Do not swear in the name of an idol

The Literal Commandment

Now concerning everything which I have said to you, be on your guard; and do not mention the name of other gods, nor let them be heard from your mouth. (Exodus 23:13)

 

The literal commandment is that we should not mention the name of other gods.

 

Messiah Says

Messiah implicitly affirmed this commandment when He spoke about the Law:

"Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:17-19)

 

Pictures of Messiah

Messiah declares "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me." (John 14:6)

We are commanded not to speak the name of false gods. This is because false gods and idolatry is fruitless and only serves to turn us towards falsehood and away from the G-d who is the Truth.

If anyone would turn to false gods then they are denying the truth of G-d's Word and Who He declares Himself to be.

These commandments prohibiting idolatry picture Messiah by pointing to idols and telling us He is not like them.

 

How Messiah Fulfilled

Messiah fulfilled this commandment by not swearing in the name of false gods.

 

Traditional Observance

This commandment is traditionally observed in two ways:

First, we should not swear (take an oath) in the name of some other god. Second, we should not entice or encourage others to take an oath in the name of some other god... even if the other person follows that other god. Taking or imposing an oath are both included in this prohibition.

 

Other Notes

We are able to fulfill this commandment today and we should not swear in the name of an idol.

 

<><

Commandment Details

  • Mishneh Torah # 46
  • Mishneh Torah Book # 1
  • Mishneh Torah Book Knowledge
  • Mishneh Torah Category 4- Idolatry and Gentile Customs
  • Reference Exodus 23:13
  • Scripture Book Exodus
  • Chapter 23
  • Verse 13
  • English Now concerning everything which I have said to you, be on your guard; and do not mention the name of other gods, nor let them be heard from your mouth.
  • Hebrew יג וּבְכֹל אֲשֶׁר-אָמַרְתִּי אֲלֵיכֶם, תִּשָּׁמֵרוּ; וְשֵׁם אֱלֹהִים אֲחֵרִים לֹא תַזְכִּירוּ, לֹא יִשָּׁמַע עַל-פִּיךָ.
  • Greek 13 πάντα, ὅσα εἴρηκα πρὸς ὑμᾶς, φυλάξασθε. Καὶ ὄνομα θεῶν ἑτέρων οὐκ ἀναμνησθήσεσθε, οὐδὲ μὴ ἀκουσθῇ ἐκ τοῦ στόματος ὑμῶν.
  • Parashah 18- Mishpatim
  • Positive/Negative Negative
  • Sefer Hachinuch # 86
  • Sef. Hach. Command Not to swear by any idol
  • Category Idolatry
  • We can fulfill today Yes

