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up vote 11 down vote favorite

I have seen a lot of mention about "Hashem's Name" on this website.

I would like to know:

  1. Is it permissible for a Jew to tell a Gentile what Hashem's Name really is--what I am asking is, say, a Gentile asks a Jew what Hashem's Name is, would it be permissible for the Jew to say it then or would it be uttering it in vain, and hence a sin?
  2. Is it permissible for a Gentile to utter it.

I would appreciate answers to this question from known Rabbinic traditions and rulings, if possible.

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4  
+1 I'll just point out that G-d has many names, different ones used for different purposes. Some are used in prayer or learning, while others are never uttered at all. Much to be said on this topic, but a comment is not the place. – HodofHod Jan 21 '12 at 22:56

3 Answers

up vote 8 down vote accepted

In this week's Torah portion, both Par'oh (in Exodus 10:16) and his servants (in Exodus 10:7) use God's name explicitly. I don't think this proves it is permissible, but it does seem to imply that it's ok.

Additionally, gentiles use God's name in Joshua 2:9, Joshua 9:9, Samuel I 6:8 and Samuel II 24:23 to give some examples that are Post-Sinai.

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I think the only thing it implies is that they knew it, not that from the perspective of G-d, Jewish tradition or anything in Halachah it was appropriate. – Seth J Jan 22 '12 at 16:38
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@SethJ I have edited to include post Mattan Torah examples. – Double AA♦ Jan 22 '12 at 19:35
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I'll delete when I can get on a computer. – Seth J Jan 22 '12 at 23:03
@DoubleAA, even examples after matan Tora don't prove that what the gentiles did is right, merely that they did it. – msh210♦ Jan 24 '12 at 7:03
@msh210 Certainly in the one from Shmuel Bet it is odd that David didn't kill/repremand him if he was offended. – Double AA♦ Jan 24 '12 at 14:15
up vote 4 down vote

When the Rambam (in Kings chapters 9–10) discusses a gentile's being forbidden to curse God by name, he doesn't add that the gentile may not say God's name outside the context of a curse. I suspect, therefore, that it's permitted for him to do so. But this is weak evidence.

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up vote -4 down vote

There are several things that Jews sometimes are not allowed to do but Gentiles sometimes are. One is this, and another is assembling or burning the complete ketoret incense offering. According to this webpage, the Noachide archaeologist Vendyl Jones was instructed by Rav Yehudah Getz, late Chief Rabbi of the Western Wall, as well as Chacham Ovadiah Yosef, former Sephardi Chief Rabbi of Israel to do so.

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This is a good source for ketores but on what do you base your statement that the topic at hand is permitted? – yoel May 4 '12 at 17:39
Just because something is not permitted for Jews does not necessitate that it is forbidden for Gentiles. – Adam Mosheh May 4 '12 at 17:45
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@AdamMosheh You had to bring a proof from ketoret for that?? – Double AA♦ May 4 '12 at 18:09
@DoubleAA - I didn't have to, but isn't this a good historical example? – Adam Mosheh May 4 '12 at 18:45

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