Exodus 20:7
King James Version
7 Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain;
for the Lord will not hold him guiltless
that taketh his name in vain.
I was taught that commandment since I was a kid, many decades ago.
Only thing is, no Catholic school teacher ever expounded on it.
What did "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain" really mean?
Mercifully, GOD made me born again 41 months ago.
Now, I can turn to SPIRIT and SCRIPTURE for an explanation.
These Bible versions reveal more:
Exodus 20:7
Amplified Bible
7 “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain [that is, irreverently, in false affirmations or in ways that impugn the character of God]; for the Lord will not hold guiltless nor leave unpunished the one who [a]takes His name in vain [disregarding its reverence and its power].
Exodus 20:7
Amplified Bible, Classic Edition
7 You shall not use or repeat the name of the Lord your God in vain [that is, lightly or frivolously, in false affirmations or profanely]; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.
Exodus 20:7
Christian Standard Bible
7 Do not misuse the name of the Lord your God, because the Lord will not leave anyone unpunished who misuses his name.
Exodus 20:7
Common English Bible
7 Do not use the Lord your God’s name as if it were of no significance; the Lord won’t forgive anyone who uses his name that way.
Exodus 20:7
Complete Jewish Bible
ג 7 “You are not to use lightly the name of Adonai your God, because Adonai will not leave unpunished someone who uses his name lightly.
Exodus 20:7
Contemporary English Version
7 Do not misuse my name.[a] I am the Lord your God, and I will punish anyone who misuses my name.
Exodus 20:7
Darby Translation
7 Thou shalt not idly utter the name of Jehovah thy God; for Jehovah will not hold him guiltless that idly uttereth his name.
Exodus 20:7
Easy-to-Read Version
7 “You must not use the name of the Lord your God to make empty promises. If you do, the Lord will not let you go unpunished.
Exodus 20:7
Evangelical Heritage Version
7 You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not permit anyone who misuses his name to escape unpunished.
Exodus 20:7
Expanded Bible
7 “You must not ·use the name of the Lord your God thoughtlessly [take/lift up the name of the Lord your God in vain]; the Lord will ·punish [L not hold/treat as innocent; not acquit] anyone who ·misuses [takes in vain] his name.
Exodus 20:7
GOD’S WORD Translation
7 “Never use the name of the Lord your God carelessly. The Lord will make sure that anyone who carelessly uses his name will be punished.
Exodus 20:7
Good News Translation
7 “Do not use my name for evil purposes, for I, the Lord your God, will punish anyone who misuses my name.
Exodus 20:7
Holman Christian Standard Bible
7 Do not misuse the name of the Lord your God, because the Lord will not leave anyone unpunished who misuses His name.
Exodus 20:7
International Children’s Bible
7 “You must not use the name of the Lord your God thoughtlessly. The Lord will punish anyone who is guilty and misuses his name.
Exodus 20:7
Legacy Standard Bible
7 “You shall not take the name of Yahweh your God in vain, for Yahweh will not [a]leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain.
Exodus 20:7
Living Bible
7 “You shall not use the name of Jehovah your God irreverently,[a] nor use it to swear to a falsehood. You will not escape punishment if you do.
Exodus 20:7
The Message
7 No using the name of God, your God, in curses or silly banter; God won’t put up with the irreverent use of his name.
Exodus 20:7
Names of God Bible
7 “Never use the name of Yahweh your Elohim carelessly. Yahweh will make sure that anyone who carelessly uses his name will be punished.
Exodus 20:7
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
7 You shall not invoke the name of the Lord, your God, in vain.[a] For the Lord will not leave unpunished anyone who invokes his name in vain.
Exodus 20:7
New Century Version
7 “You must not use the name of the Lord your God thoughtlessly; the Lord will punish anyone who misuses his name.
Exodus 20:7
New Life Version
7 “Do not use the name of the Lord your God in a false way. For the Lord will punish the one who uses His name in a false way.
Exodus 20:7
New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised
7 You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not acquit anyone who misuses his name.
Shemot 20:7
Orthodox Jewish Bible
7 Thou shalt not take the Shem Hashem Eloheicha in vain; for Hashem will not hold him guiltless that taketh Shmo in vain.
Exodus 20:7
The Voice
7 You are not to use My name for your own idle purposes, for the Eternal will punish anyone who treats His name as anything less than sacred.
Exodus 20:7
World English Bible
7 “You shall not misuse the name of Yahweh your God,[a] for Yahweh will not hold him guiltless who misuses his name.
Exodus 20:7
Young's Literal Translation
7 `Thou dost not take up the name of Jehovah thy God for a vain thing, for Jehovah acquitteth not him who taketh up His name for a vain thing.
In SUMMARY, "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain" means:
You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain [that is, irreverently, in false affirmations or in ways that impugn the character of God]
You shall not use or repeat the name of the Lord your God in vain [that is, lightly or frivolously, in false affirmations or profanely]
Do not misuse the name of the Lord your God
Do not use the Lord your God’s name as if it were of no significance
You are not to use lightly the name of Adonai your God
Do not misuse my name.[a] I am the Lord your God
Thou shalt not idly utter the name of Jehovah thy God
You must not use the name of the Lord your God to make empty promises.
You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God
You must not ·use the name of the Lord your God thoughtlessly [take/lift up the name of the Lord your God in vain]
Never use the name of the Lord your God carelessly.
Do not use my name for evil purposes
Do not misuse the name of the Lord your God
You must not use the name of the Lord your God thoughtlessly.
You shall not take the name of Yahweh your God in vain
You shall not use the name of Jehovah your God irreverently,[a] nor use it to swear to a falsehood.
No using the name of God, your God, in curses or silly banter
Never use the name of Yahweh your Elohim carelessly.
You shall not invoke the name of the Lord, your God, in vain.
You must not use the name of the Lord your God thoughtlessly
Do not use the name of the Lord your God in a false way.
You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the Lord your God
Thou shalt not take the Shem Hashem Eloheicha in vain
You are not to use My name for your own idle purposes
You shall not misuse the name of Yahweh your God
Thou dost not take up the name of Jehovah thy God for a vain thing
In SUMMARY, what "Lord thy God" means:
Adonai you God
Jehovah thy God
Yahweh your God
God, your God
Yahweh your Elohim
Shem Hashem Eloheicha
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The MAGNIFICENCE and MAJESTY of GOD
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