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βλασφημία

blasphēmía

G988 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

Abusive speech, slander, or verbal offense; the act of speaking irreverently or disrespectfully against someone or something considered worthy of honor or reverence. In religious contexts, often denotes speech considered contemptuous or degrading toward the divine, holy persons, or sacred things, but in broader usage also refers to defamation or injurious speech directed at people.

Semantic Range

abusive speech, slander, defamation, profanation, irreverent or injurious language against persons, dishonor or offense against the divine, railing, calumny

Root / Etymology

From βλάσφημος (hurtful, abusive, slanderous), itself composed of the prefix βλα- (of uncertain meaning but commonly with a negative or damaging sense) and φημί (to speak, say). The word-form βλασφημία thus literally means 'abusive or slanderous speech.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

βλασφημία appears in classical Greek to indicate slander or injurious speech directed at people, not exclusively the divine. Its sense expands in Hellenistic and Jewish Greek to include irreverence or offense toward the divine, especially speech that insults or demeans the honor of Israel’s God, temple, or Torah. In the Septuagint, βλασφημία frequently translates Hebrew terms for blasphemy or cursing the divine name (e.g., Lev 24:11). In the New Testament, the word can apply to both speech directed against God (the dominant sense in religious contexts) and humans (defamation, slander). Standard English translations ('blasphemy') focus on the religious offense, but the term retains the broader sense of slander or maligning speech elsewhere. The related noun βλάσφημος designates the person who is abusive or slanderous. In Greco-Roman and Hellenistic contexts, the term is not limited to the Israelite or Judean God and can refer to insults against other persons, gods, or revered institutions. Drawing a sharp line between religious and secular senses is therefore somewhat artificial from a historical perspective; both revolve around the concept of verbal attack and the resulting dishonor or injury.

Translation Consistency

primary "blasphemy" 12 occurrences

βλασφημία is most directly and commonly rendered “blasphemy,” capturing the primary sense of irreverent or injurious speech toward the divine or what is held sacred. While SILEX notes related senses (abuse, slander), “blasphemy” is the traditional, natural English term that preserves the full theological and defamatory range and will read naturally and consistently across all forms.

Alternatives (6 occurrences):
"abusive slanders" (3x) "abusive speech" (2x) "slander" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from βλάσφημος; vilification (especially against God):--blasphemy, evil speaking, railing.

Root Family

βλασφημία (blasphēmia) — abusive speech, slander, defamation, irreverent speech

Root βλασφημ- to insult, to slander, to speak abusively

Word Forms

4 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G988-04 βλασφημίας blasphemias N GEN F SG blasphemies of abusive speech of blasphemy 8
G988-01 βλασφημία blasphemia N NOM F SG blasphemy abusive speech blasphemy 4
G988-03 βλασφημίαν blasphemian N ACC F SG blasphemy abusive speech abusive speech 3
G988-02 βλασφημίαι blasphemiai N NOM F PL blasphemies abusive slanders abusive slanders 3

Occurrences in Scripture

18 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G988-01 Matthew 12:31 βλασφημία blasphemia N NOM F SG blasphemy abusive speech blasphemy
G988-01 Matthew 12:31 βλασφημία blasphemia-2 N NOM F SG blasphemy abusive speech blasphemy
G988-02 Matthew 15:19 βλασφημίαι blasphemiai N NOM F PL blasphemies abusive slanders abusive slanders
G988-03 Matthew 26:65 βλασφημίαν blasphemian N ACC F SG blasphemy abusive speech abusive speech
G988-02 Mark 3:28 βλασφημίαι blasphemiai N NOM F PL blasphemies abusive slanders abusive slanders
G988-01 Mark 7:22 βλασφημία blasphemia N NOM F SG blasphemy abusive speech blasphemy
G988-04 Mark 14:64 βλασφημίας blasphemias N GEN F SG blasphemy of abusive speech of blasphemy
G988-04 Luke 5:21 βλασφημίας blasphemias N ACC F PL blasphemies of abusive speech of blasphemy
G988-04 John 10:33 βλασφημίας blasphemias N GEN F SG blasphemy of abusive speech of blasphemy
G988-01 Ephesians 4:31 βλασφημία blasphemia N NOM F SG slander abusive speech slander
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