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Biblical Perspective on Profanity and Blasphemy

Profanity and blasphemy, in a biblical context, refer to speech that disrespects or demeans God, sacred things, or others. Blasphemy specifically denotes speaking evil of God [1, 3]. This can include direct insults, claiming divine attributes, or using God's name irreverently. Profanity, while related, often encompasses a broader range of impious or vulgar language.

The Old Testament explicitly forbids the misuse of God's name. The third commandment states, "You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain" (Exodus 20:7). This prohibition extends beyond mere utterance to encompass any action that would bring dishonor to God's character or reputation [12]. Leviticus 24:11 describes a case where an individual "blasphemed... with a curse," leading to a death penalty by stoning, underscoring the seriousness of such an offense in ancient Israel [3, 12]. The Hebrew text uses strong verbs to describe this act, indicating a sinful attitude toward God himself [12]. Isaiah 32:6 connects the speech of a "fool" with practicing profanity and uttering error against Yahweh [8]. The Psalms also lament the blasphemous speech of the wicked, noting their mouths are "full of cursing, deceit, and oppression" [6, 14].

In the New Testament, blasphemy continues to be a grave accusation. Jesus was accused of blasphemy by the Jewish authorities when he claimed to be the Son of God and asserted his authority to forgive sins (Matthew 9:3; 26:65; John 10:33, 36) [1, 2]. Similarly, Stephen was condemned on charges of blasphemy [3]. The concept of blasphemy also extends to speaking evil of others or engaging in calumny [1, 3]. For instance, Colossians 3:8 instructs believers to put away "blasphemy" alongside other vices like anger and malice.

A particularly significant aspect of blasphemy in the New Testament is the "blasphemy against the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 12:31-32; Mark 3:28-29; Luke 12:10). This is described as an unpardonable sin [2]. While interpretations vary, some understand this as a persistent and deliberate rejection of the gospel and the work of the Holy Spirit [1]. This specific form of blasphemy is not merely an accidental utterance but a hardened, willful opposition to divine truth [3].

The Bible also connects blasphemy and profanity with the character of the wicked. The wicked are described as blasphemous, blind, boastful, and disobedient [4]. They are characterized as fools who deny God and blaspheme Him [5]. The book of Revelation depicts the beast as opening its mouth in blasphemy against God, His name, and His dwelling (Revelation 13:6) [1]. This is interpreted by some as a reference to idolatrous practices and the assumption of divine authority by human institutions [11, 13]. John Calvin, in his commentary on Isaiah, notes that those who do not know God often rise up against everything called God, connecting superstition with pride and rebellion [10]. He also observes that wicked individuals often use the faults of holy people as an excuse to indulge in sin and contempt for God [9].

Profane swearing, which involves the desecration of God's name, is also explicitly forbidden [7]. Passages like Matthew 5:34-36 and James 5:12 warn against oaths and casual swearing, emphasizing that speech should be straightforward and truthful. The wicked are depicted as loving and clothing themselves with cursing [7]. The consequences for such actions are severe, with woes denounced against those who swear falsely and nations being visited for their profanity [7].

