What does it actually imply to take God’s identify in useless? Is it nearly utilizing God’s identify irreverently, or is there extra to it?
On this episode of What in the Word?, Kirk E. Miller is joined by Carmen Pleasure Imes, an skilled in Previous Testomony research, to discover Exodus 20:7 (cf. Deut 5:11). They look at the historic, linguistic, and theological dimensions of this command, together with the way it pertains to bearing God’s identify as His individuals. Alongside the way in which, they talk about totally different interpretations—starting from speech and oath-taking to representing God rightly in each day life.
Don’t miss this deep dive into one of the generally misunderstood commandments!
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Episode visitor: Carmen Imes
Dr. Carmen Joy Imes is affiliate professor of Previous Testomony at Talbot Faculty of Theology, Biola College, in Southern California. She is the creator of Bearing YHWH’s Identify at Sinai: A Reexamination of the Identify Command of the Decalogue, in addition to the extra accessible Bearing God’s Name: Why Sinai Still Matters. Carmen is writing a commentary on Exodus for Baker Educational. She has a YouTube channel the place she releases weekly Torah Tuesday videos and you could find her writing on numerous web sites, together with Christianity Right now, The Nicely, and The Politics of Scripture weblog. Carmen is captivated with equipping the church to interact the Previous Testomony effectively and to see its relevance for the Christian life.
Episode synopsis
Conventional interpretations
Carmen Imes begins by explaining that there are no less than twenty-four historic interpretations of Exodus 20:7. Nonetheless, conventional understandings of the commandment fall into one among two important classes:
- Oath-taking or swearing an oath utilizing God’s identify vainly
- Utilizing God’s identify irreverently or inappropriately in speech
Each, in different phrases, assume an ellipses, deciphering “take” as assuming an act of talking (e.g., “to tackle one’s lips”).
Linguistic evaluation
Carmen dives right into a linguistic evaluation of key Hebrew phrases within the commandment:
- The phrase נשׂא, translated as “to take” or “to raise up,” typically means to hold or bear fairly than to talk.
- לַשָּׁ֑וְא, usually translated as “in useless,” has a number of interpretations: futile, false, or malicious.
Carmen factors out that whereas the standard views deal with speech-related views, the Hebrew text and its parallel passages are much less more likely to help these interpretations.
Context & parallel passages
Kirk and Carmen discover notable parallel passages that use the identical actual language as Exodus 20:7. As an illustration, in Exodus 28:12 and 29, Aaron bears the names of the Israelite tribes on his priestly clothes, symbolizing that he represents them; or in Numbers 6:24–27, Aaron’s blessing locations God’s identify on the individuals. Likewise, in Deuteronomy 26:18–19, God declares Israel to be a individuals of his treasured possession (the identical language as Israel’s commissioning in Exod 19:5–6) and holy to the Lord (the identical phrase that the excessive priest bears on his brow in Exod 28:36). These examples recommend that carrying God’s identify entails representing him faithfully by one’s actions, not only one’s phrases.
Aaron’s priesthood & the nation’s priestly fee
As famous above, Carmen connects Aaron’s function as excessive priest, who bears the names of the tribes and Yahweh on his clothes (Exod 28:12, 29) and is marked “holy to the Lord” (v. 36), to a broader theological conception of Israel’s commissioning as a nation of monks (Exod 19–20). Because the excessive priest represents the nation, symbolized by his clothes, so the nation bears a collective obligation to bear God’s identify correctly. God’s declaration to the nation in Exodus 19:5–6, instantly previous the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20, commissions Israel to be a kingdom of monks and a holy nation. Because the excessive priest represents others, so the nation collectively is to characterize God’s character to the world.
The command’s which means
In line with Carmen, the essence of Exodus 20:7 is broader and extra profound than merely refraining from saying God’s identify irreverently or taking hasty oaths. It’s a fee to stay lives that precisely and honorably replicate God’s character. God has marked his individuals together with his identify such that his individuals characterize him to the watching world. Misrepresentation of God then, both by one’s phrases or actions, is the core prohibition the commandment addresses.
Broader biblical theology
Carmen and Kirk discover this theme because it happens and develops throughout Scripture, contemplating its implications. Within the New Testomony, for instance, Jesus prays for God’s identify to be hallowed (Matt 6:9), which God’s individuals do by representing him precisely. Matthew 28:18–20, the Great Commission, consists of making disciples and baptizing them within the triune identify—a continuation of bearing God’s identify. In 1 Peter 2:9, the church as a holy nation and royal priesthood proceed Israel’s mission to characterize him earlier than the nations.
Connection to the imago Dei
Carmen and Kirk additionally join the idea to the doctrine of the imago Dei (“picture of God”). All people are created in God’s image, bearing a consultant function (Gen 1:26–28). The covenant neighborhood—Israel within the Previous Testomony, the church within the New—uniquely bears God’s identify, requiring them to authentically characterize him.
Sensible purposes
Kirk and Carmen tackle the verse’s sensible purposes for believers. Our each day actions and the way we stay out our religion are integral to accurately bearing God’s identify. Carmen invitations listeners to rethink their understanding of “taking God’s identify in useless,” seeing it as an encompassing name to stay lives that faithfully mirror God’s character in each endeavor. This commandment challenges believers to think about the burden and implications of their illustration of God in all elements of life.
Options for instructing
Kirk and Carmen encourage preachers and teachers to unpack the excellent theological scope of this commandment, emphasizing its growth throughout the Previous Testomony to the New Testomony and to underscore its broad utility.
Logos values considerate and interesting discussions on essential biblical matters. Nonetheless, the views and interpretations introduced on this episode are these of the people talking and don’t essentially replicate the official place of Logos. We acknowledge that Christians might maintain totally different views on this passage, and we welcome numerous engagement and respectful dialogue.
Study extra about bearing God’s identify and picture
Advisable sources from Kirk on Exodus
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