The profaning, desecration and taking in vain of the name of God, or the reviling of any of his works or deeds. It is strongly forbidden by God as dishonouring to his name.
Blasphemy strongly forbidden
Exodus 20:7 parallel Deuteronomy 5:11 See also Exodus 22:28; Leviticus 18:21, Leviticus 19:12, Leviticus 22:32; Numbers 15:30–31
You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not leave anyone unpunished who takes His name in vain.
Blasphemy against God punished
Leviticus 24:10–16, Leviticus 24:23; 2 Kings 19:20–37 parallel Isaiah 37:21–38
Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is unpardonable
Mark 3:28–30 parallels Matthew 12:31–32, Luke 12:10 See also Hebrews 10:29
Truly I tell you, the sons of men will be forgiven all sins and blasphemies, as many as they utter. But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of eternal sin.” Jesus made this statement because they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.”
God blasphemed indirectly
Rejecting his word and his servants blasphemes God
Nehemiah 9:26 See also 2 Chronicles 36:16; Psalm 107:11; Isaiah 5:24
But they were disobedient and rebelled against You; they flung Your law behind their backs. They killed Your prophets, who had admonished them to return to You. They committed terrible blasphemies.
Defiling sacred things blasphemes God
Leviticus 22:1–2 See also Ezekiel 20:27–28, Ezekiel 22:26; Malachi 1:6–13
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Tell Aaron and his sons to treat with respect the sacred offerings that the Israelites have consecrated to Me, so that they do not profane My holy name. I am the LORD.
Despising the poor blasphemes God
Proverbs 14:31 See also Amos 2:7; James 2:5–7
Whoever oppresses the poor taunts their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors Him.
Speaking against his people blasphemes God
Zephaniah 2:8–11; Acts 9:4–5 To persecute the church is to persecute Jesus Christ; Acts 26:9; 1 Timothy 1:13; Revelation 2:9
Slandering celestial beings blasphemes God
The sins of God's people may cause others to blaspheme
1 Timothy 6:1 See also 2 Samuel 12:13–14 The phrase “you have made the enemies of the LORD show utter contempt” reflects a scribal tradition which avoided any reference to blasphemy. The underlying idea of blasphemy would have been obvious to the original readers; Ezekiel 36:20–23; Romans 2:24; Isaiah 52:5
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.
God's enemies blaspheme him
Psalm 139:20 See also Psalm 74:10–11, Psalm 74:18; Daniel 7:25, Daniel 11:36; 1 Corinthians 12:3; 2 Thessalonians 2:4; Revelation 13:5, Revelation 16:9, Revelation 16:11, Revelation 16:21, Revelation 17:3
who speak of You deceitfully; Your enemies take Your name in vain.
False accusations of blasphemy
Jesus Christ falsely accused of blasphemy
Mark 2:6–7 parallels Matthew 9:3, Luke 5:21 See also Matthew 26:65–66 parallel Mark 14:63–64; John 10:33–36
But some of the scribes were sitting there and thinking in their hearts, “Why does this man speak like this? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
God's servants falsely accused of blasphemy
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.