Exodus 20:7

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses His name.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

לֹ֥א תִשָּׂ֛א אֶת־שֵֽׁם־יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ לַשָּׁ֑וְא כִּ֣י לֹ֤א יְנַקֶּה֙ יְהוָ֔ה אֵ֛ת אֲשֶׁר־יִשָּׂ֥א אֶת־שְׁמ֖וֹ לַשָּֽׁוְא׃

Transliteration

lōʾ ṯiśśāʾ ʾeṯ-shēm-YHWH ʾĕlōheḵā lash-shāwəʾ kî lōʾ yənaqeh YHWH ʾēṯ ʾăsher-yiśśāʾ ʾeṯ-shəmô lash-shāwəʾ

Grammar Details

• *lōʾ ṯiśśāʾ*: negative particle + qal imperfect, 2nd masculine singular - you shall not lift/carry
• *ʾeṯ-shēm*: direct object marker + masculine singular construct - the name of
• *YHWH*: proper name - LORD/YHWH
• *ʾĕlōheḵā*: masculine plural noun construct with 2nd masculine singular suffix - your God
• *lash-shāwəʾ*: preposition + definite article + masculine singular noun - for falsehood/vanity
• *kî*: conjunction - for/because
• *lōʾ yənaqeh*: negative particle + piel imperfect, 3rd masculine singular - will not hold guiltless
• *ʾēṯ*: direct object marker
• *ʾăsher-yiśśāʾ*: relative pronoun + qal imperfect, 3rd masculine singular - who lifts/carries
• *ʾeṯ-shəmô*: direct object marker + masculine singular noun with 3rd masculine singular suffix - his name

Word Meanings

• *ṯiśśāʾ*: lift up/carry/bear/take/utter
• *shēm*: name/reputation/character
• *lash-shāwəʾ*: in vain/falsely/for emptiness/for no purpose
• *yənaqeh*: hold guiltless/leave unpunished/acquit

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  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.

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  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.

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  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.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  Thou shalt not take{H5375} the name{H8034} of Jehovah{H3068} thy God{H430} in vain;{H7723} for Jehovah{H3068} will not hold him guiltless{H5352} that taketh{H5375} his name{H8034} in vain.{H7723}

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  Thou shalt not take{H5375}{(H8799)} the name{H8034} of the LORD{H3068} thy God{H430} in vain{H7723}; for the LORD{H3068} will not hold him guiltless{H5352}{(H8762)} that taketh{H5375}{(H8799)} his name{H8034} in vain{H7723}.

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  Thou shalt not take the name of the Lorde thy God in vayne, for the Lord wil not holde him giltlesse that taketh his name in vayne.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  Thou shalt not take the name of ye LORDE thy God in vayne. For the LORDE shal not holde him vngiltie, that taketh his name in vayne.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lorde thy God in vaine: for the Lorde will not hold him guiltles that taketh his Name in vayne.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  Thou shalt not take the name of the Lorde thy God in vayne: for the Lorde will not holde him giltlesse that taketh his name in vayne.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  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.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  "You shall not take the name of Yahweh your God in vain, for Yahweh will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  `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.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  Thou shalt not take the name of Jehovah thy God in vain; for Jehovah will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  Thou shalt not take the name of Jehovah thy God in vain; for Jehovah will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  You are not to make use of the name of the Lord your God for an evil purpose; whoever takes the Lord's name on his lips for an evil purpose will be judged a sinner by the Lord

• World English Bible (2000)

  "You shall not take the name of Yahweh your God in vain, for Yahweh will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold guiltless anyone who takes his name in vain.

Referenced Verses

• Lev 19:12 : 12 Do not swear falsely by my name and so profane the name of your God. I am the LORD.
• Jas 5:12 : 12 Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear—not by heaven or earth or any other oath. Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No’ mean ‘No,’ so that you may not fall under judgment.
• Heb 6:16-17 : 16 People swear by someone greater than themselves, and an oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument. 17 Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of His purpose very clear to the heirs of the promise, He guaranteed it with an oath.
• Ps 50:14-16 : 14 Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and fulfill your vows to the Most High. 15 Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will glorify me. 16 But to the wicked God says: 'What right have you to recite my statutes or take my covenant on your lips?
• Prov 30:9 : 9 Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, 'Who is the Lord?' Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.
• Lev 24:11-16 : 11 The Israelite woman’s son blasphemed the Name and cursed it, so they brought him to Moses. His mother’s name was Shelomith, daughter of Dibri, of the tribe of Dan. 12 They put him in custody until the will of the LORD should be made clear to them. 13 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: 14 Bring out the one who cursed to a place outside the camp, and all those who heard him shall lay their hands on his head, and the entire assembly shall stone him. 15 And speak to the Israelites, saying: If any man curses his God, he will bear the consequences of his sin. 16 Whoever blasphemes the name of the LORD must surely be put to death. The entire assembly shall stone him. Whether a foreigner or a native-born, if he blasphemes the Name, he must be put to death.
• Deut 5:11 : 11 You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who takes His name in vain.
• Matt 23:16-22 : 16 Woe to you, blind guides! You say, 'If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is obligated.' 17 You fools and blind! Which is greater, the gold or the temple that sanctifies the gold? 18 And you say, 'If anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gift on it, he is obligated.' 19 You fools and blind! Which is greater, the gift or the altar that sanctifies the gift? 20 Therefore, whoever swears by the altar swears by it and everything on it. 21 And whoever swears by the temple swears by it and by the One who dwells in it. 22 And whoever swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by Him who sits upon it.
• Jer 4:2 : 2 Then you will swear, 'As the LORD lives,' in truth, in justice, and in righteousness; the nations will bless themselves in Him, and in Him they will glory.
• Matt 5:33-37 : 33 Again, you have heard that it was said to those of old, 'Do not break your oaths, but fulfill your vows to the Lord.' 34 But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne, 35 or by the earth, for it is His footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36 And do not swear by your head, because you cannot make even one hair white or black. 37 Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No'; anything more comes from the evil one.
• Deut 10:20 : 20 Fear the LORD your God and serve Him. Hold fast to Him and take your oaths in His name.
• Josh 2:12 : 12 Now then, please swear to me by the LORD that you will show kindness to my family because I have shown kindness to you. Give me a sure sign
• Josh 2:17 : 17 The men said to her, "We will be free from this oath you made us swear
• Josh 9:20 : 20 This is what we will do to them: We will let them live so that no wrath will fall on us for breaking the oath we swore to them.
• 2 Sam 21:1-2 : 1 During the days of David, there was a famine for three years, year after year. David sought the presence of the Lord, and the Lord said, "It concerns Saul and his house, who are guilty of bloodshed, for he killed the Gibeonites." 2 So the king summoned the Gibeonites and spoke to them. (Now the Gibeonites were not Israelites but a remnant of the Amorites. The Israelites had sworn an oath to them, but Saul had tried to kill them in his zeal for Israel and Judah.)
• 1 Kgs 2:9 : 9 However, do not consider him innocent. You are a wise man, and you will know what you ought to do to him. Bring his gray head down to the grave in blood.