The Third Commandment
The third Commandment of God is not mentioned very often, except when someone speaks in anger, using "Lord", "God", "Christ" or "Jesus" to accent their anger or sometimes used to embellish humor and I'm quite sure all these when used offends our God because of our carelessness or our intended disregard and lack of respect for the honor Jehovah God and His Son justly deserves.
How is the third Commandment stated? The closest I've found to the Hebrew text wording is from an Interlinear Bible, "You shall not take the name of Jehovah your God in vain; for Jehovah will not leave unpunished the one who takes His name in vain." (Exodus 20:7). Right away, most Christians would notice something different from their current Bible versions, God used His personal name, "Jehovah" (the most commonly accepted translation of the "tetragrammaton" which is the term given for the 4 Hebrew symbols that represent the personal name of God). God Himself, having first spoken this command to the listening Israelites, used His name and not a title that most Bible translations blindly represent. The correct wording seems to make quite a difference in how this third command could be transgressed. One could also assume that if, in addition to His name "Jehovah", the title "God" or "Lord" being disrespectfully, would be offensive to Jehovah as well because they are His titles and most Christians use these titles to refer to Jehovah, but their intended disregard is directed toward Him, even though His personal name is not used in their expression of anger.
There are however, other ways God's third command can be transgressed, personally
and corporately, and now at this time, it is being violated by a large majority of
the current Christian community. What could be more offensive, more disrespectful
and more vain in the use of His name then to remove God's personal name "Jehovah"
from the word of God, the Bible, replacing it with a generic title, even though "Lord"
and “God" are His titles, the title "lord" is also used for humans. This title "Lord"
was also given to Jesus, His Son, because Jesus was given the commission and the
authority of bring all who seek God home to His Father. Does not man replacing His
name with a title, which is shared with Jesus, make for confusion as to whom a verse
is speaking about? Can we ignore the responsibility of keeping God's word as it was
given to the Bible writers? The Hebrew word for "vain" used in the written third
Commandment, is "shav" #7723 the Strong's dictionary says, from the same as #9922
in the sense as desolating; evil (as destructive), lit. (ruin) or mor. (espec. guil);
fig. idolatry (as false, subj.), uselessness (as deceptive, obj.; also adv. in vain):-
I can only assume that most educated clergy are aware that the original Hebrew text in the Old Testament contains the "tetragrammaton", (Strong's #3068) 6441 times, plus #3069 (a slight variation of 3068) 305 times, totaling 6747 uses of God's personal name and that the original and proper interpretation of His name "Jehovah", has been replaced with "Lord" or "LORD" or "God" and then using capitalized letters to represent a name or to denote more importance. At some point in history, it was determined that His name was too holy to speak or write, and then changes were made in that direction by the Jewish leaders. When and why these changes were made aren't that important because, this weren't authorized by either divine beings. What should concern the Christian community or anyone worshiping the God of the Bible, is that His name should be put back into God's word, as it was in the original scrolls and of course, written on the tablets of stone. Replacing it with anything at all was a transgression of God's expressed and written word, plus knowing this and not restoring His holy name, would be a continuation of man's transgression of the Third Commandment and should naturally be a concern of every Jehovah fearing individual. There are two accepted translations of the Tetragrammaton into English, "Jehovah" or "Yahweh" that would please God more then any title. The King James Version (using the "Masoretic Text) has chosen "Jehovah" and has maintained the original text, but only four times, discarding and replacing "Jehovah" 6742 times in the Old Testament, and there is no name for God Almighty at all in the New Testament, Greek translation.
I understand that many Christian church congregations may not be aware of this fact, because the Almighty’s name is not spoken from the pulpit nor, is it represented fully in the common Bibles, so this error continues. The responsibility is not just with translators or church officials, whatever position in the church they hold, all should know this, if they've studied God's word. However, it is for every Christian to seek God through His word, plus whoever becomes aware of this error and cares not to correct this flaw could be held accountable. This long existing change is such an tragic issue, because it has been ignored for such a long time, it has become an accepted tradition, because when questioned, most respond with, “It’s not important" or “It doesn’t change anything". Christ spoke of the traditions of men, "But answering He said to them, Why do you also transgress the command of God on account of your tradition?" (Matthew 15:3), this was in response to the Jews for His disciples eating without washing their hands. Mark records further, "And He said to them, Do you do well to set aside the commandments of God so that you may keep your traditions?" (Mark 7:9), "making the word of God of no effect by your traditions which you delivered. And many such like things you do." (Mark 7:13). Traditions of men were common in Christ day on earth and they are still common today, maybe even more so.
In the Hebrew text, the name Jehovah is stated in the first five commandments eight times. By omitting His name and continuing this erroneous tradition, could there be any question that this is a direct transgression of the third commandment, changing the words of God's commands, dishonoring our Father and our God? I only know of three Bibles that continue to contain God's personal name: the American Standard Version (now out of print), the Jehovah's Witness Bible, the Young's Literal translation Bible and the J.P. Green Interlinear Bible, which contains the Hebrew text (Masoretic Text).
