Bearing God's Name: Why Sinai Still Matters by Carmen Joy Imes

A Fresh Biblical Theology of Image-Bearing and Vocation

Author: Carmen Joy Imes
Publisher: IVP Academic (2019)
Pages: 208
Audience: Pastors, Bible teachers, thoughtful laypeople, students of Old Testament theology

Overview and Core Thesis

Carmen Joy Imes's Bearing God's Name is a gem—a concise, accessible, yet deeply insightful exploration of what it means to be God's image-bearers. Drawing on her doctoral research in Old Testament and ancient Near Eastern studies, Imes makes a compelling case that the third commandment ("You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain") has been fundamentally misunderstood for centuries.

The traditional reading treats the third commandment as a prohibition against casual swearing or profanity—"Don't say 'God' or 'Jesus' as a curse word." But Imes demonstrates this interpretation is far too narrow. The commandment is actually about identity, vocation, and representation: God has placed His name on His people (like a brand or royal seal), commissioning them to represent Him faithfully in the world.

Imes's central thesis: To "bear God's name" means to be His authorized representatives—image-bearers called to reflect His character, extend His presence, and embody His purposes in creation. The third commandment warns us not to misrepresent the God whose name we bear.

What makes this book exceptional is Imes's ability to:

Ground her argument in solid exegetical and linguistic analysis
Connect ancient Near Eastern cultural context to biblical theology
Show how image-bearing, priesthood, and the third commandment all interweave
Apply these insights practically to Christian life and mission today
Write accessibly without dumbing down the scholarship

The result is a work that transforms how we understand:

Genesis 1:26-27 (image of God as royal-priestly vocation)
Exodus 20:7 (the third commandment as missional calling)
Israel's priesthood (representing God to the nations)
The Church's identity (continuing humanity's original vocation)
Christian ethics (living worthy of the name we bear)

For Living Text readers, this book provides essential grounding for understanding:

Image-bearing as vocation (not just ontological status)
Sacred space theology (priests extending God's presence)
Covenant identity (God's name placed on His people)
Missional calling (representing God to the watching world)
Union with Christ (bearing Jesus' name as His body)

This is biblical theology at its best—exegetically rigorous, theologically rich, pastorally warm, and practically transformative.

Strengths: Why This Book Matters

1. Ancient Near Eastern Context for "Bearing a Name"

Imes begins by demonstrating that in the ancient world, bearing someone's name was a well-understood concept with specific connotations. Understanding this cultural background is essential for grasping what God means when He places His name on His people.

Ancient practices of name-bearing:

Slaves bore their master's name: Ownership and identity

A slave might be called "belonging to [master's name]"
The name indicated who they served and represented
Their conduct reflected on their master's reputation

Wives bore their husband's name: Family identity and honor

Taking a husband's name signified covenant relationship
The wife represented the family in the community
Her behavior affected the family's reputation

Soldiers bore their king's name: Military authority

Armies fought under their king's banner/name
They carried the king's authority into battle
Victory or defeat reflected on the king

Priests bore deity's name: Religious representation

Temple personnel wore garments marking them as deity's servants
They mediated between the god and the people
They performed rituals on the deity's behalf

Key insight from ancient texts:

Imes analyzes Mesopotamian and Egyptian sources showing that bearing a name meant authorized representation:

The name-bearer acted on behalf of the name-giver
The name-bearer's actions reflected on the name-giver's reputation
To misuse the name was to dishonor the one whose name you bore

Biblical examples Imes highlights:

Numbers 6:22-27 (Aaronic blessing):

"So shall they put my name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them."

God's name is placed on Israel like a brand or seal—marking them as His covenant people, under His protection, representing Him to the nations.

Deuteronomy 28:10:

"And all the peoples of the earth shall see that you are called by the name of the LORD, and they shall be afraid of you."

Israel bearing God's name makes them recognizable to other nations—they're known as "Yahweh's people," and this carries both privilege and responsibility.

Isaiah 43:7:

"Everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made."

God created humanity for His glory—to bear His name, to represent Him, to reflect His character in creation.

