THE THIRD COMMANDMENT ON YAHWEH'S NAME

Some startling facts

I believe that the Creator’s name ought to be restored and that everyone should repent from calling the Creator, God/G-d or Lord/L-ord. But at the same time I see this as impossible and it will take Yahweh himself to do the correction. None of us can do it. Here reproduce a views on this matter by Eliyah to whom I express my appreciation, This one is based on the Third of the Ten Commandments.

The Ten Commandments are certainly under attack in recent years. The world wants the Ten Commandments out of their court rooms, out of all public places, and out of their lives.

Some modern churches don’t even believe we need to keep the Ten Commandments. But even of those who do not, most all agree that we should not take the name of our Heavenly Father in vain. But what does it really mean to take His name in vain?

Many take the third commandment to mean that we should not use the Heavenly Father's name alongside a swear word or profanity. It certainly can mean this. Others say that taking His name on our lips while living a life of sin is another way of taking His name in vain. This would certainly make sense as well.

However, there is another way of violating the third commandment that most people miss and even the so-called “church fathers” did not understand. Let's look at the third commandment as written in the King James Bible:

Deuteronomy 5:11 "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."

Most of us know that this verse, taken from the King James Version, is simply a translation of the scriptures from Hebrew into English.

Notice that it says we should not take the name of “The LORD” in vain.

If you were to look at this commandment in the original Hebrew, you would not find "The LORD" or any word that carries such a meaning.

Did you know that the Heavenly Father actually has a personal name? “The LORD” is not a name at all, it’s just a title.

All of us hold titles which might describe us (e.g. friend, mother, brother), but we also have a personal name that we primarily use. Well, the Heavenly Father has a personal name also and it is what He primarily uses in the scriptures.

What is actually in the third commandment, but is missing from the King James and most all modern bibles, is the Heavenly Father's true name:

YAHWEH
(Thou shalt not take the name of Yahweh..in vain)

But why would the translators remove the name “Yahweh” from our bibles? Well, it’s not because “the LORD” is Yahweh’s name in English.

It all started a very long time ago with a Jewish tradition which stated that Yahweh’s name is too holy to be pronounced:

“Yahweh, the God of the Israelites, his name being revealed to Moses as four Hebrew consonants (YHWH) called the tetragrammaton, after the exile (6th Century BC), and especially from the 3rd century BC on, Jews ceased to use the name Yahweh for two reasons. As Judaism became a universal religion through its proselytizing in the Greco-Roman world, the more common noun elohim, meaning "god," tended to replace Yahweh to demonstrate the universal sovereignty of Israel's God over all others. At the same time, the divine name was increasingly regarded as too sacred to be uttered; it was thus replaced vocally in the synagogue ritual by the Hebrew word Adonai ("My Lord"), which was translated as Kyrios ("Lord") in the Septuagint, the Greek version of the Old Testament.” Encyclopedia Britannica, under the heading “Yahweh”.

This tradition was picked up by the early church fathers, continues to this day, and few have thought to question it since.

But Yahweh never told us to change His inspired word. In fact, His name is actually in scripture nearly 7,000 times. And each one of those 7,000 times it is replaced with the title “LORD” or “GOD” in all capital letters. Most modern translations freely admit doing this in the preface. Read the preface of the NIV and they’ll tell you they are following tradition by using “the LORD.” Consider this excerpt from the Revised Standard Version where they try to defend this practice:

“...the use of any proper name for the one and only God, as though there were other gods from whom He had to be distinguished, was discontinued in Judaism before the Christian era and is entirely inappropriate for the universal faith of the Christian Church.” RSV 

Question: Who are they to decide what is appropriate for one's faith? Their job is to translate, not decide what we are to believe. 

After all, who was the One that invented the idea of having a name of our Creator? Is it not Yahweh Himself? Is Yahweh also “entirely inappropriate” for placing His name in the scriptures nearly 7,000 times? Who are we to correct Him?

If we are truly looking for something universal, it would be far more “universal” for all men of all languages to call upon one personal name.