If we look into Biblical history for a comparison of such disregard for God's
laws, Noah preached the flood for 120 years because they disregarded God's laws,
exceedingly and the result was, only Noah and his immediate family (eight souls total)
were saved from the flood that covered the earth and destroyed all created beings,
not present in the ark (except for the fish). The population of the world at that
time wasn't small, if you consider that men were healthier then we are today, living
for hundreds of years, fathering sons and daughters and this went on for 2000 years,
the same time span from Christ's first advent until now. This unfortunately doesn't
present much hope to us, and Christ did use Noah and the flood as an example for
the end time, "And as it was in the days of Noah, so also it will be in the day of
the Son of man." (Luke 17:26). The Israelites almost continually fell from God's
law and His grace, and were captured by various nations about a dozen times, the
last being the Romans. Each time, at some point after the Israelite humbled themselves
by calling on God, and wisely addressing Him as “Jehovah" I might add, and each time
Jehovah responded with a deliverer to free them from their bondage. The very last
time, Jehovah sent His only-
Some Christians have another way to transgress the third commandment, by giving
the name of God, “Jehovah”, to another, or declaring His name as a family name, sharing
His name with others. This was addressed in Deuteronomy 6:4 "Hear, O Israel, Jehovah
our God is one Jehovah." Not only does this state that there is only one God, but
it also states that there is only one divine being with the name "Jehovah". Also
consider "I am Jehovah, that is My name, and I will not give My glory to another,
nor My praise to engraves images." (Isaiah 42:8), I have read and have heard statements
that Jesus was given the name "Jehovah”. This is not Biblical, but I do understand
and agree that the character of the Father, Jehovah was given to Michael (now Jesus)
by inheritance; God's perfection, character and power, was passed on to His only-
Christ, the Word of God, the author of the Bible by inspiration to the Bible writers, thought His Father's name to be so important that He used "Jehovah" 6746 times in the Old Testament. No one can say how many times it was presented in the New Testament but I'm quite certain when Christ quoted the scriptures, He spoke it exactly as He inspired it, to include His Father's personal name. Throughout the Old Testament, God's holy name was respected, honored, and feared, "And in that day you shall say, Praise Jehovah! Call on His name; declare His doings among the people; make mention that His name is exalted" (Isaiah 12:4), "They shall fear Jehovah's name from the sunset, and His glory from the sunrise. When the foe comes like a flood, the Spirit of Jehovah shall cause him to flee." (Isaiah 59:19) There is no greater name, "There is none like You, O Jehovah; You are great and You name is great in might." (Jeremiah 10:6). It is a blessing to confess His name, "Pour out Your fury on the nations who do not know You and on the families who do not call on Your name..." (Jeremiah 10:25). He caused His name to hold His reputation, "Therefore, behold, I will make them know; this time I will cause them to know My hand and My might; and they shall know that My name is Jehovah." (Jeremiah 16:21). His name is important to the end, "Then those fearing Jehovah spoke together, each man to his neighbor. And Jehovah gave attention and heard. And a book of remembrance was written before Him for those esteeming His name." (Malachi 3:16). And one more from the lips of Jesus, "I revealed Your name to the men whom You gave to Me out of the world. They were Yours, and You gave them to Me; and they have kept Your word." (John 17:6). There are other verses in the New Testament.
A few extra verses are listed below but very short of a complete list:
Psalm 9:10 "And those who know Your name will put their trust
in You, for You, Jehovah, have not forsaken those who seek
You."
Psalm 83:18 "And let them know, Your name is Jehovah, that You
alone are the Most High over all the earth."
Psalm 86:11 "Teach me Your way, O Jehovah; I will walk in Your
truth; unite my heart to fear Your name."
Psalm 96:8 "Give to Jehovah the glory due His name; bring an
offering and come into His courts."
Psalm 105:3 "Glory in His holy name; let the heart of those
who seek Jehovah rejoice."
Isaiah 12:4 "And in that day you shall say, Praise Jehovah! Call
on His name; declare His doings among the peoples; make
mention that His name is exalted."
Isaiah 12:4 "And in that day you shall say, Praise Jehovah! Call
on His name; declare His doings among the peoples; make
mention that His name is exalted."
Jeremiah 10:25 "Pour out You fury on the nations who do not
know You, and on the families who do not call on You name.
For they have eaten up Israel..."
Joel 2:26 "And you shall eat fully and be satisfied; and you shall
praise the name of Jehovah your God, who has dealt
wonderfully with you..."
Joel 2:32 "For it shall be, all who shall call on the name of Jehovah
shall be saved. For salvation shall be in Mount Zion and in
Jerusalem, as Jehovah has said, and among the saved whom
Jehovah shall call."
Zechariah 14:9 "And Jehovah shall be king over all the earth. In
the day there shall be one Jehovah, and His name one."