Taking the Lord’s Name in Vain—Which Name? - The BAS Library
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Taking the Lord’s Name in Vain—Which Name?

God’s name is wrongfully used whenever it is invoked to support social injustice or to serve national interests.

By Bernhard W. Anderson

At a recent conference of religious leaders, delegates joined in singing an Argentine folk song: Santo, santo, santo.Holy, holy, holy. Mi corazon te adora!My heart, my heart adores you! Mi corazon te sabe decir:My heart knows how to say to you: Santo eres Señor!Holy are you Lord! When singing a song in another language, with an interlinear translation provided, one thinks about the words more than in the case of familiar songs. I was a bit shocked by the last word of address to God: “Señor,” the everyday word for “Mister” in Spanish. In English the word “Lord” and […]

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Footnotes

1.

But see Anson Rainey’s letter “How Yahweh Was Pronounced,” in Queries & Comments, BAR 20:05; and George Buchanan’s response, in Queries & Comments, BAR 20:05

2.

See Choon-Leong Seow, “Glossary: The Ineffable Name of Israel’s God,” BR 07:06

Endnotes

1.

See the explanatory footnotes to Exodus 3:15 in the Jewish Publication Society Version and the New Revised Standard Version.

2.

In the Christian community, the title “kurios” is frequently used of Jesus, as in the confessional statement “Jesus Christ is Lord.” This, however, differs from the substitution of a term for the divine name.