Bible Dictionaries
Blaspheme, Blasphemy, Blasphemer, Blasphemous

Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words

either from blax, "sluggish, stupid," or, probably, from blapto, "to injure," and pheme, "speech," (Eng. "blasphemy") is so translated thirteen times in the RV, but "railing" in Matthew 15:19; Mark 7:22; Ephesians 4:31; Colossians 3:8; 1 Timothy 6:4; Jude 1:9 . The word "blasphemy" is practically confined to speech defamatory of the Divine Majesty. See Note, below. See EVIL SPEAKING , RAILING.

"to blaspheme, rail at or revile," is used (a) in a general way, of any contumelious speech, reviling, calumniating, railing at, etc., as of those who railed at Christ, e.g., Matthew 27:39; Mark 15:29; Luke 22:65 (RV, "reviling"); Luke 23:39; (b) of those who speak contemptuously of God or of sacred things, e.g., Matthew 9:3; Mark 3:28; Romans 2:24; 1 Timothy 1:20; 6:1; Revelation 13:6; 16:9,11,21; "hath spoken blasphemy," Matthew 26:65; "rail at," 2 Peter 2:10; Jude 1:8,10; "railing," 2 Peter 2:12; "slanderously reported," Romans 3:8; "be evil spoken of," Romans 14:16; 1 Corinthians 10:30; 2 Peter 2:2; "speak evil of," Titus 3:2; 1 Peter 4:4; "being defamed," 1 Corinthians 4:13 . The verb (in the present participial form) is translated "blasphemers" in Acts 19:37; in Mark 2:7 , "blasphemeth," RV, for AV, "speaketh blasphemies."

There is no noun in the original representing the English "blasphemer." This is expressed either by the verb, or by the adjective blasphemos. See DEFAME , RAIL , REPORT , REVILE.

"abusive, speaking evil," is translated "blasphemous," in Acts 6:11,13; "a blasphemer," 1 Timothy 1:13; "railers," 2 Timothy 3:2 , RV; "railing," 2 Peter 2:11 . See RAIL.

Note: As to Christ's teaching concerning "blasphemy" against the Holy Spirit, e.g., Matthew 12:32 , that anyone, with the evidence of the Lord's power before His eyes, should declare it to be Satanic, exhibited a condition of heart beyond Divine illumination and therefore hopeless. Divine forgiveness would be inconsistent with the moral nature of God. As to the Son of Man, in his state of humiliation, there might be misunderstanding, but not so with the Holy Spirit's power demonstrated.