Sources

  1. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Blasphemy — In the sense of speaking evil of God this word is found in Ps. 74:18; Isa. 52:5; Rom. 2:24; Rev. 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 (Matt. 26:65; comp. Matt. 9:3; Mark 2:7). They who deny his Messiahship blaspheme Jesus (Luke 22:65; John 10:36). Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost (Matt. 12:31, 32; Mark 3:28, 29; Luke 12:10) is regarded by some as a continued and obstinate rejection of the gospel,”
  2. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Blasphemy — Christ assailed with -- Mt 10:25; Lu 22:64,65; 1Pe 4:14. Charged upon Christ -- Mt 9:2,3; 26:64,65; Joh 10:33,36. Charged upon saints -- Ac 6:11,13. Proceeds from the heart -- Mt 15:19. Forbidden -- Ex 20:7; Col 3:8. The wicked addicted to -- Ps 74:18; Isa 52:5; 2Ti 3:2; Re 18:11,21. Idolatry counted as -- Isa 65:7; Eze 20:27,28. Hypocrisy counted as -- Re 2:9. Saints grieved to hear -- Ps 44:15,16; 74:10,18,22. Gives no occasion for -- 2Sa 12:14; 1Ti 6:1. Against the Holy Spirit, unpardonable -- Mt 12:31,32. Connected with folly and pride -- 2Ki 19:22; P”
  3. Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Blasphemy — in 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 tho”
  4. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Character of the Wicked — Abominable -- Re 21:8. Alienated from God -- Eph 4:18; Col 1:21. Blasphemous -- Lu 22:65; Re 16:9. Blinded -- 2Co 4:4; Eph 4:18. Boastful -- Ps 10:3; 49:6. Conspiring against God's people -- Ne 4:8; 6:2; Ps 38:12. Covetous -- Mic 2:2; Ro 1:29. Deceitful -- Ps 5:6; Ro 3:13. Delighting in the iniquity of others -- Pr 2:14; Ro 1:32. Despising the works of the faithful -- Ne 2:19; 4:2; 2Ti 3:3,4. Destructive -- Isa 59:7. Disobedient -- Ne 9:26; Tit 3:3; 1Pe 2:7. Enticing to evil -- Pr 1:10-14; 2Ti 3:6. Envious -- Ne 2:10; Tit 3:3. Fearful -- Pr ”
  5. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Fools — All men are, without the knowledge of God -- Tit 3:3. Deny God -- Ps 14:1; 53:1. Blaspheme God -- Ps 74:18. Reproach God -- Ps 74:22. Make a mock at sin -- Pr 14:9. Despise instruction -- Pr 1:7; 15:5. Hate knowledge -- Pr 1:22. Delight not in understanding -- Pr 18:2. Sport themselves in mischief -- Pr 10:23. Walk in darkness -- Ec 2:14. Hate to depart from evil -- Pr 13:19. Worship of, hateful to God -- Ec 5:1. Are Corrupt and abominable. -- Ps 14:1. Self-sufficient. -- Pr 12:15; Ro 1:22. Self-confident. -- Pr 14:16. Self-deceivers. -- Pr 14:8. Mere profess”
  6. Psalms “His mouth is full of cursing, deceit, and oppression. Under his tongue is mischief and iniquity. -- Psalms 10:7”
  7. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Swearing, Profane — Of all kinds is desecration of God's name and is forbidden -- Ex 20:7; Mt 5:34-36; 23:21,22; Jas 5:12. The wicked Addicted to. -- Ps 10:7; Ro 3:14. Love. -- Ps 109:17. Clothe themselves with. -- Ps 109:18. Guilt of -- Ex 20:7; De 5:11. Woe denounced against -- Mt 23:16. Nations visited for -- Jer 23:10; Ho 4:1-3. Punishment for -- Le 24:16,23; Ps 59:12; 109:17,18. Exemplified Son of Israelitish woman. -- Le 24:11. Gehazi. -- 2Ki 5:20. Peter. -- Mt 26:74.”
  8. Isaiah “For the fool will speak folly, and his heart will work iniquity, to practice profanity, and to utter error against Yahweh, To make empty the soul of the hungry, and to cause the drink of the thirsty to fail. -- Isaiah 32:6”
  9. CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Genesis, Vol. 1 (Gen 1-23), section 13.18: seeing that he was already more than one hundred years old. Therefore, it is probable, that he thus perversely insulted his father, for the purpose of acquiring for himself the license of sinning with impunity. We see many such at this day, who most studiously pry into the faults of holy and pious men, in order that without shame they may precipitate themselves into all iniquity; they even make the faults of other men an occasion of hardening themselves into a contempt for God. 23. And Shem and Japheth took a garment . Here the p”
  10. CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Isaiah, Vol. 3, section 4.24: wicked men themselves; yet if the Lord press hard upon them, if he put them to the torture, he speedily extorts from them such language. When they make a premeditated speech, they pretend that they are worshippers of God, but afterwards God constrains them to bring out and acknowledge what was lurking within. Let us therefore learn, that superstition is always accompanied by pride; so that they who do not know God, do not scruple to rise up against everything that is called God; and let us not be astonished at the rebellion and insolence of w”
  11. Revelation (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Revelation 13:6: And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name - The Latin empire is here represented as a blasphemous power in three respects. First, he blasphemes the name of God. This has been most notoriously the case with the different popish princes, who continually blaspheme the sacred names of God by using them in their idolatrous worship. The mouth of blasphemy against God cannot be more evident than in the following impious words which form a part of the Golden Bull published by Charles IV. in January, 1356: "But thou, envy, how often hast tho”
  12. Leviticus (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Leviticus 24:11: 24:11 blasphemed . . . with a curse In biblical times, a name was more than a means of identification; it represented a person’s character, reputation, and origin. God is holy, and he was to be regarded as holy in all of Israel’s life (see 10:3). The Israelites had been instructed to treat God’s name with reverence (Exod 20:7). Using his name in a curse reflected a sinful attitude toward God himself (Lev 24:15), and it deserved death (24:13-16). The wording in the Hebrew text is very strong: Two verbs meaning “curse” are used, one that indicated a more formal ”
  13. Revelation (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Revelation 13:6: And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God,.... By sitting as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God; by suffering himself to be called by the name of God, God on earth, Lord God the pope, and to be worshipped as God; and by assuming infallibility, giving out that he cannot err, which only belongs to the God of truth; and by his idolatrous practices commanded by him, as the worshipping of idols of gold, silver, wood, and stone, which is in Scripture called blaspheming God, Isa 65:7; see Dan 11:36. To blaspheme his name; his authority, by ”
  14. Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 74:18: The psalmist here, in the name of the church, most earnestly begs that God would appear fro them against their enemies, and put an end to their present troubles. To encourage his own faith, he interests God in this matter (Psa 74:22): Arise, O God! plead thy own cause. This we may be sure he will do, for he is jealous for his own honour; whatever is his own cause he will plead it with a strong hand, will appear against those that oppose it and with and for those that cordially espouse it. He will arise and plead it, though for a time he seems to neglect it; he wi”
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