What does βλασφημέω (blasphēméō) mean in the Bible?
βλασφημέω (blasphēméō) is a verb for blaspheming, reviling, defaming, or speaking abusively against someone or something. The object and narrative judgment matter.
Greek · G987
βλασφημέω
βλασφημέω (blasphēméō) is a verb for blaspheming, reviling, defaming, or speaking abusively against someone or something. The object and narrative judgment matter.
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βλασφημέωG987
Pronunciationblasphēméō
What does βλασφημέω (blasphēméō) mean in the Bible?
Reader summary
Full entry for βλασφημέω (G987) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render G987?
The BSB source-word alignment has 34 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include heaped abuse on (3), blasphemes (2), slander (2), will not be discredited (2), [and] they heap abuse on you (1).
Where does βλασφημέω (blasphēméō) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Matthew 9:3. Its strongest book concentrations include Acts (4), Mark (4), Revelation (4), 2 Peter (3).
Are there verse guides for βλασφημέω (blasphēméō)?
This entry includes 1 verse guide that explain exact original-language forms in context.
What This Word Actually Means
G987 is a verb for blaspheming, reviling, defaming, or speaking abusively against someone or something. The object and narrative judgment matter. In Matthew 9:3 and Mark 2:7, scribes accuse Jesus of blasphemy after he declares a paralytic's sins forgiven, but the Gospel narratives display his authority rather than endorsing their verdict. In Matthew 26:65, the high priest makes the same charge during Jesus' hearing. Matthew 27:39 then uses the verb for passersby reviling the crucified Jesus.
The same lexical range can describe speech directed against God, holy realities, Jesus, other people, or Christian teaching. A charge of blasphemy is therefore not self-proving merely because a religious authority makes it. Mark 3 places Jesus' grave warning about blasphemy against the Holy Spirit inside a conflict where his opponents attribute his liberating work to an unclean spirit. The verb by itself does not define every element of that warning, diagnose a frightened conscience, or authorize leaders to label criticism as an unforgivable offense.
Lexical sourceCanonical parallelBook contextPastoral application
How the Bible Uses It
G987 ranges across charges of blasphemy, abusive speech against Jesus, and speech against God or holy realities. The Gospels also show that an accusation can be mistaken, so speaker, object, and narrative evaluation must remain distinct.
- Matt.9.3
On seeing this, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming!”
The scribes call Jesus' pronouncement blasphemy. Matthew presents this as their charge, then narrates the healing so readers may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.
- Matt.26.65
At this, the high priest tore his clothes and declared, “He has blasphemed! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy.
The high priest declares blasphemy after Jesus answers about the Christ and the Son of Man. The term reports the hearing's verdict; Matthew's larger Passion narrative governs the reader's judgment of Jesus.
- Matt.27.39
And those who passed by heaped abuse on Him, shaking their heads
Passersby revile Jesus while he is crucified. Here the verb describes abusive speech against him rather than an accusation that he has blasphemed.
- Mark.2.7
“Why does this man speak like this? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
The scribes reason that Jesus is blaspheming because God alone can forgive sins. Jesus' healing addresses their reasoning and demonstrates the Son of Man's authority.
- Mark.3.28
Truly I tell you, the sons of men will be forgiven all sins and blasphemies, as many as they utter.
Jesus first states the breadth of forgiveness for human sins and blasphemies. The following exception must be read within the dispute over opponents attributing his Spirit-empowered work to an unclean spirit.
