Article March 17, 1934 Issue

Bible Notes

"Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain" (Ex. 20:7)—The words "in vain," which occur twice in this verse, represent the Hebrew "la-shave," literally, "emptiness, vanity, nothingness, worthlessness" (Brown, Driver, Briggs: Hebrew Lexicon, p. 996); while the verb rendered "take" means "to lift up, bear, carry" (ibid.). Smith renders: "You must not invoke the name of the Lord your God to evil intent;" while the margin of the Revised Version suggests: "for vanity or falsehood," instead of "in vain."

"That cover with a covering, but not of my spirit" (Isa. 30:1)—The Septuagint translates: "Ye have made covenants that are not by my Spirit;" Smith: "Who form an alliance that is not according to my mind;" Kent: "Establishing a treaty contrary to my spirit;" and the American Revised Version: "That make a league, but not of my spirit."

"The Egyptians shall help in vain, and to no purpose" (Isa. 30:7)—Scholars contend that this chapter of Isaiah was composed shortly before 700 B. C. Palestine at this period was under the power of Assyria, and the death of the Assyrian ruler Sargon, in 705 B. C., appears to have encouraged the Jews to oppose his successor, Sennacherib (705–681 B. C.), with a view to regaining their independence. It is held that Isaiah here opposes an attempted alliance with Egypt against Assyria, reminding the Jews that their true strength lies "in quietness and in confidence" (Isa. 30:15). The prophet's counsel was amply justified. When Sennacherib finally encamped against Jerusalem, King Hezekiah prayed for God's protection (II Kings 19:15–19) and was commended by Isaiah (19:20); while in verse 35 we find no reference to Egyptian aid. It was, we read, "the angel of the Lord" that "smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand." ... "So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed" (verse 36). (Compare: Wade: Isaiah, p. xxivff.; G. A. Smith: Isaiah, I, p. 312; Skinner: Isaiah, I, p. xxxix, etc.)

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