Imes's synthesis:

When God places His name on His people, He's not merely identifying them—He's commissioning them. To bear God's name means:

Identity: We belong to Him
Authority: We act on His behalf
Representation: We make Him known
Accountability: Our conduct reflects on His reputation

This radically reframes the third commandment.

2. The Third Commandment Reconsidered

Imes's most significant contribution is her reinterpretation of Exodus 20:7:

"You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain." (ESV)

Traditional interpretation: Don't use God's name carelessly in speech—no swearing, no blasphemy, no casual "Oh my God."

Imes's interpretation: Don't bear/carry God's name falsely/emptily/worthlessly—don't misrepresent the God whose name has been placed on you.

Linguistic analysis:

The Hebrew verb נָשָׂא (nasa) typically means "to bear, carry, lift up"—not merely "to speak" or "to use."

Genesis 4:13: Cain says his punishment is "too heavy to bear" (same verb)
Exodus 28:12: Aaron bears the names of Israel's tribes on his shoulders
Exodus 28:29: Aaron bears the names on the breastpiece over his heart

The phrase לַשָּׁוְא (lashav) means "in vain, for nothing, falsely, deceptively"—not merely "irreverently."

Psalm 24:4: "Who has not lifted up his soul to what is false" (same word)
Psalm 139:20: "Your enemies take your name in vain" (they rebel against you)

Imes's translation:

"You shall not bear the name of the LORD your God falsely/deceptively, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who bears his name falsely/deceptively."

What this means:

The third commandment isn't primarily about speech—it's about identity and conduct. It's not "Don't say God's name carelessly" but "Don't live in a way that misrepresents the God whose name you bear."

Israel had God's name placed on them (Numbers 6:27). They were His covenant people, His representatives to the nations. The third commandment warns: Don't bear this name falsely—don't claim to be God's people while living like pagans.

Old Testament examples of violating this commandment:

Ezekiel 36:20-23: Israel in exile "profaned [God's] holy name" by their conduct

They bore God's name among the nations
But their idolatry and injustice made the nations mock: "These are the people of Yahweh? Their God must be weak!"
Israel's failure misrepresented God's character

Malachi 1:6-14: Priests offering defiled sacrifices

They bore God's name as His priests
But their corrupt worship profaned His name
"My name is profaned among the nations" (v. 11)

Leviticus 19:12: "You shall not swear by my name falsely, and so profane the name of your God"

Making false oaths while invoking God's name
Claiming God's authority for lies

Jeremiah 7:9-11: People committing injustice while claiming God's protection

"You steal, murder, commit adultery... and then come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name?"
Bearing God's name while violating covenant = taking His name in vain

Imes's crucial point: The third commandment encompasses casual speech (don't swear falsely by God's name), but it's much broader—it governs all conduct by those who bear God's name. Every sin by a believer is a violation of the third commandment because it misrepresents God.

3. Image of God as Priestly Vocation

Imes connects bearing God's name to Genesis 1:26-27's "image of God" language, showing that image-bearing is fundamentally vocational—not just ontological status but authorized representation.

Ancient Near Eastern background:

In the ancient world, images of gods served specific functions:

Kings were called "image of god"—representing deity's rule
Temple statues were "images" where the god's presence dwelt
Images were placed in conquered territories to establish divine/royal presence

Not: Humans physically resemble God But: Humans represent God, embody His presence, extend His rule

Key insight: In ancient temples, priests cared for the divine image—clothing it, feeding it, maintaining its glory. But Genesis 1-2 presents humanity itself as the image, and all creation as God's temple-garden.

Humans are both:

The image (royal-priestly representatives)
The priests (tending God's sacred space)

Imes's synthesis of Genesis 1-3:

Genesis 1:26-28: Humanity created as God's image

To "rule" (royal function)
To "fill the earth" (extend God's presence)
To "subdue" (establish order)

Genesis 2:15: Humanity placed in Eden

"To work it and keep it" (Hebrew: avad and shamar)
Same verbs used for priestly service in the tabernacle
Adam and Eve are priest-kings tending God's sacred garden

The vocation: Extend the sacred space of Eden (where God dwells) throughout creation—transforming wilderness into garden, bringing order from chaos, making all earth reflect God's glory.

