Exodus 20:7 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain— Our Saviour, who, it must be allowed, was the best expositor of the commandments, has given us (Matthew 5:33.) the true meaning of this, which is, primarily, thou shalt not forswear thyself; which he further explains, by adding, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths: and, in Leviticus 19:12 this commandment also is fully and clearly expressed thus, ye shall not swear by my name falsely; neither shalt thou profane the name of thy GOD: so that taking the name of the Lord in vain, primarily signifies the highest degree of profanation of that name by perjury; and, secondarily, all subordinate and lower degrees of profanation; among which, as our Saviour informs us, every species of light and vain swearing is forbidden. Thus that offence may be included in it, which some expositors have supposed its immediate scope and intention; namely, the transferring to idols the titles which belong to GOD, and of swearing by those idols; a known practice of the heathens: and, in this view, they would render the words of the commandment, thou shalt not bear, or transfer, the name of the Lord thy God to a vain thing; the appellation often given in Scripture to an idol. But the meaning of the commandment is more extensive; it being levelled against all vain, light, and unbecoming use of the name of GOD in general, and perjury in particular; which, being a vice so daring in itself, and so pernicious to society, it was well worthy the majesty of GOD to place in his law the strongest barrier against it. And, accordingly, we find that most awful denunciation annexed to the commandment, the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain: more strongly asserting by the negative, that the Lord himself will undoubtedly, and severely, punish those who are guilty of this crime: ch. Exodus 34:7. Jeremiah 30:11 it may escape punishment from men; but as it cannot escape the knowledge, so it shall not pass free from the vengeance of GOD. This has been the general opinion of mankind: "the divine punishment of perjury, says the law of the twelve tables, is destruction; the human punishment is infamy:" And Alexander Severus was so sensible of this, that he thought the contempt of the religion of an oath always had GOD for a sufficient avenger.