What is…
blasphemy and profanity
The first biblical example of blasphemy is found in Leviticus 24:11. God provided a death sentence on the blasphemer, the son of Shelomith, and also established a standing law at this time for the stoning of Israelite blasphemers (Leviticus 24:15-16 LSB). [See: Shelomith]
The son of the Israelite woman blasphemed the Name and cursed. So they brought him to Moses. (Now his mother’s name was Shelomith, the daughter of Dibri, of the tribe of Dan.) —Leviticus 24:11 NASB
False accusations about God
Blasphemy also denotes any kind of malicious, false statement or accusations, or evil-speaking, or abuse of God’s name.
“One way of taking the Lord's name in vain is to blaspheme the name. What does that mean? That means to accuse God of any evil, any ignorance, any incompetence, any impotence, or anything that is less than who He truly is.” —Dr. John F. MacArthur Jr., pastor of Grace Community Church (Sun Valley, California), chancellor and founder of The Master’s Seminary and The Master’s University
In the sense of speaking evil of God, this word is found in various verses.
…Again the Lord declares, “…My name is continually blasphemed all day long.” —Isaiah 52:5
…“the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you,” just as it is written. —Romans 2:24 NASB
…Then I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads, and on his horns were ten diadems, and on his heads were blasphemous names. —Rev. 13:1 NASB
And he opened his mouth in blasphemies against God, to blaspheme His name and His tabernacle, that is, those who dwell in heaven. —Rev. 13:6 NASB
Men were scorched with fierce heat; and they blasphemed the name of God who has the power over these plagues, and they did not repent so as to give Him glory. …and they blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores; and they did not repent of their deeds. …And huge hailstones, about one hundred pounds each, came down from heaven upon men; and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail… —Revelation 16:9, 11, 21 NASB excerpt
She wrote in the letters, saying,
Proclaim a fast, and seat Naboth with high honor among the people; and seat two men, scoundrels, before him to bear witness against him, saying,
“You have blasphemed God and the king.”
Then take him out, and stone him, that he may die. —1 Kings 21:9-10 NKJV
…when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy; and contradicting and blaspheming, they opposed the things spoken by Paul. —Acts 13:45 NKJV
But when they [the Jews of Corinth] opposed him [Paul] and blasphemed, he shook his garments and said to them, “Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.” —Acts 18:6 NKJV
…a foolish people has blasphemed Your name. —Psalm 74:18 NKJV
• NASB: “spurned Your name”
• CSB: “insulted your name”
• CEB: “abused your name”
• ESV: “reviles your name”
• GW, YLT, NOG and Young’s Literal: “despised Thy name”
Modern blasphemous use of Jesus’ name
About profanity
Profane language makes irreverent, disrespectful, careless, or contemptuous use of names or words that are Divine, sacred, or holy—or of serious spiritual or eternal significance (such as the Gospel, damnation, Hell or Heaven).
Also, changing the pronounciation of such words does not somehow change the fact of what the person is doing.
Example: “Jes…” or “Jeez” a euphemism or abbreviation for “Jesus”
Remember that one of the 10 Commandments God and given to the children of Israel through Moses states,
“You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain.” —Exodus 20:7 NASB
False accusation of blasphemy
Our Lord was falsely accused of blasphemy when He claimed to be the Son of God (Matthew 26:65; compare Matthew 9:3; Mark 2:7).
In reality, it is those who deny Christ’s Messiahship and Divinity who blaspheme God (Luke 22:65; John 10:36).
Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit
Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost (Matthew 12:31-32; Mark 3:28-29; Luke 12:10) is regarded as a continued and obstinate rejection of the Gospel, and hence is an unpardonable sin, simply because as long as a sinner remains in opposition he voluntarily excludes himself from pardon.
See: Blasphemy and “THE UNPARDONABLE SIN”—What is it? Why can some sin be unforgivable? Answer
- THE FEAR OF THE LORD—What is it? Why is it very important?
- What are the names and titles of God?
- Why is our level of humility important to God?
- How can we know there’s a God?
- Correcting foul language in kids - How do I correct a two-year-old who has picked up a blasphemous phrase and loves to repeat it?
- What is holiness, and why are we to pursue it?
- What is sin and wickedness?
- Who is Satan, the enemy of God and all people?
- Is Satan a real person that influences our world today? Is he affecting you?
- SATAN’S STRATEGY—What is one of Satan’s most successful strategies in dealing with followers of Christ?
