Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ramban · Torah
Ramban on Leviticus 19:12/רמב"ן על ויקרא י״ט:י״ב
אוְלֹא תִשָּׁבְעוּ בִשְׁמִי לַשָּׁקֶר לָמָּה נֶאֱמַר, לְפִי שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות כ ז) "לֹא תִשָּׂא אֶת שֵׁם ה' אֱלֹהֶיךָ לַשָּׁוְא", יָכוֹל לֹא יְהֵא חַיָּב אֶלָּא עַל הַשֵּׁם הַמְיֻחָד, מִנַּיִן לְרַבּוֹת כָּל הַכִּנּוּיִין, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר "לֹא תִשָּׁבְעוּ בִשְׁמִי לַשָּׁקֶר", כָּל שֵׁם שֶׁיֵּשׁ לִי, לְשׁוֹן רַשִׁ"י (רש"י על ויקרא י"ט:י"ב) מִתּוֹרַת כֹּהֲנִים (פרשה ב ו). וְעַל דֶּרֶךְ הָאֱמֶת, "לֹא תִשָּׁבְעוּ בִשְׁמִי" הוּא הַשֵּׁם הַמְּיֻחָד, "וְחִלַּלְתָּ אֶת שֵׁם אֱלֹהֶיךָ", הוּא הָאֱלֹהִים שֶׁמִּמֶּנּוּ נִתְרַבּוּ כָּל הַכִּנּוּיִין, וְשָׁם נֶאֱמַר תְּחִלָּה "שֵׁם ה' אֱלֹהֶיךָ" וְ"כִי לֹא יְנַקֶּה ה'" בִּשְׁמוֹ הַגָּדוֹל הַמְּיֻחָד. וְזֶה טַעַם "וְחִלַּלְתָּ", כִּי כַּאֲשֶׁר יִשָּׁבַע בַּשֵּׁם הַמְּיֻחָד לַשֶּׁקֶר יִהְיֶה מְחַלֵּל שֵׁם אֱלֹהָיו:
1AND YE SHALL NOT SWEAR BY MY NAME FALSELY. “Why is this stated [when it has already been mentioned in the Ten Commandments]? Since it is said, Thou shalt not take the Name of the Eternal thy G-d in vain,37, Verse 7. I might think that one is liable only if he swore by the Proper Name of G-d. Whence do I know to include all ‘substitute’ Names of G-d [such as Merciful, etc.]? Scripture therefore says, And ye shall not swear ‘bishmi’ (by My Name) falsely — by any Name I have.” This is Rashi’s language from the Torath Kohanim.54 2:6. The Sifra is another name for Torath Kohanim. By way of the Truth, [the mystic teachings of the Cabala], And ye shall not swear by My Name refers to the Proper Name [i.e., the Tetragrammaton]. And thereby thou wilt profane the Name of thy G-d refers to the Name Elokim (G-d), from which Name all other “substitute” Names of G-d are derived. And there [in the Ten Commandments] it says at first the Name of the Eternal thy G-d,37, Verse 7. and similarly, the Eternal will not hold him guiltless,37, Verse 7. meaning, by His Great Proper Name. And this is the meaning of the expression [here in the verse before us], and thou wilt profane, meaning that he who swears falsely by the Proper Name, will thereby be profaning the Name of Elokim [as all Divine Names are united in perfect Unity].55