This is what "bearing God's image" means:

Representing God's character to creation
Mediating God's presence and blessing
Extending sacred space where heaven and earth overlap
Stewarding creation on God's behalf

The fall as vocational failure:

Genesis 3 isn't just moral failure—it's vocational abdication:

Instead of guarding sacred space, Adam and Eve let the serpent in
Instead of subduing chaos, they unleashed it
Instead of imaging God truly, they distorted His character (believing the serpent's lies about God)
Instead of extending sacred space, they were expelled from it

The fall was fundamentally a failure to bear God's name/image faithfully.

Israel as renewed image-bearers:

Imes shows Israel was called to resume humanity's original vocation:

Be a "kingdom of priests" (Exodus 19:6)—corporate image-bearers
Dwell in the promised land (new Eden)
Display God's character through covenant faithfulness
Be a light to the nations (Isaiah 49:6)

The tabernacle/temple becomes concentrated sacred space—anticipating the day when all creation becomes God's dwelling.

This connects directly to the third commandment: Don't bear God's name falsely = Don't fail your image-bearing vocation like Adam and Eve did.

4. Israel's Priesthood and Name-Bearing

Imes devotes significant attention to Israel's priesthood, showing how priests exemplify what all image-bearers are called to do—represent God and mediate His presence.

The priestly garments:

Exodus 28: Detailed instructions for Aaron's priestly attire

Turban with gold plate: "Holy to the LORD" engraved on it (28:36)
- Aaron literally wears God's name on his forehead
- Marks him as belonging to God, authorized to serve
Ephod with stones: Names of Israel's twelve tribes (28:9-12)
- Aaron bears Israel's names on his shoulders
- He represents the people before God
Breastpiece with stones: Tribal names over his heart (28:29)
- Aaron carries the people in God's presence
- He mediates between God and Israel

The high priest literally embodies name-bearing: God's name on his head, Israel's names on his body.

Priestly functions:

Representing God to the people:

Teaching Torah (Leviticus 10:11; Deuteronomy 33:10)
Pronouncing blessings (Numbers 6:22-27—placing God's name on Israel)
Judging disputes (Deuteronomy 17:8-13)

Representing the people to God:

Offering sacrifices on their behalf
Making atonement for sins
Interceding through prayer
Entering God's presence in the Holy of Holies

Maintaining sacred space:

Ensuring purity of worship
Guarding the sanctuary
Mediating God's holiness to sinful people

Imes's crucial point: What priests do officially in the tabernacle/temple, all Israel is meant to do missionally in the world:

Priests in Temple	Israel in World
Bear God's name	Bear God's name among nations
Maintain sacred space	Extend sacred space through obedience
Represent God to Israel	Represent God to the nations
Offer sacrifices	Live as living sacrifices
Guard holiness	Display God's character

Israel as "kingdom of priests" (Exodus 19:6) means the entire nation has a priestly vocation toward the world—making God known, mediating His blessing, drawing the nations to worship the true God.

When Israel fails:

The prophets consistently condemn Israel for bearing God's name falsely:

Idolatry (worshiping other gods while claiming Yahweh's name)
Injustice (oppressing the poor while performing rituals)
False worship (empty religiosity without transformed hearts)

Each failure is a violation of the third commandment—bearing God's name but misrepresenting His character.

5. The Church as Name-Bearers Today

Imes concludes by showing how Christians continue humanity's image-bearing vocation—now empowered by union with Christ and the indwelling Spirit.

