Blaspheme

To speak badly about someone or God to hurt their honor or reputation.

About Blaspheme

Blasphemy is speaking or writing in a way that shows disrespect or insults God. It can also include actions that show contempt toward God. More generally, "blasphemy" can refer to insulting or damaging someone's reputation. This includes any words or actions that degrade or devalue another person. In ancient Greek writings, people used the word "blasphemy" to describe insults or mockery toward both living and dead people. Later, it came to also mean doubting or mocking the power and nature of the gods.

In the Old Testament, “blasphemy” always means to insult God, either by attacking him directly or mocking him indirectly. Either way, the glory and honor of God are lessened. So, blasphemy is the opposite of praise. An Israelite might directly insult the “Name” (the personal name of God, Yahweh) by cursing God (Leviticus 24:10–16) or deliberately disobeying God’s law (Numbers 15:30). Either of those blasphemies was punishable by death, as was idolatry, the ultimate blasphemy (Isaiah 66:3).

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Key References

Matthew 12:31

Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.

Mark 3:28

Truly I tell you, the sons of men will be forgiven all sins and blasphemies, as many as they utter.

Luke 12:10

And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.

John 10:33

“We are not stoning You for any good work,” said the Jews, “but for blasphemy, because You, who are a man, declare Yourself to be God.”

All Scripture References (47)

Matthew (5)
Matthew 9:3

On seeing this, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming!”

Matthew 12:31

Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.

Matthew 15:19

For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, and slander.

Matthew 26:65

At this, the high priest tore his clothes and declared, “He has blasphemed! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy.

Matthew 27:39

And those who passed by heaped abuse on Him, shaking their heads

Mark (5)
Mark 3:28

Truly I tell you, the sons of men will be forgiven all sins and blasphemies, as many as they utter.

Mark 3:29

But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of eternal sin.”

Mark 7:22

greed, wickedness, deceit, debauchery, envy, slander, arrogance, and foolishness.

Mark 14:64

You have heard the blasphemy. What is your verdict?” And they all condemned Him as deserving of death.

Mark 15:29

And those who passed by heaped abuse on Him, shaking their heads and saying, “Aha! You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days,

Luke (4)
Luke 5:21

But the scribes and Pharisees began thinking to themselves, “Who is this man who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

Luke 12:10

And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.

Luke 22:65

And they said many other blasphemous things against Him.

Luke 23:39

One of the criminals who hung there heaped abuse on Him. “Are You not the Christ?” he said. “Save Yourself and us!”

John (2)
John 10:33

“We are not stoning You for any good work,” said the Jews, “but for blasphemy, because You, who are a man, declare Yourself to be God.”

John 10:36

then what about the One whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world? How then can you accuse Me of blasphemy for stating that I am the Son of God?

Acts (4)
Acts 13:45

But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy, and they blasphemously contradicted what Paul was saying.

Acts 18:6

But when they opposed and insulted him, he shook out his garments and told them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent of it. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”

Acts 19:37

For you have brought these men here, though they have neither robbed our temple nor blasphemed our goddess.

Acts 26:11

I frequently had them punished in the synagogues, and I tried to make them blaspheme. In my raging fury against them, I even went to foreign cities to persecute them.

Romans (3)
Romans 2:24

As it is written: “God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”

Romans 3:8

Why not say, as some slanderously claim that we say, “Let us do evil that good may result”? Their condemnation is deserved!

Romans 14:16

Do not allow what you consider good, then, to be spoken of as evil.

1 Corinthians (1)
1 Corinthians 10:30

If I partake in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that for which I give thanks?

Ephesians (1)
Ephesians 4:31

Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, outcry and slander, along with every form of malice.

Colossians (1)
Colossians 3:8

But now you must put aside all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.

1 Timothy (3)
1 Timothy 1:20

Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme.

1 Timothy 6:1

All who are under the yoke of slavery should regard their masters as fully worthy of honor, so that God’s name and our teaching will not be discredited.

1 Timothy 6:4

he is conceited and understands nothing. Instead, he has an unhealthy interest in controversies and disputes about words, out of which come envy, strife, abusive talk, evil suspicions,

Titus (2)
Titus 2:5

to be self-controlled, pure, managers of their households, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be discredited.

Titus 3:2

to malign no one, and to be peaceable and gentle, showing full consideration to everyone.

James (1)
James 2:7

Are they not the ones who blaspheme the noble name by which you have been called?

1 Peter (1)
1 Peter 4:4

Because of this, they consider it strange of you not to plunge with them into the same flood of reckless indiscretion, and they heap abuse on you.

2 Peter (3)
2 Peter 2:2

Many will follow in their depravity, and because of them the way of truth will be defamed.

2 Peter 2:10

Such punishment is specially reserved for those who indulge the corrupt desires of the flesh and despise authority. Bold and self-willed, they are unafraid to slander glorious beings.

2 Peter 2:12

These men are like irrational animals, creatures of instinct, born to be captured and destroyed. They blaspheme in matters they do not understand, and like such creatures, they too will be destroyed.

Jude (3)
Jude 1:8

Yet in the same way these dreamers defile their bodies, reject authority, and slander glorious beings.

Jude 1:9

But even the archangel Michael, when he disputed with the devil over the body of Moses, did not presume to bring a slanderous charge against him, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!”

Jude 1:10

These men, however, slander what they do not understand, and like irrational animals, they will be destroyed by the things they do instinctively.

Revelation (8)
Revelation 2:9

I know your affliction and your poverty—though you are rich! And I am aware of the slander of those who falsely claim to be Jews, but are in fact a synagogue of Satan.

Revelation 13:1

Then I saw a beast with ten horns and seven heads rising out of the sea. There were ten royal crowns on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads.

Revelation 13:5

The beast was given a mouth to speak arrogant and blasphemous words, and authority to act for 42 months.

Revelation 13:6

And the beast opened its mouth to speak blasphemies against God and to slander His name and His tabernacle—those who dwell in heaven.

Revelation 16:9

And the people were scorched by intense heat, and they cursed the name of God, who had authority over these plagues. Yet they did not repent and give Him glory.

Revelation 16:11

and curse the God of heaven for their pains and sores. Yet they did not repent of their deeds.

Revelation 16:21

And great hailstones weighing almost a hundred pounds each rained down on them from above. And men cursed God for the plague of hail, because it was so horrendous.

Revelation 17:3

And the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness, where I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns.