Using the Lord's Name in Vain: What it Means and How to Stop
- Isabella Boston
- Feb 16, 2025
- 7 min read
Updated: Jan 19
How to Avoid Using the Lord's Name in Vain
You 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. ~ Exodus 20:7
The Lord our God has made it clear that we are not to misuse His Holy and Sacred name, or He will not hold us guiltless. It is the third commandment given to us in Exodus 20:7. Yet many of us continue to do so every day. Some of us do it without any care or thought, while others do it out of pure ignorance.
The Webster dictionary defines the word "vain" as meaning "having no real value; idle and worthless". It can also mean having no real purpose.
Here are some examples of using the Lord's name in vain:
Using God's name as a swear word or in profanity.
Using God's name to legitimize an oath and then breaking the promise.
Acting, thinking, and speaking in a worldly or profane manner.
Misrepresenting Jesus Christ, either intentionally or through ignorance of the Christian faith.
Casually invoking God's name for emphasis can trivialize what the Bible reveals to be holy.
Wickedly or disrespectfully using God's name or His Son's name, Jesus Christ, in any wrongful manner.
Dishonoring God's name in any manner denigrates His holiness and says that God Himself is worthless. The Old Testament describes several ways in which the third commandment can be violated: to blaspheme or curse the name of God, which we can read about in Leviticus 24:15-16.
The third commandment also forbids us to make empty or false oaths: "Do not swear falsely by my name and so profane the name of your God: I am the Lord." (Leviticus 19:12; Hosea 10:4). If you make a declaration, swearing by God's Holy name, you must honor the promise with the intent of keeping it. Otherwise, it is a false and empty promise. Ecclesiastes 5:5-6 tells us: "It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it. Do not let your mouth lead you into sin...")
Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God, Warns Us against Making Oaths
Even Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, has said: "Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.' But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God's throne; or by the earth, for it is His footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. All you need to say is simply 'Yes' or 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one." (Matthew 5:33-37.)
False Prophesies and Evil Sacrifices
The third commandment also forbids us from making false claims and visions on God's behalf: "Therefore, declares the Lord, 'I am against the prophets who steal from one another words supposedly from me. Yes," declares the Lord, "I am against the prophets who wag their own tongues and yet declare, 'The Lord declares.' Indeed, I am against those who prophesy false dreams," declares the Lord..." (Jeremiah 23:30-32).
God also warns His children in Leviticus 18:21: "Do not give any of your children to be sacrificed to Molek (a Canaanite false god), for you must not profane the name of your God, I am the Lord.)
God's name is Holy, and we should only use His name out of respect and reverence for our Heavenly Father. We should use God and Jesus Christ's name only when we are sincerely:
Praying
Worshipping
Spreading and teaching the Holy Word of God and the Gospels of Jesus Christ to others
Singing Songs of Praise
Seeking His Truth
Praising and glorifying both God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.
I say all of these things to you in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise His Holy Name...who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. The Lord works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed...The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love... ~ Psalm 103
An Invitation to Accept Jesus Christ into Your Life
If you are reading this and have not accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, I ask you to do so now. You are not reading this by coincidence. The Word of God says: "If you declare with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved." - Romans 10:9-10.
Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Our Heavenly Father and Creator sent Him to die for our sins (John 3:16). All sins, no matter how big, are covered by the sacrificing and atoning blood of Jesus Christ (Colossians 2:13-14, 1 John 2:2, 1 Peter 3:18).
The time is now. There will be no second chance after death: "And just as it is appointed to man to die once, and after that comes judgement, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and He will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him." (Hebrews 9:27-28).
Life is your second chance. Every second of the day that you live, God is giving you the chance and opportunity to accept the gift of salvation given to all of us through His Son, Jesus Christ, on the cross.
I repeat: There will be no other chance after death.
Jesus said, "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." - Matthew 7:13-14.
Which road will you take? The choice is yours, but the time is now, because tomorrow is not promised to any of us. (Proverbs 27:1).
There is no "in between" either. You must pick a side, for Jesus Christ has said, "Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters." - Matthew 12:30.
"Then Jesus came to them and said, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.'" - Matthew 28:18-20.
How to Accept Jesus Christ into Your Life
Confession of Sin: Acknowledge you are a sinner and need forgiveness (Romans 3:23)
Belief in Jesus: Believe He is the Son of God, died for your sins, and was resurrected (Romans 10:9)
Repentance: Turn away from sin and self-centered living.
Invitation: Ask Jesus to come into your heart and life as Lord and Savior.
Commitment: Choose to follow Him and live for Him.
Gratitude: Thank God for the gift of salvation and eternal life.
I plead with you, with all my heart, to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Please repent of your sins, and profess with your mouth from your heart the following: that Jesus Christ is the Son of God (John 20:31, 1 John 4:15, Romans 10:9), He suffered and died on the cross for the sins of the world, God raised Him from the dead three days later, and He accended into Heaven and now sits at the Right Hand of our Almighty Father and God (Hebrews 1:3, Romans 8:34). He will come again to judge both the living and the dead. (2 Timothy 4:1). And, finally, please make every effort to get baptized in the name of Jesus Christ (Acts 2:38, Mark 16:16, Matthew 3:15),
You must confess all of the above things from your heart for the gift of salvation that was given by Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, on the cross. If you need some help, please use the example below as a prayer from Pastor Rick Warren:
"Dear God,
I believe Jesus Christ is your Son. I confess I have sinned, and I ask for your forgiveness. I believe that Jesus died to take away my sins and that you raised him to life. I want to trust Jesus as my Savior and follow him as Lord from this day forward. Guide my life and help me to do your will.
In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen."
Remember, it's not just about the words, but the sincere attitude and change of heart that matters to God. You can pray in your own words or use the prayer above.
Jesus Christ is the Savior of the World! Please accept Him into your heart and life today and spread the good news!
I testify by the Holy Spirit of God that these things are true. I say all of this to you in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, our Lord and Savior, amen.
"Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End." - Revelation 22:12-13.
References:
DeYoung (PhD, K. (2018, October 24). What does it really mean to take the lord’s name in vain? Crossway. https://www.crossway.org/articles/what-does-it-really-mean-to-take-the-lords-name-in-vain/
Access your bible from anywhere. BibleGateway.com: A searchable online Bible in over 150 versions and 50 languages. (n.d.). https://www.biblegateway.com/
Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). America’s most trusted dictionary. Merriam-Webster. https://www.merriam-webster.com/