Christians bear God's name:

We're called by Christ's name: "Christians" = "Christ-bearers"

Acts 11:26: Disciples were first called "Christians" in Antioch
We're identified with Jesus—His reputation is tied to ours

We're baptized into the Triune name:

Matthew 28:19: "Baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit"
Baptism marks us as belonging to God, bearing His name

We're the temple of the Holy Spirit:

1 Corinthians 3:16-17: "You are God's temple... God's Spirit dwells in you"
1 Corinthians 6:19-20: "Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit... you are not your own"
God's presence dwells in us—we're mobile sacred space

We're a royal priesthood:

1 Peter 2:9: "You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession"
What Israel was called to be, the Church now is in Christ

Implications for Christian living:

Every sin misrepresents God: Because we bear His name, our conduct reflects on His reputation

When Christians are hypocritical, greedy, hateful, or immoral, we profane God's name among unbelievers
When Christians embody love, justice, mercy, and holiness, we honor His name

Ethics flow from identity: We're not trying to earn the name—we already bear it through Christ

"Live worthy of the calling you have received" (Ephesians 4:1)
"Adorn the doctrine of God our Savior" (Titus 2:10)
Our behavior should match the name we bear

Mission is inherent: As name-bearers, we represent God to the watching world

We're ambassadors for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20)
We're God's letters, read by all (2 Corinthians 3:2-3)
The world forms its impression of God partly through us

Worship matters: How we honor God (or fail to) affects His reputation

Malachi's warning about defiled worship applies to us
Casual, irreverent, half-hearted worship profanes God's name
Authentic, wholehearted worship honors the name we bear

Unity displays God's character:

Jesus prayed for unity among believers "that the world may believe" (John 17:21)
Our divisions misrepresent the God of peace
Our reconciliation demonstrates the gospel's power

Imes's call: Take seriously the privilege and responsibility of bearing God's name. Let every area of life—work, relationships, speech, priorities, worship—reflect the character of the God we represent.

6. Practical Application: Living as Name-Bearers

Imes concludes with concrete ways Christians can faithfully bear God's name today:

In worship:

Come prepared, attentive, wholehearted
Don't offer God leftovers (time, attention, money)
Worship as if God's reputation depends on it (it does, in the eyes of watching world)

In relationships:

Treat others—especially fellow believers—with the love, mercy, and justice that reflects God's character
Forgive as you've been forgiven
Pursue reconciliation and unity

In work:

Work with integrity, excellence, and honesty—"as for the Lord" (Colossians 3:23)
Your employer/colleagues/customers form impressions of God through you
Shoddy, dishonest, or lazy work dishonors the name you bear

In speech:

Yes, avoid casual profanity or using "God" as a curse
But more importantly: don't lie, gossip, slander, or speak hatefully
"Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up" (Ephesians 4:29)

In suffering:

Endure hardship with faith, not bitterness
Trust God's goodness even when life is hard
1 Peter 4:16: "If anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name"

In public witness:

Be known for love, not political tribalism or culture-war anger
Demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23)
Live such good lives among pagans that they glorify God (1 Peter 2:12)

Imes's final encouragement: We don't bear God's name in our own strength. Through union with Christ, we share His righteousness. The Spirit empowers us to live worthy of the calling. God Himself is at work in us to will and to work for His good pleasure (Philippians 2:13).

How This Fits The Living Text Framework

Imes's Bearing God's Name provides biblical and theological grounding for several core Living Text emphases:

Image-Bearing as Vocation

The Living Text consistently presents image-bearing as vocation (royal-priestly calling to represent God and extend sacred space) rather than merely ontological status. Imes's exegetical work validates this framework.

Key connections:

Genesis 1-2: Humanity created as image-bearers with priestly function
The fall: Vocational failure to represent God faithfully
Israel: Renewed calling to be image-bearers corporately
Christ: Perfect image-bearer fulfilling humanity's vocation
Church: Sharing Christ's image-bearing mission through union with Him

This prevents reducing "image of God" to rational capacity or dominion alone—it's about representing God's character and extending His presence.

Sacred Space Theology

Imes's emphasis on priesthood as maintaining and extending sacred space aligns perfectly with The Living Text's sacred space framework.

The trajectory:

Eden: Sacred garden-temple where God dwells with humanity
Humanity's calling: Extend Eden throughout creation (make all earth sacred space)
Fall: Sacred space fractured; humanity expelled
Israel/Temple: Localized sacred space pointing toward universal restoration
Christ: Perfect temple—God's presence embodied
Church: Living temples, mobile sacred space through the Spirit
New Creation: All creation becomes sacred space when God dwells with humanity forever

Imes shows priests maintain sacred space (official role) and all believers extend sacred space (missional calling)—exactly The Living Text's framework.

