What does the Bible say about blasphemy?
Bible Topic · WEB
The Bible teaches that blasphemy is a grave sin of dishonoring God, rejecting his truth, or speaking contemptuously of his holy name and work, yet Christ offers forgiveness to repentant sinners. Exodus 20:7 forbids taking the Lord’s name in vain, while Revelation 13:6 portrays blasphemy as rebellion against God. Jesus warns in Matthew 12:31-32, Mark 3:29, and Luke 12:10 that willful, hardened attribution of the Spirit’s work to evil is especially serious, revealing persistent resistance to God’s grace. Hebrews 10:29 likewise warns against despising Christ’s sacrifice. Believers should honor God in speech and conduct, remembering that the gospel transforms even those formerly marked by serious sins, as 1 Corinthians 6:6-10 teaches.
Top passages, ranked by readers
Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible
- Luke 12:10
Everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but those who blaspheme against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.
- Matthew 12:31-32
[31] Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. [32] Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, neither in this age, nor in that which is to come.
- Mark 3:29
but whoever may blaspheme against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin"
- James 2:6-7
[6] But you have dishonored the poor man. Don't the rich oppress you, and personally drag you before the courts? [7] Don't they blaspheme the honorable name by which you are called?
- 1 Corinthians 6:6-10
[6] But brother goes to law with brother, and that before unbelievers! [7] Therefore it is already altogether a defect in you, that you have lawsuits one with another. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be defrauded? [8] No, but you yourselves do wrong, and defraud, and that against your brothers. [9] Or don't you know that the unrighteous will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don't be deceived. Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor male prostitutes, nor homosexuals, [10] nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor slanderers, nor extortioners, will inherit the Kingdom of God.
- Revelation 13:6
He opened his mouth for blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his dwelling, those who dwell in heaven.
- Titus 2:3-5
[3] and that older women likewise be reverent in behavior, not slanderers nor enslaved to much wine, teachers of that which is good; [4] that they may train the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, [5] to be sober-minded, chaste, workers at home, kind, being in subjection to their own husbands, that God's word may not be blasphemed.
- Exodus 20:7
"You shall not take the name of Yahweh your God in vain, for Yahweh will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.
- Hebrews 10:29
How much worse punishment, do you think, will he be judged worthy of, who has trodden under foot the Son of God, and has counted the blood of the covenant with which he was sanctified an unholy thing, and has insulted the Spirit of grace?
- Acts 7:51
"You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit! As your fathers did, so you do.
Study outline
Curated topical outlines from classic public-domain study works.
Nave's Topical Bible
- General scriptures concerning Exodus 20:7; Leviticus 19:12; Leviticus 22:32; Leviticus 24:10-16; Deuteronomy 5:11; 2 Samuel 12:14; 2 Kings 19:22; 2 Chronicles 32:19; Job 9:16; Job 9:17; Job 9:34; Job 9:35
- Prophecy of Revelation 13:1; Revelation 13:5; Revelation 13:6; Revelation 16:9; Revelation 16:11; Revelation 16:21; Revelation 17:3
- INSTANCES OF
- The depraved son of Shelomith, who, in an altercation with an Israelite, cursed God Leviticus 24:10-16
- Of the Israelites, in complaining against God Numbers 21:5; Numbers 21:6
- Infidels, who used the adultery of David as an occasion to blaspheme 2 Samuel 12:14
- Shimei, in his malice toward David 2 Samuel 16:5
- Rabshakeh, in the siege of Jerusalem 2 Kings 18:22; 2 Kings 19; Isaiah 36:15-20; Isaiah 37:10-33
- Job’s wife, when she exhorted Job to curse God and die Job 2:9
- Peter, when accused of being a disciple of Jesus Matthew 26:74; Mark 14:71
- The revilers of Jesus, when he was crucified Matthew 27:40-44; Matthew 27:63
- The early Christians, persecuted by Saul of Tarsus, compelled to blaspheme the name of Jesus Acts 26:11; 1 Timothy 1:13
- Two disciples, Hymenaeus and Alexander, who were delivered to Satan, so that they could learn not to blaspheme 1 Timothy 1:20
- The man of sin 2 Thessalonians 2:3; 2 Thessalonians 2:4
- Backslidden Ephesians Revelation 2:9
- FALSE INDICTMENTS FOR
- Of Naboth 1 Kings 21:13
- Jesus Matthew 26:65; Mark 14:58; Luke 22:70; Luke 22:71; John 19:7
- Stephen Acts 6:11; Acts 6:13
- Jesus falsely accused of, previously to his trial Mark 2:7; Luke 5:21
Torrey's New Topical Textbook
- Christ assailed with Matthew 10:25; Luke 22:64; Luke 22:65; 1 Peter 4:14
- Charged upon Christ Matthew 9:2; Matthew 9:3; Matthew 26:64; Matthew 26:65; John 10:33; John 10:36
- Charged upon saints Acts 6:11; Acts 6:13
- Proceeds from the heart Matthew 15:19
- Forbidden Exodus 20:7; Colossians 3:8
- The wicked addicted to Psalms 74:18; Isaiah 52:5; 2 Timothy 3:2; Revelation 18:11; Revelation 18:21
- Idolatry counted as Isaiah 65:7; Ezekiel 20:27; Ezekiel 20:28
- Hypocrisy counted as Revelation 2:9
- Saints grieved to hear Psalms 44:15; Psalms 44:16; Psalms 74:10; Psalms 74:18; Psalms 74:22
- Gives no occasion for 2 Samuel 12:14; 1 Timothy 6:1
- Against the Holy Spirit, unpardonable Matthew 12:31; Matthew 12:32
- Connected with folly and pride 2 Kings 19:22; Psalms 74:18
- Punishment of Leviticus 24:16; Isaiah 65:7; Ezekiel 20:27-33; Ezekiel 35:11; Ezekiel 35:12
- Exemplified
- The Danite Leviticus 24:11
- Sennacherib 2 Kings 19:4; 2 Kings 19:10; 2 Kings 19:22
- The Jews Luke 22:65
- Hymenaeus 1 Timothy 1:20
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