Westminster Larger Catechism, Question 114
Question 114
What reasons are annexed to the third commandment?
The reasons annexed to the third commandment, in these words, The Lord thy God, and, For the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain, are, because he is the Lord and our God, therefore his name is not to be profaned, or any way abused by us; especially because he will be so far from acquitting and sparing the transgressors of this commandment, as that he will not suffer them to escape his righteous judgment, albeit many such escape the censures and punishments of men.
Scripture references for paragraph 1
Berean Standard Bible. Public domain text and source credits.
Exodus 20:77You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not leave anyone unpunished who takes His name in vain.
Leviticus 19:1212You must not swear falsely by My name and so profane the name of your God. I am the LORD.
Ezekiel 36:21-2321But I had concern for My holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the nations to which they had gone.
22Therefore tell the house of Israel that this is what the Lord GOD says: It is not for your sake that I will act, O house of Israel, but for My holy name, which you profaned among the nations to which you went.
23I will show the holiness of My great name, which has been profaned among the nations—the name you have profaned among them. Then the nations will know that I am the LORD, declares the Lord GOD, when I show My holiness in you before their eyes.
Deuteronomy 28:58-5958If you are not careful to observe all the words of this law which are written in this book, that you may fear this glorious and awesome name—the LORD your God—
59He will bring upon you and your descendants extraordinary disasters, severe and lasting plagues, and terrible and chronic sicknesses.
Zechariah 5:2-42“What do you see?” asked the angel. “I see a flying scroll,” I replied, “twenty cubits long and ten cubits wide.”
3Then he told me, “This is the curse that is going out over the face of all the land, for according to one side of the scroll, every thief will be removed; and according to the other side, every perjurer will be removed.
4I will send it out, declares the LORD of Hosts, and it will enter the house of the thief and the house of him who swears falsely by My name. It will remain inside his house and destroy it, down to its timbers and stones.”
1 Samuel 2:1212Now the sons of Eli were wicked men; they had no regard for the LORD
1 Samuel 2:1717Thus the sin of these young men was severe in the sight of the LORD, for they were treating the LORD’s offering with contempt.
1 Samuel 2:2222Now Eli was very old, and he heard about everything his sons were doing to all Israel and how they were sleeping with the women who served at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.
1 Samuel 2:2424No, my sons; it is not a good report I hear circulating among the LORD’s people.
1 Samuel 3:1818So Samuel told him everything and did not hide a thing from him. “He is the LORD,” replied Eli. “Let Him do what is good in His eyes.”
Source and edition
Westminster Larger Catechism. NonlinearFruit/Creeds.json, Unlicense. Creeds.json, English transcription
Unlicense. Source transcription.
Berean Blue opens December 1, 2026 for Bible reading, study, and research. View this work in the app preview.