The Sukkot’s Torah Portion: A Ten Commandments’ Moment

Here, they’re one people, and they all have one language, and this is what they have begun to do. And now nothing that they’ll scheme will be precluded from them

Genesis 11:6

One of Humans’ greatest strengths is language. The Book of Genesis’ Tower of Babel tale recognizes this power. Genesis 11:6.

In scripture, the voice is a force. The words “let there be light” evidences language’s creative capacity. See Genesis 1:3. With scientific advancement, even mere mortals can now light up a room by either verbal command or “hand clap.”

Sukkot, the Festival of Booths, offers a First Day Torah Portion addressing language. It protects the Lord ‘s name from human speech’s power. The commandment preventing the desecration of God’s name also includes a noteworthy rationale.

The Ten Commandments’ Connection

Before addressing the passage, the Decalogue’s Commandment prohibiting the use of the Lord’s name in vain must be appreciated. Exodus 20:7.

The Ten Commandments’ prohibition concerning God’s name protects its value as currency. The act of “swearing” in scripture is taken quite seriously. See the Book of Joshua 9:18 (The Gibeonite controversy) and the Book of Judges 11 (Jephthah’s daughter)

As noted in the citations, in antiquity, the Lord’s name, arguably, evoked value far beyond any other spoken word. Promises, protections and treaties were forged by the evocation of the Lord’s name. It was a guarantee. Thus, it was a most unique of words.

The Passage

In the Sukkot Portion, God commands as follows:

“And you shall not desecrate my holy name, so I shall be sanctified among the Children of Israel. I am the Lord, who makes you holy, who brought you out from the land of Egypt to be God to your, I am the Lord.” Numbers 22:32-33.

Sanctification means to set apart or declare as holy. Thus, this commandment demarcates a particular word from all others. The Lord’s name is a holy name. Its desecration would transform the Lord’s name into a mere ordinary or common word.

This passage impresses how humans can transform words. With language, word’s initial meaning can be lost. Likewise, words lacking substance can become substantial.

Beyond raising or lowering word’s meanings, names can be altered as well. One’s name can be transformed instantaneously With technology, the internet and social media programming, people’s names can be raised. Likewise, their names can be lowered. Innuendos, defamation, and lies can all be used to destroy legacies and reputations; praise and glazing can elevate others.

Sanctification was to protect the Lord’s name from this aberrant human behavior. It appreciated that humans’ capacity to “destroy” both names and words.

Graven Images

The Lord’s name’s sanctity is married to the Decalogue’s graven image prohibition. Humans’ ability to create (or destroy) exceeds language. It extends to the visual. As such, graven images can be masterpiece works of beauty, i.e. Michelangelo Sistine Chapel depicting God in the act of creation in a fresco. On the other hand, some graven images can be deplorable.

Conclusion

Two matters rise up from the Sukkot Torah Portion. Human language has the potentiality for both good and bad. The Sukkot commandment wants the Lord’s name to be removed from the human capacity of transforming language. Further, this Commandment serves as a moment of reflection as to what we, as humans, do with our words. With words’ great power, there is great responsibility.

Be well!!

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