The word of a Jew is sacred. He must stand behind his word. When a person does not keep his word, he is mechallel diburo, desecrates his word. Chillul is a strong term. We use the term chillul with regard to desecrating Hashem’s Name – chillul Hashem. Also, when a bas Kohen, daughter of a Kohen, acts in a morally profligate manner, the Torah writes, Es avihah hee mechalleles, “She desecrates her father” (Vayikra 21:9). Apparently, the sanctity of a Kohen, the sacredness of a person’s word, are of a similar nature to the sanctity of Hashem, in the sense that a violation of this sanctity is called a chillul.
The Zohar HaKadosh explains chillul Hashem as being derived from chalal, hole, vacuum. When a person commits a chillul Hashem, it is tantamount to implying that a vacuum exists; the Almighty is not present. The area in which one has committed a desecration is devoid of Hashem. Thus, a chillul Hashem is an act by which one makes a statement; there is a chalal here.
Likewise (I think), when a Kohen’s daughter commits an act of adultery, she is indicating by her actions that her upbringing was devoid of her father. He has had no positive influence on her. Otherwise, she might not have acted so licentiously. A chalal existed in her home – no father. Her education was flawed. Thus, the term chillul.
Lo yacheil devaro; “He shall not desecrate his word.” When a person does not keep his word, he indicates that a void is behind the statement which is attributed to him. “Nobody is home.” He is not responsible for what he says because “someone” is lacking. He is not in control of his words, because he is missing. When a person speaks, he must take responsibility – unless “nobody is home.” A person’s word is sacred. He must stand behind it.
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