Topical Encyclopedia
Blasphemy, in biblical terms, refers to the act of showing contempt, disrespect, or irreverence toward God, His name, His attributes, or His works. It is considered a serious sin throughout the Scriptures, as it directly challenges the holiness and sovereignty of God.
Old Testament ContextIn the Old Testament, blasphemy is explicitly condemned and is associated with severe consequences. The Mosaic Law prescribes the death penalty for those who blaspheme the name of the LORD.
Leviticus 24:16 states, "Whoever blasphemes the name of the LORD must surely be put to death. The whole congregation must stone him. Whether he is a foreigner or a native, when he blasphemes the Name, he must be put to death."
The gravity of blasphemy is further illustrated in the narrative of Naboth's vineyard, where false witnesses accused Naboth of blaspheming God and the king, leading to his unjust execution (
1 Kings 21:10-13).
New Testament ContextIn the New Testament, blasphemy continues to be a significant concern. Jesus addresses the issue of blasphemy in the context of the unforgivable sin. In
Matthew 12:31-32 , Jesus warns, "Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the one to come."
This passage highlights the seriousness of attributing the work of the Holy Spirit to demonic forces, as the Pharisees did when they accused Jesus of casting out demons by the power of Beelzebul (
Matthew 12:24).
Blasphemy Against JesusDuring His earthly ministry, Jesus Himself was accused of blasphemy by the religious leaders. In
John 10:33 , the Jews respond to Jesus, saying, "We are not stoning You for any good work, but for blasphemy, because You, who are a man, declare Yourself to be God." This accusation arose from Jesus' claims of divinity, which the Jewish leaders considered blasphemous.
Apostolic TeachingsThe apostolic writings also address blasphemy, emphasizing the importance of speech that honors God. In
Ephesians 4:29 , Paul exhorts believers, "Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up the one in need and bringing grace to those who listen." This instruction underscores the need for speech that reflects the character of God and edifies others.
Paul also warns against blasphemy in the context of false teachings and ungodly behavior. In
1 Timothy 1:20 , he mentions Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom he "handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme."
Cultural and Historical ConsiderationsIn biblical times, blasphemy was not only a religious offense but also a social and legal one. The Jewish understanding of blasphemy was deeply rooted in the sanctity of God's name, which was to be revered and honored above all. The cultural context of the ancient Near East, where divine names and attributes were held in high esteem, further underscores the severity of blasphemy as a transgression.
ConclusionBlasphemy remains a critical issue in understanding the relationship between humanity and the divine. It serves as a reminder of the reverence due to God and the importance of aligning one's speech and actions with His holiness.
Smith's Bible Dictionary
Blasphemyin its technical English sense, signifies the speaking evil of God and in this sense it is found (Psalms 74:18;Isaiah 52:5;Romans 2:24) etc. But according to its derivation it may mean any species of calumny and abuse: see (1 Kings 21:10;Acts 18:6;Jude 1:9) etc. Blasphemy was punished by stoning, which was inflicted on the son of Shelomith. (Leviticus 24:11) On this charge both our Lord and St. Stephen were condemned to death by the Jews. The blasphemy against the Holy Ghost, (Matthew 12:32;Mark 3:28) consisted in attributing to the power of Satan those unquestionable miracles which Jesus performed by "the finger of God" and the power of the Holy Spirit. It is plainly such a state of wilful, determined opposition to God and the Holy Spirit that no efforts will avail to lead to repentance. Among the Jews it was a sin against God answering to treason in our times.
ATS Bible Dictionary
BlasphemyA man is guilty of blasphemy, when he speaks of God, or his attributes, injuriously; when he calumniously ascribe such qualities to him as do not belong to him, or robs him of those which do. The law sentenced blasphemers to death, Le 24:12-16. In a lower sense, men are said to be blasphemed when abused by calumnious and reviling words,1 Kings 21:10;Acts 6:11.
