The Third Commandment is found in Shmot 20:7: “Do not take the Name of Hashem, your God in vain. For God will not acquit the one who takes His Name in vain.”

The Talmud in Brachot 33b states: He who pronounces an unnecessary benediction  violates the prohibition of “Do not take the Name of Hashem, your God in vain.”

Rabbi Kasher in the Torah Shlemah explains this commandment: “Whoever pronounces an unnecessary benediction or says his prayers without devotion or at the wrong time takes the name of Heaven in vain. Regarding him the text states: He will not acquit him.”

What Rabbi Kasher is saying is that if someone prays without kavana, without being focused, without paying attention to what he is saying, without understanding the meaning of the words, without being aware that he is standing before God- then he is actually taking God’s name in vain.

How many people would take prayer more seriously if they thought about this concept?

There are many observant Jews who would not dare to utter God’s name outside of the recitation of prayers and blessings yet while praying their minds may wander, they may involve themselves in conversations with people in the room (instead of with God) during the course of the davening or they may be so tuned out that they may not even realize which prayers they have already recited.  

Every time that God’s name is uttered it should be for a purpose.

When we look at the third commandment from this perspective, it seems even harder to observe than the normative explanation of this commandment, not swearing falsely using God’s name. Prayer is said three times a day and blessings are said throughout the day so not taking God’s name in vain has to be something that we are aware of every day, all day long.

As we read the Ten Commandments this week, let’s take it upon ourselves to have more kavana each and every time that we recite God’s name in a prayer or a blessing.