Our Father 6: Hallowed by your name

In Matthew 6:9, Yeshua taught his disciples to pray, “Hallowed be your name.” To hallow means to honour as holy. That is, to set something apart from the ordinary, to regard and treat it as holy—to sanctify it. So, an alternative translation is, “Let your name be sanctified.”

In biblical culture, one’s name is one’s reputation. Your name represents all that you are—your “essence and character,” as Toby Janicki says[1]. So, we sanctify God’s name by behaving in ways that bring him honour and glory; or we profane his name by rebelling against him. In Leviticus 22:32, God commanded Israel not to profane his holy name, “so that I may be sanctified in the midst of the Israelites.” Then he says that he is the one who sanctifies them. Kiddush HaShem (sanctification of God's name) takes place either by someone glorifying God publicly or being martyred for the sake of the Name [2].

Like the Our Father, the weekday Amidah prayer also sanctifies God's name (in its third blessing, the kedushah) before making petitions for earthly things.

[1] Janicki, Toby. The Way of Life. Jerusalem: Vine of David, 2017:317.

[2] Eby, Aaron, and Toby Janicki. Hallowed by Your Name. Mayim Chayim. Marshfield, Missouri: First Fruits of Zion, 2008:208.