Which commandment prohibits misusing the name of the Lord your God?

• A. You shall not commit adultery.
• B. You shall not remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.
• C. You shall not steal.
• D. You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God.

Answer: (D)

Honoring God in how we speak about Him is what this is about. The commandment warns against taking the name of the Lord your God in vain—using His name in a way that’s empty, misleading, or disrespectful. That includes swearing to a lie, promising things “in God’s name” without intending to keep them, or speaking of God casually as a mere expression. Because God’s name represents who He is, misusing it harms our relationship with Him and with others.

The other statements address different behaviors—sexual faithfulness, keeping the Sabbath, and respecting others’ property—rather than how we speak about God, so they don’t fit the focus of this commandment.