This is what Yahweh wanted to begin with. He tells us that He wants to make His name great among the Gentiles:

“For from the rising of the sun, even to its going down, My name shall be great among the Gentiles..”(Mala 1:11a)

Many times Yahweh tells us to exalt His name, give thanks to His name, and call upon His name:

 “O magnify Yahweh with me, and let us exalt His name together” (Psalm 34:3)

 “O give thanks unto Yahweh; call upon his name..” (Psalm 105:1)

 “...whoever calls on the name of Yahweh shall be saved:” (Joel 2:32)

 So now that it is clearly demonstrated that the name of the Heavenly Father is not "The LORD," please notice that most translations are full of false statements. For instance, the King James Version:

Isaiah 42:8 - “I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images. “

This is not true. His name is not "the LORD". His name is Yahweh. The translators did not translate, they purposely substituted the true name of the Heavenly Father with a title so that they could follow their tradition. It should instead read:

Isaiah 42:8 - I am Yahweh: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.  

So what does all of this have to do with the third commandment? It is important to consider whether or not we should agree with and participate in this Jewish, and now Christian, tradition.

Yahweh says to not take His name in vain. Let's take a moment and look at the Webster's dictionary definition of the word "vain":

vain 1. Having no real substance, value, or importance; empty; void; worthless; unsatisfying. ``Thy vain excuse.'' ... 2. Destitute of forge or efficacy; effecting no purpose; fruitless; ineffectual; as, vain toil; a vain attempt.... 

Considering the meaning of the word “vain,” what greater way to bring Yahweh's name to “emptiness...worthlessness...having no real substance, value or importance” than to remove His name altogether from the scriptures?  

This practice is so widespread and so complete that until modern times few people even knew the Heavenly Father had a personal name.

So if we want to keep the Ten Commandments, we should never join them in replacing Yahweh's name with a false name or title of our own choosing. Doing so would be breaking the third commandment. This is not the only way to break the third commandment, but we can see that it is certainly one way of doing so. 

In fact, in most translations the third commandment (as translated) is a transgression of itself!

Why? Because the third commandment forbids bringing His name to nothing, yet most translations do just that when translating that verse.

His name is very important. Yahweh says that it is His name forever and His memorial to all generations, including the one we are living in. Let’s not desecrate or remove His memorial. (Ex. 3:15)

If it wasn’t important, He would not have warned those who break the third commandment:  “Yahweh will not hold him guiltless.”

Therefore, in spite of what others may think, let's keep His commandments by restoring what Yahweh placed there originally as we read and quote the scriptures. Continuing in error is never superior to walking in the truth.

We are not supposed to add or take away from His word. But if we practice this tradition, we are both adding to and taking away from His word.

Therefore, the “replace His name with a title” tradition is clearly unscriptural. We should not be surprised when unscriptural traditions of men find their way into modern denominational religions. Therefore, just as He did, let’s set aside vain traditions and fearlessly proclaim the genuine truth found in His word... just as He inspired it.

Give Yahweh the Glory Due His Name

(I have here used the work of Robert Brooks (my appreciation) inserting changes that I personally believe to make my point)

The English word “God” rightly should apply only to the Christian religion period. The name as a generic term applies to all the deities that are worshipped in the world, by all religions except the Hebrew deity.

The deity of the Holy Scriptures, is correctly called YHWH or Yahweh (“w” is pronounced slightly with a v sound, hence Yahveh). The ancient Hebrews were more specific. The English removed that specificity when it translated Elohim as God and YHWH as Lord (i.e. Baal).

Yahweh, our Elohim, has many names, amounting to many revelations of His Being. For instance:

I. The “EL” Revelations.

A) El – an ancient name for Yah

B) El Shaddai, rendered “ Almighty Elohim”
C) El Elyon, meaning “Exalted One,” “Most High”
D) El Olam: “Elohim the Everlasting One”
E) El Roi – “Elohim who sees me”
F) El Berith – “Elohim of the Covenant”
G) El Elohe – Israel – “El of Israel”
H) Elohim – the plural form of El, often in singular interpretation
I) El – often used in names as in Israel, Bethel, Ishmael, Samuel, Elijah, Elisha, Emmanuel, etc.

