Not to swear falsely in G‑d's Name

Faith – אֱמוּנָה

• Swearing falsely denies trust in Hashem’s omniscience and justice. Rambam (Hilchot Shevuot 1:3) writes that invoking His Name falsely erodes faith in Divine truth.

Core Beliefs – יְסוֹדוֹת הָאֱמוּנָה

• A false oath undermines the sanctity of Hashem’s Name and the truth at the heart of Torah. Sefer HaChinuch (Mitzvah 227) explains that the root of this mitzvah is to sanctify speech and engrain honesty as a foundation of belief.

Reverence – יִרְאַת שָׁמַיִם

• Misusing Hashem’s Name shows disregard for His awe. Rashi (Leviticus 19:12) emphasizes that false oaths combine two sins: lying and desecrating the Divine Name.

Holiness – קְדֻשָּׁה

• Hashem’s Name is inherently holy and cannot lose sanctity. What becomes profaned is the one who utters it in falsehood. Rambam (Yesodei HaTorah 6:2) teaches that misuse of the Name degrades the speaker, not the Name itself.

Speech – דָּבָר

• Human speech is a sacred trust. Sefer HaChinuch notes that attaching Hashem’s Name to a lie corrupts the very gift of language that distinguishes humanity.

Truth / Justice – צֶדֶק

• False oaths corrupt justice, especially in court. The Talmud (Shevuot 39a) states that the entire world trembles at false oaths, showing their cosmic and societal impact.

Vows / Oaths – נְדָרִים / שְׁבוּעוֹת

• This mitzvah anchors the halachic category of oaths. Rambam (Hilchot Shevuot 1:4) rules that false oaths are among the gravest transgressions, since they intertwine dishonesty with desecration of the Divine Name.

Bein Adam L’Makom (between a person and G-d)

• The prohibition is directly against Hashem. A false oath invokes His Name in falsehood, an affront to His holiness.

Bein Adam L’Chavero (between people)

• False oaths harm others by denying claims, misleading courts, or destroying trust. This mitzvah protects both spiritual integrity and social justice.