Easton's Bible Dictionary
In the sense of speaking evil of God this word is found in
Psalm 74:18;
Isaiah 52:5;
Romans 2:24;
Revelation 13:1, 6;
16:9, 11, 21. It denotes also any kind of calumny, or evil-speaking, or abuse (
1 Kings 21:10;
Acts 13:45;
18:6, etc.). Our Lord was accused of blasphemy when he claimed to be the Son of God (
Matthew 26:65; Comp.
Matthew 9:3;
Mark 2:7). They who deny his Messiahship blaspheme Jesus (
Luke 22:65;
John 10:36).
Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost (Matthew 12:31, 32;Mark 3:28, 29;Luke 12:10) is regarded by some as a continued and obstinate rejection of the gospel, and hence is an unpardonable sin, simply because as long as a sinner remains in unbelief he voluntarily excludes himself from pardon. Others regard the expression as designating the sin of attributing to the power of Satan those miracles which Christ performed, or generally those works which are the result of the Spirit's agency.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) An indignity offered to God in words, writing, or signs; impiously irreverent words or signs addressed to, or used in reference to, God; speaking evil of God; also, the act of claiming the attributes or prerogatives of deity.
2. (n.) Figuratively, of things held in high honor: Calumny; abuse; vilification.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
BLASPHEMYblas'-fe-mi (blasphemia): In classical Greek meant primarily "defamation" or "evil-speaking" in general; "a word of evil omen," hence, "impious, and irreverent speech against God."
(1) In the Old Testament as substantive and vb.:
(a) (barakh) "Naboth did blaspheme God and the king" (1 Kings 21:10, 13 the King James Version);
(b) (gadhaph) of Senna-cherib defying Yahweh (2 Kings 19:6, 22 =Isaiah 37:6, 23; alsoPsalm 44:16Ezekiel 20:27; compareNumbers 15:30), "But the soul that doeth aught with a high hand (i.e. knowingly and defiantly),. the same blasphemeth (so the Revised Version (British and American), but the King James Version "reproacheth") Yahweh; and that soul shall be cut off from among his people." Blasphemy is always in word or deed, injury, dishonor and defiance offered to God, and its penalty is death by stoning;
(c) (charaph) of idolatry as blasphemy against Yahweh (Isaiah 65:7);
(d) (naqabh) "And he that blasphemeth the name of Yahweh, he shall surely be put to death" (Leviticus 24:11, 16);
(e) (na'ats) David's sin is an occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme (2 Samuel 12:14; alsoPsalm 74:10, 18Isaiah 52:5; compareEzekiel 35:122 Kings 19:3 the King James Version;Isaiah 37:3).
(2) In the New Testament blasphemy, substantive and vb., may be
(a) of evil-speaking generally, (Acts 13:45;Acts 18:6); The Jews contradicted Paul "and blasphemed," the Revised Version, margin "railed." (So in the King James Version ofMatthew 15:19 =Mark 7:22Colossians 3:8, but in the Revised Version (British and American) "railings";Revelation 2:9 the Revised Version, margin "reviling"; so perhaps in1 Timothy 1:20; or Hymeneus and Alexander may have blasphemed Christ by professing faith and living unworthily of it.)
(b) Speaking against a heathen goddess: the town clerk of Ephesus repels the charge that Paul and his companions were blasphemers of Diana (Acts 19:37).
(c) Against God: (i) uttering impious words (Revelation 13:1, 5, 6;Revelation 16:9, 11, 21; 17:3); (ii) unworthy conduct of Jews (Romans 2:24) and Christians (1 Timothy 6:1Titus 2:5, and perhaps1 Timothy 1:20); (iii) of Jesus Christ, alleged to be usurping the authority of God (Matthew 9:3 =Mark 2:7 =Luke 5:21), claiming to be the Messiah, the son of God (Matthew 26:65 =Mark 14:64), or making Himself God (John 10:33, 36).
