd Commandment and other passages was that the nation of Israel was
to
be totally different, unique, or separated from the abominable practices and
set
apart to God. This involved the total person in what he thought, said and
did.

How was the 3rd Commandment interpreted not only in Biblical Hebrew period,
but
after the exile, through the 2nd Temple period, and post-Temple until today?

Rev. Bryant J. Williams III