II. The Revelational Name, Adon; Translated “Lord,” is “master” if correctly translated

III. Yahweh is used 6,700 times as the primary name of the Elohim of Israel.

A) It means eternal. It is Israel’s major name for their Elohim. In English translations it is wrongly rendered “Lord” which is really Baal a pagan deity.
B) The Old Testament scholar, Charles A Briggs, asserts that the word “Jehovah” is a “linguistic monstrosity.” (Messianic Prophesy X1)
C) Geneses 4:26 states that after the birth of Seth “then men began to call on the name of Yahweh.” This probably means it was Yahweh, the True Elohim, they were worshipping. They may not, at this time. know His name. (Ex. 3:13)

IV. Yahweh tells Moses to inform Pharaoh that unless he will let His people go, He will send plagues upon Egypt. (Ex 9:13 –14) Thus He did!

V. Pharaoh consents to Israel’s exodus, but Pharaoh pursues them, and the Israelites are afraid when they reach the Red Sea. But Moses commands: “Stand still and see the salvation of Yahweh. . .” (Ex. 14:13). He then lifted his staff and “Yahweh caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind.” (Ex. 14:21) Thus Israel passed through the sea safely.

VI. It was Yahweh Elohim who provided for Israel as they murmured in the wilderness march.

A) “Then said Yahweh to Moses, Look, I will rain bread from heaven.” (Ex. 16:4)
B) Israel complained of thirst, and “Yahweh said. . . see I will stand before you. . . and you shall smite the rock” in Horeb, “and there shall come water out of it.” (Ex. 17: 5 – 6)
C) Upon their complaint of no meat, Yahweh sent them quails (Ex. 16: 12 – 13)
D) Amalek fought with Israel, but Israel defeated them through the power of Yahweh, who declared, “I will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.” (Ex. 17: 8 -14)

VII. Yahweh gives the Ten Commandments. (Ex. 20: 1 – 3) “And Elohim spoke all these words, saying, I am Yahweh your Elohim. You shall have no other Elohim before me. . . “In Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy Yahweh is the Great Law-Giver.

VIII. After the death of Moses, Joshua is given the command to conquer corrupt, reprobate, past-repentance Canaan. Every place the sole of Joshua’s foot touches is given (by Yahweh) into his conquest. (Joshua 1: 1 – 3) Yahweh is unequivocally Israel’s Elohim to punish her in corrupting themselves in wicked compromise with the people and elohims of Canaan – resulting in Assyrian and Babylonian captivity.

IX. But Yahweh has mercy on Israel with free, undeserved grace. They are restored in their land.

X. The Psalms, Proverbs and prophets laud Yahweh in a concerted call to consecration.

A) The Psalms are illimitable in their laud of the Lord Yahweh.

1) Ps. 1 “Yahweh knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked shall perish.
2) Ps. 5 “Give ear to my words, O Yahweh, consider my meditation.”
3) Ps. 6 “O Yahweh, do not rebuke me in anger. . . Have mercy on me, O Yahweh; for I am withered away.” Yahweh was praised in the Psalms and cried to for help and repentance!
4) “O Yahweh, our Elohim, how excellent is your name in all the earth. . .” (Ps. 8:1)
5) Endless are the words of praise, and endless are the cries for help to Yahweh in the Psalms!
6) “Praise Yahweh. Praise Yahweh, O my soul. While I live I will praise Yahweh.” (Ps. 146)
7) The last Psalm, 150, begins “Praise you Yahweh” and ends “Let everything that hath breath praise Yahweh. Praise you Yahweh.”

B) Proverbs 1: 7 begins “The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge.”
C) The Prophets abound with a desire for positive relation with Yahweh. Only three will be shown:

1) Isaiah 6:3 – In Isaiah’s temple vision he sees and hears the seraphim’s cry to one another – “Holy, Holy, Holy is Yahweh of Host.”
2) Amos 9: 5 – 6 – “It is he that builds his chambers in the heavens, and hath founded his vault upon the earth.”
3) Malachi 4: 1 – 2 - “Says Yahweh of Hosts. . . to you that fear my name shall the sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings.”