Covenant Identity and Name-Bearing

The Living Text emphasizes covenant relationship as fundamental to Christian identity. Imes's work on bearing God's name enriches this.

Bearing God's name means:

Identity: We belong to Him through covenant
Authorization: We act on His behalf as His representatives
Accountability: Our conduct reflects on His reputation
Mission: We make Him known to the world

This connects beautifully with union with Christ—we bear Jesus' name ("Christians"), participate in His life, and represent Him to the world.

Holistic Obedience

Imes's reinterpretation of the third commandment supports The Living Text's rejection of sacred/secular divide. All of life is lived before God as His name-bearers.

Not just:

Religious activity (worship, prayer, Bible study)

But everything:

Work, relationships, speech, leisure, politics, economics
How we treat the poor, creation, enemies
Our integrity, generosity, sexual purity, justice

Because we bear God's name in every domain, there's no area of life where we don't represent Him. This validates The Living Text's emphasis on comprehensive discipleship.

Missional Identity

Imes's emphasis on Israel as "kingdom of priests" representing God to the nations aligns with The Living Text's missional ecclesiology.

The Church:

Continues Israel's priestly vocation
Represents God to the watching world
Makes Him known through embodied witness
Extends sacred space wherever we go

Mission isn't optional—it's inherent in bearing God's name. We're sent people by identity, not just activity.

Union with Christ

While Imes doesn't extensively develop union with Christ, her framework creates space for it. Christians bear God's name in Christ:

Christ is the perfect image-bearer (Colossians 1:15)
We're united with Him through baptism (Romans 6:3-4)
His righteousness covers our failure to bear the name worthily
The Spirit empowers us to live worthy of the calling

This prevents both:

Crushing guilt: "I'll never represent God perfectly!" (True—but Christ does, and we're in Him)
Cheap grace: "My behavior doesn't matter" (False—we bear His name and should live accordingly)

Weaknesses and Points of Clarification

1. Could Develop Christology More

While Imes mentions Jesus as the perfect image-bearer, she doesn't extensively develop how Christ fulfills humanity's image-bearing vocation or how believers participate in His name-bearing through union with Him.

This isn't a flaw—her focus is Old Testament foundations—but readers wanting more Christological development should supplement with:

Colossians 1:15-20 (Christ as image of invisible God)
Hebrews 1:1-3 (Christ as exact imprint of God's nature)
2 Corinthians 3:18-4:6 (transformed into Christ's image)

2. Could Address Failure and Grace More

Imes rightly emphasizes the privilege and responsibility of bearing God's name, but could say more about what happens when we fail—and we do, constantly.

The danger: readers might feel crushed by the weight of representing God perfectly. The remedy: more explicit emphasis on:

Christ bearing God's name perfectly in our place
The Spirit empowering what we can't do in our own strength
God's patience with our ongoing failures
Justification by faith as foundation for obedience

3. Brief Treatment of New Testament

The book is weighted toward Old Testament (understandably, given her expertise), with the New Testament application condensed into the final chapter.

For fuller NT development of these themes, supplement with:

G.K. Beale, The Temple and the Church's Mission
N.T. Wright, After You Believe (virtue ethics from NT)
Scot McKnight, The King Jesus Gospel (missional identity)

4. Accessible but Assumes Some Background

While written for non-specialists, Imes assumes readers have basic Bible knowledge and some theological vocabulary. Complete beginners might struggle with references to covenants, tabernacle, etc.

This is appropriate for her intended audience (pastors, teachers, thoughtful laypeople) but means this isn't a book for brand-new Christians or total Bible beginners.

Key Quotes Worth Memorizing

"To bear God's name means to live in a manner that is consistent with his character. It means being a faithful representative—one who reflects the truth about the one whose name we bear."

