CORNERSTONE – SHEM
It’s important we build our foundations on a straight and level cornerstone. As a Christian, we should build on
Yehweh’s (God) Word and Yehushua’s (Jesus) example,
not on man’s.*
Name, it seems like such a simple concept to understand. And yet, all these years as a Christian, it wasn’t something I understood at all. When we read Yehweh’s Word, we have to put our Hebrew thinking caps on. We have to think like they did. Without those thinking caps, we miss a whole lot of meaning, even from a simple word like name.
Have you taken Yehweh’s name in vain? Let’s find out.
Here’s a link to all the scripture we are going to use in this segment, so click on it and come, follow along.
Let’s take a look at Proverbs 30:4. The word translated as ‘name; is shem: a name
Original Word: שֵׁם
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: shem
If you call yourself a Christian, I’m sure you would say you know “His name,” “and what His son’s name” is. How could we not? “His name is in all the nations round about.” That’s what 1 Kings 4:31 says, right? If you read most translations, it will say “fame” not name. But the word translated is shem, the same as in Proverbs 30:4.
To Hebrews, a name is not simple something we use to identify someone. There is a similar Hebrew word, “neshama,” it literally means ‘breath.’ If you look into neshama, you will find it fascinating as it is one part of our soul. God’s exhaling. It is the seat of ones character. So a name to Hebrews, ‘shem’ denotes character, reputation, authority, and purpose of an individual, it makes up an identity. God told Moses his name was Yehweh/Jehovah- “the one who exists”. The ‘I am.’ See how His name denotes His identity.
If we choose to walk as a Christian, then by His name we identify. We take our oaths in His name (Deu 10:20). Abraham walked in Yehweh’s name. He preached in the name of Jehovah (Gen 13:4). What does this mean? It means he preached in the ‘authority’ of Jehovah. Remember, name doesn’t mean name (as in modern day meaning), it denotes an identity = character, reputation, authority, and purpose of an individual.
Yehweh will call into account anyone who speaks in His name. Let’s read that one here.
^19 ^I myself will call to account anyone who does not listen to my words that the prophet speaks in my name. ^20 ^But a prophet who presumes to speak in my name anything I have not commanded, or a prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, is to be put to death.”
^21 ^You may say to yourselves, “How can we know when a message has not been spoken by the Lord?” ^22 ^If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the Lord does not take place or come true, that is a message the Lord has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously, so do not be alarmed. (NIV)
We must be careful when speaking in His authority. Everything we say must line up with His Word. We should also test those we receive teaching from and verify what they are saying lines up as well.
Part of the ten commandments is to not misuse the Lord your God’s name. Not to use it in vain. Now remember the definition of name to a Hebrew? Shem – it denotes an identity = character, reputation, authority, and purpose of an individual.
This isn’t talking about how we say His name, nor if we use His name as part of cursing. It’s conveying the idea of not representing his IDENTITY in a false manner.
The Jews were so afraid of breaking this commandment, they created a tradition of using HaShem (The Name) to keep His name from becoming common, thus profaning it. This is a little over kill, especially since Yehweh himself allows His name to appear over 6800 times in the Torah alone.
But it wasn’t about speaking His name. We don’t profane Yehweh’s name by speaking it. We profane the IDENTITY of God when we do not keep our word (Lev 19:12), when we don’t do what we say, or when we live contrary to His commands and His ways.
Look at Ezekiel 39:7, God says he will make his holy name (shem) known and He will no longer let His holy name (shem) be profaned. So how could they profane His name if they didn’t already know it? It was by the way they were living. God was going to make His full IDENTITY known to them.
Look at Exodus 6:3, we know Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob knew God’s name, and yet, He says here, “as to My name Jehovah (יְהֹוָה), I have not been known to them.” He had not fully revealed his IDENTITY (shem) to them. They knew many parts of God’s character, but not His full identity.
Once we know Yehweh’s full character, we trust Him (Psalm 9:10).
So the question again is, have you taken Yehweh’s name (shem), His identity = character, reputation, authority, and purpose of an individual, in vain? Are you living a life which would bring honor to His name (shem)?
I don’t know about you, but this brings a whole new light to this commandment. It will bring a whole new light to a lot of scripture as you read it knowing it has nothing to do with our concept of name, but the Hebrew’s concept, which is about a person’s identity, not his designated ID tag.