Conclusion:
Elohim’s Holy name, Yahweh appears 6,700 times in the Old Testament. We miss this through the English translations, because the Bible call him “Lord” which really is English for Baal.

“Give to Yahweh the glory due unto His name.” (Ps. 29: 2)

Yahweh’s Nature

I discovered some Christian Churches, on the internet that use the scared name of Yahweh in their worship services. But when I read through their statement of belief I noticed that they are no different from the old Worldwide Church of God (WCG) in their belief, faith and practices, so I wonder if this is OK! I will continue to explore this aspect of the worship of Yahweh our Elohim.

I had began this study from the burning bush incident where Moses was introduced to Elohim’s preferred Names. Exodus 3:13-15 reads:

13 Then Moses said to Elohim, "Behold, I am going to the sons of Israel, and I shall say to them, `The Elohim of your fathers has sent me to you.' Now they may say to me, `What is His name?' What shall I say to them?" 14 And Elohim said to Moses, "I AM THAT I AM"; and He said, "Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, `I AM has sent me to you.'" 15 And Elohim, furthermore, said to Moses, "Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, `The Yahweh, the Elohim of Abraham, the Elohim of Isaac, and the Elohim of Jacob, has sent me to you. This is My name forever, and this is My memorial-name to all generations."

So there you have it. Elohim's personal name, as they translate its meaning in English, is "I am that I am." Here are some other ways it has been translated:
a) He who is
b) The self-existent one
c) He who is ever becoming what He is
d) Is-ness is is-ness

Unfortunately, I can say that inspite of 4000 years since his name was exposed to Moses, the world still does not know who Yahweh is and I hope this Blog will, amongst others, fulfill this role in a small way. Some of the natures of Yahweh are really what we need as human beings. Take this one that I recently considered as quite important. Read Deut 32: 3-4 (WOY throughout):

“For I proclaim the name of the Yahweh: Ascribe greatness to our Elohim. He is the Rock, His work is perfect; for all His ways are justice, an Elohim of truth and without injustice; Righteous and upright is He.”

Yahweh is great, He is our rock, He is perfect, all his ways are justice, he is the Elohim of truth and he is without injustice, he is righteous and upright. These are the nature of Yahweh that we need to proclaim widely, so that people will know who to turn to in their times of anxiety.

These are some of the natures of Yahweh that we all need to have in our lives, and especially so, when we need help from Yahweh to help us in our times of needs. Yahweh is the one that could help us because of these Natures that He possesses. There are three points we can think about and these are that we should:

v Think on His Name
v Call on His Name and
v Trust in His name

The first needs are for us all to think of Yahweh and his great name, to meditate on his Name. Malachi 3:16 reads and I quote:

“Then those who feared Yahweh spoke to one another, and Yahweh listened and heard them; So a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear Yahweh. And who meditate on His name.”

This is quite important to us because thinking always leads to action. For instance if we are thinking of his name we will surely consider his nature which I have outlined above. When our needs arise, we would immediately know where to go for help.

The Prophets and His priests called upon Yahweh for help in their times of needs. We can see this for instance in Psalms 99:6 which read:

“Moses and Aaron were among His priests, and Samuel was among those who called upon His name; They called upon the Yahweh, and He answered them.”

There is no doubt that by thinking and calling on the name of Yahweh, that help is forthcoming. The final of course is that we need to place our trust in Yahweh, as laid out in Isaiah 50: 10 which of course read:

“Who among you fears the LORD? Who obeys the voice of His Servant? Who walks in darkness and has no light? Let him trust in the name of the LORD and rely upon his God”.

Yahweh is the one we can all trust, and entrust ourselves to, with all our needs and wants; for Yahweh is trustworthy.

I will end here on this installment. We need to think call on his Name, call Him and trust Yahweh.