Commandment Details

Mishneh Torah #: 46
Mishneh Torah Book #: 1
Mishneh Torah Book: Knowledge
Mishneh Torah Category: 4- Idolatry and Gentile Customs
Reference: Exodus 23:13
Scripture Book: Exodus
Scripture Chapter: 23
Scripture Verse: 13
English: Now concerning everything which I have said to you, be on your guard; and do not mention the name of other gods, nor let them be heard from your mouth.
Hebrew: יג וּבְכֹל אֲשֶׁר-אָמַרְתִּי אֲלֵיכֶם, תִּשָּׁמֵרוּ; וְשֵׁם אֱלֹהִים אֲחֵרִים לֹא תַזְכִּירוּ, לֹא יִשָּׁמַע עַל-פִּיךָ.
Greek: 13 πάντα, ὅσα εἴρηκα πρὸς ὑμᾶς, φυλάξασθε. Καὶ ὄνομα θεῶν ἑτέρων οὐκ ἀναμνησθήσεσθε, οὐδὲ μὴ ἀκουσθῇ ἐκ τοῦ στόματος ὑμῶν.
Parashah: 18- Mishpatim
Sefer Hachinuch #: 86
Sef. Hach. Command: Not to swear by any idol
Category: Idolatry
We can perform today: Yes

"Now concerning everything which I have said to you, be on your guard; and do not mention the name of other gods, nor let them be heard from your mouth." (Exodus 23:13) The literal commandment is that we should not mention the name of other gods.

The Literal Commandment

Now concerning everything which I have said to you, be on your guard; and do not mention the name of other gods, nor let them be heard from your mouth. (Exodus 23:13)

The literal commandment is that we should not mention the name of other gods.

Messiah Says

Messiah implicitly affirmed this commandment when He spoke about the Law:

"Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:17-19)

Pictures of Messiah

Messiah declares "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me." (John 14:6)

We are commanded not to speak the name of false gods. This is because false gods and idolatry is fruitless and only serves to turn us towards falsehood and away from the G-d who is the Truth.

If anyone would turn to false gods then they are denying the truth of G-d's Word and Who He declares Himself to be.

These commandments prohibiting idolatry picture Messiah by pointing to idols and telling us He is not like them.

How Messiah Fulfilled

Messiah fulfilled this commandment by not swearing in the name of false gods.

Traditional Observance

This commandment is traditionally observed in two ways:

First, we should not swear (take an oath) in the name of some other god. Second, we should not entice or encourage others to take an oath in the name of some other god... even if the other person follows that other god. Taking or imposing an oath are both included in this prohibition.

Other Notes

We are able to fulfill this commandment today and we should not swear in the name of an idol.

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Do not swear in the name of an idol