Blasphemy and the Name of God in Scripture
Blasphemy, in its primary biblical sense, refers to speaking evil of God [1, 2]. This concept extends to any form of calumny or abuse [1, 2]. Scriptural examples of blasphemy against God include passages in Psalms 74:18, Isaiah 52:5, Romans 2:24, and Revelation 13:1, 6 [1].
The significance of God's name in ancient Israel is crucial for understanding blasphemy. A name in biblical times represented a person's character, reputation, and origin [6]. God's holiness required that His name be treated with reverence, as commanded in Exodus 20:7 [6]. Therefore, using God's name in a curse or speaking ill of it reflected a sinful attitude toward God Himself [6]. Leviticus 24:11-16 describes a case where an individual blasphemed the name of the Lord and was punished by stoning, highlighting the severity of this offense [2, 6]. The Hebrew text uses strong verbs for "curse" in this context, indicating the gravity of the act [6].
Blasphemy was not limited to direct verbal abuse of God. It could also encompass actions that dishonored God's name. For instance, idolatry is counted as blasphemy in Isaiah 65:7 and Ezekiel 20:27-28 [3]. Hypocrisy is also linked to blasphemy in Revelation 2:9 [3]. The prophet Ezekiel and the apostle Paul both indicate that the name of God can be blasphemed among the Gentiles due to the actions of His people [5, 9]. John Gill interprets this as the Gentiles concluding that God is not omniscient, holy, or omnipotent when they observe the iniquities of those who claim to follow Him [9].
Jesus was accused of blasphemy by the Jewish authorities when He claimed to be the Son of God and asserted divine prerogatives, such as forgiving sins [1, 3]. Similarly, early Christians like Stephen were charged with blasphemy [2, 3]. The New Testament also speaks of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, which some interpret as a continued and obstinate rejection of the gospel [1]. This particular form of blasphemy is described as unpardonable in Matthew 12:31-32 [3].
In the book of Revelation, blasphemy is attributed to the beast, which is interpreted by some as the Roman Empire or the papacy, through actions such as claiming divine authority, accepting worship, and promoting idolatrous practices [7, 10]. The book of James also refers to those who "blaspheme the fair name by which you have been called" [4]. This is understood to refer to rich heathen who directly blaspheme Christ's name, or indirectly, rich Christians whose inconsistency causes His name to be blasphemed [8].
Sources
- 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,”
- 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”
- 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”
- James “James 2:7 (NASB) — Do they not blaspheme the fair name by which you have been called?”
- Romans “Romans 2:24 (BSB) — As it is written: “God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.””
- 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 ”
- 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 ”
- James (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on James 2:7: "Is it not they that blaspheme?" &c. as in Jam 2:6 [ALFORD]. Rich heathen must here chiefly be meant; for none others would directly blaspheme the name of Christ. Only indirectly rich Christians can be meant, who, by their inconsistency, caused His name to be blasphemed; so Eze 36:21-22; Rom 2:24. Besides, there were few rich Jewish Christians at Jerusalem (Rom 15:26). They who dishonor God's name by wilful and habitual sin, "take (or bear) the Lord's name in vain" (compare Pro 30:9, with Exo 20:7). that worthy name--which is "good before the Lord's sa”
- Romans (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Romans 2:22: For the name of God is blasphemed,.... The being and perfections of God, such as his holiness, omniscience, and omnipotence, are denied, or evil spoken of; and also the law of God, and the forms of worship instituted by him: among the Gentiles through you: through their iniquities, who when they observe them, conclude that the God of Israel is not omniscient, or he would know, and take notice of these things; and that he is not holy, or he could not bear them; nor omnipotent, or he would revenge them: as it is written; the passage or passages referred to are not m”
- 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”