"The third commandment is not primarily about what you say but about how you live. It's about bearing God's name faithfully in every area of life."

"When God places his name on his people, he's not just identifying them—he's commissioning them. They become his authorized representatives in the world."

"Image-bearing is vocational before it is ontological. We're not just humans who happen to bear God's image—we're called to actively represent him and extend his presence."

"Every sin by a believer is, at its core, a violation of the third commandment. When we bear God's name but live in ways that contradict his character, we take his name in vain."

"The world forms its impression of God largely through those who claim to represent him. Our conduct—for good or ill—shapes how others perceive the God whose name we bear."

"We don't earn the privilege of bearing God's name through our obedience. We already bear it through Christ. Now we're called to live worthy of the name we've been given."

Who Should Read This Book?

Essential Reading For:

Pastors teaching the Ten Commandments
Bible study leaders exploring Genesis 1-2 or Exodus
Christians wanting deeper understanding of image-bearing
Anyone interested in biblical theology of vocation
Readers exploring Old Testament ethics and identity

Accessible To: Thoughtful laypeople with basic Bible knowledge. Imes writes clearly without excessive jargon, making doctoral-level insights accessible to non-specialists.

Pairs Well With:

G.K. Beale, The Temple and the Church's Mission (sacred space theology)
J. Richard Middleton, The Liberating Image (image of God in Genesis)
John H. Walton, The Lost World of Genesis One (creation as cosmic temple)
N.T. Wright, After You Believe (NT ethics and virtue formation)
Scot McKnight, The King Jesus Gospel (missional identity and discipleship)

Final Verdict: Why The Living Text Recommends This Book

Bearing God's Name is a paradigm-shifting work that transforms how we understand the third commandment, image-bearing, and Christian identity. Carmen Joy Imes has given the church an accessible yet scholarly treatment of crucial biblical themes that have been misunderstood or neglected.

For Living Text readers, this book provides:

Exegetical foundation for image-bearing as vocation, not just ontology
Biblical theology of sacred space, priesthood, and representation
Covenant framework for understanding Christian identity as name-bearers
Missional paradigm showing the Church continuing Israel's priestly calling
Ethical grounding for holistic obedience in every area of life

Imes doesn't develop every theme we emphasize (Christus Victor, Powers theology, union with Christ explicitly), but her work validates the framework showing that Scripture consistently presents God's people as authorized representatives called to embody His presence and character in the world.

This is transformative biblical theology that will:

Deepen your understanding of Genesis 1-2 and the image of God
Reshape how you read the third commandment
Clarify your identity as God's representative
Motivate holistic discipleship in every domain of life
Ground your mission in your God-given vocation

At 208 pages, this is accessible and focused—perfect for personal study, small groups, or teaching series. The insights are profound but the prose is clear. This is scholarship in service of the church.

To bear God's name is the highest privilege and weightiest responsibility. Through Christ, we're authorized to represent the Creator of the universe. The Spirit empowers us. And one day, we'll bear His name perfectly in the new creation.

This book teaches you what it means—and why it matters.

Highest Recommendation.

Thoughtful Questions to Consider

Imes shows that the third commandment is about faithful representation, not just avoiding profanity. In what areas of your life might you be "bearing God's name falsely"—claiming to represent Him while living in ways that contradict His character?
If image-bearing is fundamentally vocational (representing God and extending His presence), how does this change your understanding of what it means to be human? What would it look like to embrace this calling in your specific context?
The high priest literally wore God's name on his forehead and Israel's names on his heart—representing God to the people and the people to God. How does this priestly vocation shape your understanding of intercession, worship, and mediation as a believer-priest?
Imes emphasizes that every domain of life is an arena for bearing God's name faithfully. Where have you functionally divided life into "sacred" (church activities) and "secular" (everything else)? How would viewing all of life as name-bearing transform your approach to work, relationships, and daily decisions?
When Christians fail to represent God faithfully—through hypocrisy, injustice, or immorality—we profane His name among unbelievers. Can you think of examples where the Church's failures have damaged God's reputation? How can we faithfully bear His name in a way that draws others to Him rather than driving them away?

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