(d) Against Jesus Christ: Saul strove to make the Christians he persecuted blaspheme their Lord (Acts 26:11). So was he himself a blasphemer (1 Timothy 1:13; compareJames 2:7).
The Unpardonable Sin:
(3) Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit:
"Every sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men; but the blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven. And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him; but whosoever shall speak against the Holy of Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, nor in that which is to come" (Matthew 12:31, 32 =Mark 3:28, 29Luke 12:10). As in the Old Testament "to sin with a high hand" and to blaspheme the name of God incurred the death penalty, so the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit remains the one unpardonable sin. These passages at least imply beyond cavil the personality of the Holy Spirit, for sin and blasphemy can only be committed against persons. In Matthew and Mark a particular case of this blasphemy is the allegation of the Pharisees that Jesus Christ casts out devils by Beelzebub. The general idea is that to attribute to an evil source acts which are clearly those of the Holy Spirit, to call good evil, is blasphemy against the Spirit, and sin that will not be pardoned. "A distinction is made between Christ's other acts and those which manifestly reveal the Holy Spirit in Him, and between slander directed against Him personally as He appears in His ordinary acts, and that which is aimed at those acts in which the Spirit is manifest" (Gould, Mark at the place). Luke does not refer to any particular instance, and seems to connect it with the denial of Christ, although he, too, gives the saying that "who shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven." But which of Christ's acts are not acts the Holy Spirit, and how therefore is a word spoken against Him not also blasphemy against the Holy Spirit? John identifies the Holy Spirit with the exalted Christ (John 14:16-18, 26, 28). The solution generally offered of this most difficult problem is concisely put by Plummer (Luke ad loc.): "Constant and consummate opposition to the influence of the Holy Spirit, because of a deliberate preference of darkness to light, render repentance and therefore forgiveness morally impossible." A similar idea is taught inHebrews 6:4-6, and1 John 5:16: "A sin unto death." But the natural meaning of Christ's words implies an inability or unwillingness to forgive on the Divine side rather than inability to repent in man. Anyhow the abandonment of man to eternal condemnation involves the inability and defeat of God. The only alternative seems to be to call the kenotic theory into service, and to put this idea among the human limitations which Christ assumed when He became flesh. It is less difficult to ascribe a limit to Jesus Christ's knowledge than to God's saving grace (Mark 13:32; compareJohn 16:12, 13). It is also noteworthy that in other respects, at least, Christ acquiesced in the view of the Holy Spirit which He found among His contemporaries.
SeeHOLY SPIRIT.
T. Ress
Greek
988. blasphemia -- slander... Noun, Feminine Transliteration: blasphemia Phonetic Spelling: (blas-fay-me'-ah)
Short Definition: abusive or scurrilous language,
blasphemy Definition: abusive
...2191. echidna -- a viper
... snake, viper. 2191 -- properly, a poisonous snake; (figuratively) incisive
words that deliver , with the use ofblasphemy. This...
Strong's Hebrew
5007b. neatsah -- contempt,blasphemy... 5007a, 5007b. neatsah. 5008 . contempt,
blasphemy. Transliteration: neatsah
Short Definition: blasphemies. Word Origin from naats
...5007. n'atsah -- contempt
n'atsah. 5006, 5007. n'atsah. 5007a . contempt. Transliteration: n'atsah Phonetic
Spelling: (neh-aw-tsaw') Short Definition:blasphemy.blasphemy...
Library
WhetherBlasphemy is Opposed to the Confession of Faith?
... OF THE SIN OFBLASPHEMY, IN GENERAL (FOUR ARTICLES) Whetherblasphemy is
opposed to the confession of faith? Objection 1: It would...
Whether the Sin ofBlasphemy is the Greatest Sin?
... OF THE SIN OFBLASPHEMY, IN GENERAL (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether the sin of
blasphemy is the greatest sin? Objection 1: It would seem...
