Mitzvah —
209
Not to swear falsely in G‑d's Name
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וְלֹֽא־תִשָּׁבְע֥וּ בִשְׁמִ֖י לַשָּׁ֑קֶר וְחִלַּלְתָּ֛ אֶת־שֵׁ֥ם אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ אֲנִ֥י יְהֹוָֽה׃ - פָּרָשַׁת קְדשִׁים
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Leviticus 19:12 - "You shall not swear falsely by My Name, thereby profaning the Name of your God. I am the Lord."
This Mitzvah's Summary
מִצְוָה עֲשֵׂה - Positive Commandment
מִצְוָה לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה - Negative Commandment
Core Beliefs – יְסוֹדוֹת הָאֱמוּנָה
It is forbidden to swear falsely in Hashem’s Name.
This mitzvah prohibits making an oath in Hashem’s Name that is false or deceptive. Swearing falsely profanes His Name and undermines truth itself. The Torah demands integrity in our words, especially when invoking Hashem.
This applies in both judicial and personal contexts: whether swearing in court to support a claim or casually using Hashem’s Name to strengthen a lie. Such misuse degrades the sanctity of His Name and erodes trust in society.
Commentary & Classical Explanation:
- Rambam (Hilchot Shevuot 1:3–4): A false oath is a Torah prohibition and carries severe punishment, as it desecrates the Divine Name.
- Sefer HaChinuch (Mitzvah 227): Explains the root is to sanctify speech, since words are central to human uniqueness. Misusing them through false oaths degrades both the speaker and the honor of Heaven.
- Talmud (Shevuot 39a): States that the world itself trembles at false oaths, showing their cosmic impact.
- Rashi (Lev. 19:12): Notes the double sin — lying and desecrating Hashem’s Name simultaneously.
Commentaries
(Source: Chabad.org)
Applying this Mitzvah Today
Notes on this Mitzvah's Fundamentals
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.
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