Leviticus 19:12 - “‘You shall not swear by my name falsely, and profane the name of your God. I am Yahweh.
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What does "Leviticus 19:12" mean?
Leviticus 19:12, "‘You shall not swear by my name falsely, and so profane the name of your God. I am Yahweh," contains two key prohibitions that are closely related:
"You shall not swear by my name falsely": This part prohibits taking an oath in God's name (Yahweh) and then breaking that oath. In ancient times (and sometimes still today), oaths invoking God were considered a sacred promise, a solemn declaration of truthfulness or intent, with divine consequences attached to breaking them. To swear falsely by God's name was to directly disrespect God and treat the oath as meaningless.
"and so profane the name of your God": This prohibition explains the consequence of the first one. Profaning God's name means to treat it as something common, worthless, or defiled. By swearing falsely, you are essentially making God's name associated with deception and falsehood, thus dishonoring and desecrating it. In other words, a false oath brings God's reputation down.
"I am Yahweh": The concluding declaration "I am Yahweh" reinforces the authority behind the commandment. Yahweh is the covenant name of God, emphasizing His personal relationship with Israel and His supreme power. By invoking this name, God reminds the people that He is the one who establishes moral standards and judges their obedience.
In summary, the verse means that you should not use God's name as part of a promise you don't intend to keep, because doing so disrespects God and degrades His holy reputation. It emphasizes the importance of honesty, integrity, and reverence for God's name in all aspects of life, especially when making promises.
Leviticus 19:12 - “‘You shall not swear by my name falsely, and profane the name of your God. I am Yahweh.
What does "Leviticus 19:12" mean?
Leviticus 19:12, "‘You shall not swear by my name falsely, and so profane the name of your God. I am Yahweh," contains two key prohibitions that are closely related:
"You shall not swear by my name falsely": This part prohibits taking an oath in God's name (Yahweh) and then breaking that oath. In ancient times (and sometimes still today), oaths invoking God were considered a sacred promise, a solemn declaration of truthfulness or intent, with divine consequences attached to breaking them. To swear falsely by God's name was to directly disrespect God and treat the oath as meaningless.
"and so profane the name of your God": This prohibition explains the consequence of the first one. Profaning God's name means to treat it as something common, worthless, or defiled. By swearing falsely, you are essentially making God's name associated with deception and falsehood, thus dishonoring and desecrating it. In other words, a false oath brings God's reputation down.
"I am Yahweh": The concluding declaration "I am Yahweh" reinforces the authority behind the commandment. Yahweh is the covenant name of God, emphasizing His personal relationship with Israel and His supreme power. By invoking this name, God reminds the people that He is the one who establishes moral standards and judges their obedience.
In summary, the verse means that you should not use God's name as part of a promise you don't intend to keep, because doing so disrespects God and degrades His holy reputation. It emphasizes the importance of honesty, integrity, and reverence for God's name in all aspects of life, especially when making promises.