E20-15: What the Talmudic writings say about the 3rd Word and uttering God’s name aloud

There seem to be all kinds of misconceptions floating around out there that mistakenly draw a connection between God’s 3rd Word and the tradition of not saying God’s personal name out loud.

Keep in mind that up until around 300 BC, the Lord’s personal name WAS uttered out loud.

And here’s another very significant point you may want to consider.

The Jewish Talmud clearly states that the decision to prohibit writing or uttering out loud the name “YHVH” is NOT connected in any whatsoever with the 3rd Word.

The teachings of the Rabbis from that time period never thought that the uttering of God’s name out loud was equivalent to breaking God’s 3rd Word.

For them it always a matter of respect and reverence.

In that same era, the Hellenistic Jewish philosopher Philo reported that the tradition to NOT address one’s parents by their first names arose.

Again, the reasoning was because it was somewhat disrespectful to call one’s father and mother by their first names.

But it had nothing to do with the 3rd Word of God.

What’s interesting is that during Yeshua’s time, it was believed that uttering aloud God’s name broke the following ordinance from the Book of Leviticus.

 Say to the Israelites:
‘Anyone who curses their God will be held responsible’
-Leviticus 24:15

But again, the sages who wrote the Talmud completely reject this notion that speaking God’s name out loud equals blasphemy.

That would mean for about 700 years up until the tradition to not say God’s name out loud was established, the Israelites were blaspheming their God.

I think not.

The point I want to make in bringing all of this up is that there is a huge difference between breaking God’s 3rd Word and choosing to do something out of reverence.

The former is definitely a sin while the latter is a matter of personal preference concerning what is appropriate behavior.

So to conclude, this whole idea that it is a sin to say God’s name out loud because it violates the 3rd Word of God is nothing but a concocted modern myth.

It was simply a matter of reverence.