Canonical parallelPassage contextBook context
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itheaped abuse on3×Matthew 27:39, Mark 15:29, Luke 23:39
blasphemes2×Mark 3:29, Luke 12:10
slander2×Jude 1:8, Jude 1:10
will not be discredited2×1 Timothy 6:1, Titus 2:5
[and] they heap abuse on you1×1 Peter 4:4
[and] to slander1×Revelation 13:6
{they} blasphemously1×Acts 13:45
am I denounced1×1 Corinthians 10:30
blaspheme1×Acts 26:11
blasphemed1×Acts 19:37
blasphemous1×Luke 22:65
curse1×Revelation 16:11
cursed1×Revelation 16:21
He has blasphemed1×Matthew 26:65
He is blaspheming1×Mark 2:7
insulted [him]1×Acts 18:6
is blasphemed1×Romans 2:24
is blaspheming1×Matthew 9:3
of blasphemy1×John 10:36
slanderously1×Romans 3:8
the ones who blaspheme1×James 2:7
They blaspheme1×2 Peter 2:12
they cursed1×Revelation 16:9
they utter1×Mark 3:28
to be spoken of as evil1×Romans 14:16
to blaspheme1×1 Timothy 1:20
to malign1×Titus 3:2
to slander1×2 Peter 2:10
will be defamed1×2 Peter 2:2
Show sample aligned rows
Matthew 9:3βλασφημεῖtois blasphemingVerb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person SingularMatthew 26:65ἘβλασφήμησενtoHe has blasphemedVerb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person SingularMatthew 27:39ἐβλασφήμουνtoheaped abuse onVerb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person PluralMark 2:7βλασφημεῖtoHe is blasphemingVerb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person SingularMark 3:28βλασφημήσωσινtothey utterVerb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person PluralMark 3:29βλασφημήσῃtoblasphemesVerb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person SingularMark 15:29ἐβλασφήμουνtoheaped abuse onVerb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person PluralLuke 12:10βλασφημήσαντιtoblasphemesVerb - Aorist Participle Active - Dative Masculine SingularLuke 22:65βλασφημοῦντεςtoblasphemousVerb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine PluralLuke 23:39ἐβλασφήμειtoheaped abuse onVerb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowMatthew 9:3
Aligned rows34
Books represented14
Matthew3Mark4Luke3John1Acts4Romans31 Corinthians11 Timothy2Titus2James11 Peter12 Peter3Jude2Revelation4
Source forms
βλασφημοῦντες5xblasphēmountesLuke 22:65, Acts 13:45, 1 Peter 4:4, 2 Peter 2:10
βλασφημεῖν3xblasphēmeinActs 26:11, 1 Timothy 1:20, Titus 3:2
βλασφημοῦσιν3xblasphēmousinJames 2:7, Jude 1:8, Jude 1:10
ἐβλασφήμησαν3xeblasphēmēsanRevelation 16:9, Revelation 16:11, Revelation 16:21
βλασφημεῖ2xblasphēmeiMatthew 9:3, Mark 2:7
βλασφημῆται2xblasphēmētai1 Timothy 6:1, Titus 2:5
ἐβλασφήμουν2xeblasphēmounMatthew 27:39, Mark 15:29
Βλασφημεῖς1xBlasphēmeisJohn 10:36
Parsing patterns
Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural5xLuke 22:65, Acts 13:45, 1 Peter 4:4, 2 Peter 2:10
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural3xRevelation 16:9, Revelation 16:11, Revelation 16:21
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural3xJames 2:7, Jude 1:8, Jude 1:10
Verb - Present Infinitive Active3xActs 26:11, 1 Timothy 1:20, Titus 3:2
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural2xMatthew 27:39, Mark 15:29
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular2xMatthew 9:3, Mark 2:7
Verb - Present Subjunctive Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular2x1 Timothy 6:1, Titus 2:5
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular1xMatthew 26:65
Using This Word Well
Be careful not to...
- Distinguish an accusation of blasphemy from the narrator's judgment about whether blasphemy occurred.
- Read the warning about the Holy Spirit within Mark 3:22-30 before applying it to a person's conscience.
Avoid claiming...
- Do not claim every harsh criticism, doctrinal disagreement, or report of wrongdoing is blasphemy.
- Do not claim that religious office makes a blasphemy accusation self-validating.
Key Verse and Form Guides
Verse-level guides showing how this original-language form works in its specific context, including grammar, verse function, and guarded interpretation.
Evidence Summary
Greek word. to vilify; specially, to speak impiously
Source Gloss
to vilify; specially, to speak impiously
Greek Text Appearances
Textus Receptus witness, full corpusGreek token appearances from Scrivener 1894 Textus Receptus in the full New Testament corpus.
16 of 35 Greek text appearances shown. Linked morphology labels have verse guides.
