View All Biblical Expressions

Take God’s name in vain

Here’s what it means

To misuse God's name in falsehood, empty speech, oath-breaking, or conduct that misrepresents him.

Why the Bible says it this way

The command concerns bearing or using the divine name falsely, not merely saying a particular word carelessly.

An idiom is a familiar phrase whose meaning comes from the whole expression, not from reading each word by itself.

A helpful detail: The exact range includes several related forms of misuse and is broader than a single English profanity rule.

Where it appears