Our Gemara on Amud Aleph discusses the idea that swearing falsely is more severe than merely violating a neder. Swearing falsely has an additional injunction by which God declared that, “I will not cleanse those who bear my name in vain” (Shemos 20:6).

What is this special quality about swearing falsely, compared to other sins, that that draws this particular reaction? In regard to this, God says he will not cleanse. Further developing the idea that we saw yesterday, we see that swearing falsely is a corruption, so to speak, of God‘s presence itself. It is one thing to lie, which itself is a distortion, that we could say disrupts one’s ability to be connect to God who is the source of all truth. But it is another matter entirely, as we saw yesterday, to co-opt and involve God in your declarations and to draw validity from His presence, and then not live up to the requirements of that invocation.  

We also must keep in mind, for God, thoughts, speech and action are all one. Only humans have this artificial distinction between thought, speech and action. This is why we are allowed as humans a buffer zone so that we understand that it is not as severe to lie as it is to swear falsely. Because we are not perfect. But we have to be most careful not to claim to possess an alignment with God’s perfection without actually living up to it.

The verse that  states, “Do not bear my name in vain“ (ibid), is subject to many related interpretations. It is not only referring to swearing falsely but even to saying God‘s name in vain, understandably for the very same reasons that we described. 

Ha’amek Davar (Shemos 20:6-7), quoting a Pesikta Rabasi (23) adds a more creative but meaningful iteration of this prohibition, and we can see how it makes sense spiritually and psychologically. To take an honor or office in the community that is beyond what you deserve is also “bearing God’s name in vain”. This is because in order to serve the public you take the mantle of leadership and claim to represent what is good and proper, i.e. God‘s will and impose it on the people. One must be careful to live up to that. It is a sacred trust, and it is almost like taking an oath without literally doing so. The leader embodies the spirit of God which is within the community. He must live up to it.

Translations Courtesy of Sefaria, except when, sometimes, I disagree with the translation

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