לֹ֥א תִשָּׂ֛א אֶת־שֵֽׁם־יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ לַשָּׁ֑וְא כִּ֣י לֹ֤א יְנַקֶּה֙ יְהוָ֔ה אֵ֛ת אֲשֶׁר־יִשָּׂ֥א אֶת־שְׁמֹ֖ו לַשָּֽׁוְא׃ ס
You shall not take the name of YHWH your God in vain, for YHWH will not hold guiltless anyone who takes His name in vain.
Morphology
- לֹ֥א (lo) – Root: לא (lo); Form: Negative particle; Translation: “You shall not”; Notes: Prohibits the following action.
- תִשָּׂ֛א (tissa) – Root: נשא (nasa); Form: Qal imperfect 2nd person masculine singular; Translation: “take”; Notes: Refers to carrying or lifting up.
- אֶת־שֵֽׁם־יְהוָ֥ה (et-shem-YHWH) – Root: שם (shem); Form: Direct object marker with noun, masculine singular construct and proper noun; Translation: “the name of YHWH”; Notes: Refers to God’s holy and covenantal name.
- אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ (Elohekha) – Root: אלה (ʾeloh); Form: Noun, masculine plural with 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “your God”; Notes: Indicates personal relationship.
- לַשָּׁ֑וְא (la-shav) – Root: שוא (shav); Form: Preposition with noun, masculine singular; Translation: “in vain”; Notes: Refers to using God’s name frivolously or falsely.
- כִּ֣י (ki) – Root: כי (ki); Form: Conjunction; Translation: “for”; Notes: Introduces the rationale for the prohibition.
- לֹ֤א (lo) – Root: לא (lo); Form: Negative particle; Translation: “will not”; Notes: Denotes negation of the following action.
- יְנַקֶּה֙ (yenakkeh) – Root: נקה (naqah); Form: Piel imperfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “hold guiltless”; Notes: Refers to absolving or clearing from guilt.
- יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH) – Root: הוה (hwh); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: God’s covenantal name.
- אֵ֛ת (et) – Root: את (ʾet); Form: Direct object marker; Translation: [not translated]; Notes: Marks the direct object of the verb.
- אֲשֶׁר־יִשָּׂ֥א (asher-yissa) – Root: נשא (nasa); Form: Relative pronoun with Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “who takes”; Notes: Refers to the one misusing God’s name.
- אֶת־שְׁמֹ֖ו (et-shemo) – Root: שם (shem); Form: Direct object marker with noun, masculine singular construct and 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “His name”; Notes: Refers to the name of YHWH.
- לַשָּֽׁוְא (la-shav) – Root: שוא (shav); Form: Preposition with noun, masculine singular; Translation: “in vain”; Notes: Reiterates the prohibition against misuse.