Jesus Charged withBlasphemy
... XVIII to XXVIII JESUS CHARGED WITHBLASPHEMY.... He did claim a divine prerogative;
and either the claim must be admitted or the charge ofblasphemy urged....
Of the Sin ofBlasphemy, in General (Four Articles)
... OF THE SIN OFBLASPHEMY, IN GENERAL (FOUR ARTICLES). We must now consider
the sin ofblasphemy, which is opposed to the confession...
WhetherBlasphemy is Always a Mortal Sin?
... OF THE SIN OFBLASPHEMY, IN GENERAL (FOUR ARTICLES) Whetherblasphemy is always
a mortal sin? Objection 1: It would seem thatblasphemy...
Then Referring to theBlasphemy of Eunomius
... Book XII. Section 2. Then referring to theblasphemy of Eunomius. Section
2. Then referring to theblasphemy of Eunomius, which had...
As it isBlasphemy to Pare Away the Divinity of Christ, So Also is...
... Book III. Chapter V. As it isblasphemy to pare away the Divinity of Christ,
so also is it blasphemous to deny that He is true man....
OfBlasphemy. One of St. Paul's Sayings.
... Chapter XIV."OfBlasphemy. One of St. Paul's Sayings. But, however, the
majority (of Christians) have by this time induced the...
TheBlasphemy of These Heretics is Worse than the Jewish Unbelief.
... Book I. Section 21. Theblasphemy of these heretics is worse than the Jewish
unbelief. But let us assume that this is not so: for...
The Ministry of Love, theBlasphemy of Hatred, and the Mistakes of...
... THE MINISTRY OF LOVE, THEBLASPHEMY OF HATRED, AND THE MISTAKES OF EARTHLY AFFECTION -
THE RETURN TO CAPERNAUM - HEALING OF THE DEMONISED DUMB - PHARISAIC...
Thesaurus
Blasphemy (15 Occurrences)... Our Lord was accused of
blasphemy when he claimed to be the Son of God (Matthew
26:65; Comp.
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.
BLASPHEMY.
...Ghost (123 Occurrences)
... See HOLY SPIRIT. HOLY GHOST. ho'-li gost. See HOLY SPIRIT. SIN AGAINST THE HOLY
GHOST (SPIRIT). SeeBLASPHEMY. Multi-Version Concordance Ghost (123 Occurrences)...
Clothes (208 Occurrences)
... The high priest rent his garment when Jesus spoke what he thought wasblasphemy
(Matthew 26:65). See also MOURNING.... behold, now ye have heard hisblasphemy....
Slander (34 Occurrences)
... (See NAS RSV NIV). Mark 7:22 covetings, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, an
evil eye,blasphemy, pride, and foolishness. (See NAS RSV NIV)....
Flame (61 Occurrences)
... further witness (Luke 22:67-71), Matthew informing us that the high priest hereupon
rent his garments, and they all agreed that He had spokenblasphemy and was...
Son (25967 Occurrences)
... further witness (Luke 22:67-71), Matthew informing us that the high priest hereupon
rent his garments, and they all agreed that He had spokenblasphemy and was...
Uttered (60 Occurrences)
... Uttered (60 Occurrences). Matthew 26:65 Then the high priest tore his clothing,
saying, "He has spokenblasphemy!... Behold, now you have heard hisblasphemy....
Garments (232 Occurrences)
... (YLT). Matthew 26:65 Then the high priest rent his garments, saying, He hath
spokenblasphemy: what further need have we of witnesses?...
Wherefore (448 Occurrences)
... Matthew 12:31 Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin andblasphemy shall be
forgiven unto men: but theblasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be...
Witnesses (69 Occurrences)
... Matthew 26:65 Then the high priest tore his clothing, saying, "He has spoken
blasphemy!... Behold, now you have heard hisblasphemy....
Resources
What is the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the blasphemy challenge? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is blasphemy? What does it mean to blaspheme? | GotQuestions.orgBlasphemy: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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Bible Encyclopedia •
Topical Bible •
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