Custom Search

    • Acquisition (18)
    • Holiness (70)
    • Injuries (36)
    • Judges (74)
    • Judgments (23)
    • Knowledge (75)
    • Love (11)
    • Promises (25)
    • Ritual Purity (20)
    • Sacrifices (39)
    • Seeds (67)
    • Service (103)
    • Times (35)
    • Women (17)
    Close 
    • 1- The Foundations of Torah (10)
    • 10- Blessings (1)
    • 11- Circumcision (1)
    • 12- Shabbat (5)
    • 13- Rest on the Tenth of Tishri (4)
    • 14- Rest on Holidays (12)
    • 15- Leaven and Unleavened Bread (8)
    • 16- Shofar, Sukkah, and Lulav (3)
    • 17- Sheqels (1)
    • 18- Sanctification of Months (1)
    • 19- Fasts (1)
    • 2- Personal Development (11)
    • 20- Marriage (4)
    • 21- Divorce (2)
    • 22- Levirate Marriage and Release (3)
    • 23- Virgin Maiden (5)
    • 24- Woman Suspected of Adultery (3)
    • 25- Forbidden Sexual Relations (37)
    • 26- Forbidden Foods (28)
    • 27- Slaughter (5)
    • 28- Oaths (5)
    • 29- Vows (3)
    • 3- Torah Study (2)
    • 30- Nazirite (10)
    • 31- Appraisals and Devoted Property (7)
    • 32- Diverse Varieties (5)
    • 33- Gifts to the Poor (13)
    • 34- Heave Offerings (8)
    • 35- Tithes (1)
    • 36- Second Tithe and Fruit of the Fourth Year (9)
    • 37- First Fruits and Other Priestly Gifts Outside the Temple (9)
    • 38- The Sabbatical Year and the Jubilee (22)
    • 39- The Chosen House (6)
    • 4- Idolatry and Gentile Customs (51)
    • 40- The Vessels of the Temple and Those Who Serve in It (14)
    • 41- Entry into the Temple (15)
    • 42- Things Forbidden on the Altar (14)
    • 43- Sacrificial Procedures (23)
    • 44- Perpetual Offerings and Additional Offerings (19)
    • 45- Sacrifices Become Unfit (8)
    • 46- Service on Yom Kippur (1)
    • 47- Benefit from Consecrated Things (3)
    • 48- The Pesach Sacrifice (16)
    • 49- Pilgrimage Festival Sacrifice (6)
    • 5- Repentance (1)
    • 50- The Firstborn (5)
    • 51- Unintentional Sins (5)
    • 52- Those with Incomplete Atonement (4)
    • 53- Substitution for Consecrated Animals (3)
    • 54- Uncleanness from a Corpse (1)
    • 55- The Red Heifer (2)
    • 56- Uncleanness from Leprosy (8)
    • 57- Uncleanness of a Bed or Seat (4)
    • 58- Other Sources of Uncleanness (3)
    • 59- Uncleanness of Foods (1)
    • 6- Reciting the Shema (1)
    • 60- Ritual Baths (1)
    • 61- Injury to Property (4)
    • 62- Theft (8)
    • 63- Robbery and Lost Property (6)
    • 64- One Who Injured Person or Property (1)
    • 65- A Murderer and the Preservation of Life (17)
    • 66- Sales (5)
    • 67- Slaves (13)
    • 68- Hiring (7)
    • 69- Borrowed and Deposited Things (2)
    • 7- Prayer and Priestly Blessing (2)
    • 70- Creditor and Debtor (12)
    • 71- Claimant and Respondent (1)
    • 72- Inheritances (1)
    • 73- The Sanhedrin and the Penalties Under Their Jurisdiction (30)
    • 74- Testimony (8)
    • 75- Rebels (9)
    • 76- Mourning (4)
    • 77- Kings and Wars (23)
    • 8- Tefillin, Mezuzah, and Torah Scroll (5)
    • 9- Tzitzit (1)
    Close 
    • Deuteronomy (201)
    • Exodus (109)
    • Genesis (2)
    • Leviticus (243)
    • Numbers (58)
    Close 
    • 1- Bereshit (2)
    • 10- Miketz
    • 11- Vayigash
    • 12- Vayechi
    • 13- Shemot
    • 14- Va'eira
    • 15- Bo (21)
    • 16- B'shalach (1)
    • 17- Yitro (16)
    • 18- Mishpatim (51)
    • 19- Terumah (3)
    • 2- Noach (2)
    • 20- Tetzaveh (8)
    • 21- Ki Tisa (8)
    • 22- Vayakhel (1)
    • 23- Pekudei
    • 24- Vayikra (16)
    • 25- Tzav (17)
    • 26- Shemini (18)
    • 27- Tazria (7)
    • 28- Metzora (10)
    • 29- Acharei Mot (30)
    • 3- Lech-Lecha
    • 30- Kedoshim (51)
    • 31- Emor (56)
    • 32- B''har (24)
    • 33- B''chukotai (12)
    • 34- Bamidbar
    • 35- Naso (18)
    • 36- B'ha'alot'cha (5)
    • 37- Shelach (3)
    • 38- Korach (9)
    • 39- Chukat (3)
    • 4- Vayeira
    • 40- Balak
    • 41- Pinchas (11)
    • 42- Matot (2)
    • 43- Masei (7)
    • 44- Devarim (2)
    • 45- Va'etchanan (11)
    • 46- Ekev (7)
    • 47- Re'eh (55)
    • 48- Shoftim (42)
    • 49- Ki Tetze (74)
    • 5- Chayei Sarah
    • 50- Ki Tavo (6)
    • 51- Nitzavim
    • 52- Vayelech (3)
    • 53- Haazinu
    • 54- V'zot HaBerachah
    • 6- Toledot
    • 7- Vayetze
    • 8- Vayishlach (1)
    • 9- Vayeshev
    Close 
    • Negative (364)
    • Positive (249)
    Close 
    • Appointed Times (43)
    • Business (2)
    • Courts, Crimes, and Punishments (73)
    • Food (32)
    • Forbidden Mixtures (5)
    • Forbidden Sexual Relationships (26)
    • G-d (13)
    • Idolatry (40)
    • Levites & Priests (35)
    • Loans (12)
    • Love (9)
    • Marriage and Family (26)
    • Morality (11)
    • Nazirites (10)
    • Oaths (8)
    • Personal Appearance (7)
    • Prayer and Confession (5)
    • Prophecy (3)
    • Providing for the Poor (13)
    • Redemption of the Firstborn (4)
    • Ritual Purity and Impurity (20)
    • Sacrifices and Offerings (99)
    • Shemittah and Yovel (19)
    • Signs and Symbols (5)
    • Slaves and Servants (18)
    • Temple and Sacred Objects (21)
    • Terumah and Tithes (25)
    • The King (7)
    • Torah (5)
    • War and Battles (17)
    Close 
    • Maybe (7)
    • No (83)
    • Yes (523)
    Close