Matthew 9:3Verb Third Person Singular Present Active Indicative
βλασφημεῖ.blasfhmei
I speak evil against, blaspheme
Read verseMatthew 26:65Verb Third Person Singular Aorist Active Indicative
Ἐβλασφήμησε·eblasfhmhsen
I speak evil against, blaspheme
Read verseMatthew 27:39Verb Third Person Plural Imperfect Active Indicative
ἐβλασφήμουνeblasfhmoun
I speak evil against, blaspheme
Read verseMark 3:28Verb Third Person Plural Aorist Active Subjunctive
βλασφημήσωσιν·blasfhmhswsin
I speak evil against, blaspheme
Read verseMark 3:29Verb Third Person Singular Aorist Active Subjunctive
βλασφημήσῃblasfhmhsh
I speak evil against, blaspheme
Read verseMark 15:29Verb Third Person Plural Imperfect Active Indicative
ἐβλασφήμουνeblasfhmoun
I speak evil against, blaspheme
Read verseLuke 12:10Verb Aorist Active Participle Dative Singular Masculine
βλασφημήσαντιblasfhmhsanti
I speak evil against, blaspheme
Read verseLuke 22:65Verb Present Active Participle Nominative Plural Masculine
βλασφημοῦντεςblasfhmountev
I speak evil against, blaspheme
Read verseLuke 23:39Verb Third Person Singular Imperfect Active Indicative
ἐβλασφήμειeblasfhmei
I speak evil against, blaspheme
Read verseJohn 10:36Verb Second Person Singular Present Active Indicative
Βλασφημεῖς,blasfhmeiv
I speak evil against, blaspheme
Read verseActs 13:45Verb Present Active Participle Nominative Plural Masculine
βλασφημοῦντες.blasfhmountev
I speak evil against, blaspheme
Read verseActs 18:6Verb Present Active Participle Genitive Plural Masculine
βλασφημούντων,blasfhmountwn
I speak evil against, blaspheme
Read verseActs 19:37Verb Present Active Participle Accusative Plural Masculine
βλασφημοῦνταςblasfhmountav
I speak evil against, blaspheme
Read verseActs 26:11Verb Present Active Infinitive
βλασφημεῖν·blasfhmein
I speak evil against, blaspheme
Read verseRomans 2:24Verb Third Person Singular Present Passive Indicative
βλασφημεῖταιblasfhmeitai
I speak evil against, blaspheme
Read verseblasfhmoumeqa
I speak evil against, blaspheme
Read verseFull New Testament corpus: 260 chapters, 7,957 verses, 140,628 tokens. Data source: honza/textus-receptus (data only), with authority check against byztxt/greektext-textus-receptus.
Grammatical Forms
How mood, tense, and voice shift the force of this verb in context.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups5Aligned forms34TensesPresent, Aorist, Imperfect, FutureVoicesActive, Passive
Tenses
Voices
Participleverbal adjective — the action as a modifying quality8×
Present ActiveLuke 22:65 · Acts 13:45 · 1 Pet 4:4 · 2 Pet 2:10 · 2 Pet 2:12 · Acts 18:6 · Acts 19:377×
Aorist ActiveLuke 12:101×
Infinitiveverbal noun — the action in abstract4×
Present ActiveActs 26:11 · 1 Tim 1:20 · Titus 3:23×
Aorist ActiveRev 13:61×
Indicativestates a fact or reality17×
Present ActiveJas 2:7 · Jude 1:8 · Jude 1:10 · Matt 9:3 · Mark 2:7 · John 10:366×
Aorist ActiveRev 16:9 · Rev 16:11 · Rev 16:21 · Matt 26:654×
Imperfect ActiveMatt 27:39 · Mark 15:29 · Luke 23:393×
Future Passive2 Pet 2:21×
Subjunctivepossibility, probability, or purpose4×
Present Passive1 Tim 6:1 · Titus 2:52×
Aorist ActiveMark 3:28 · Mark 3:292×
Imperativecommand or strong request1×
Present PassiveRom 14:161×
Discourse Aspect
How this verb appears across 35 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).
Aspect
Tense
present23aorist8imperfect3future1
Voice
active27passive8
Mood
indicative17participle9infinitive4subjunctive4imperative1
NT Occurrences
Matthew 9:3βλασφημεῖpresent active indicativeongoingMatthew 26:65Ἐβλασφήμησενaorist active indicativecompletedMatthew 27:39ἐβλασφήμουνimperfect active indicativebackgroundMark 2:7βλασφημεῖpresent active indicativeongoingMark 3:28βλασφημήσωσινaorist active subjunctivesubjunctiveMark 3:29βλασφημήσῃaorist active subjunctivesubjunctiveMark 15:29ἐβλασφήμουνimperfect active indicativebackgroundLuke 12:10βλασφημήσαντιaorist active participleparticipleLuke 22:65βλασφημοῦντεςpresent active participleparticipleLuke 23:39ἐβλασφήμειimperfect active indicativebackgroundJohn 10:36Βλασφημεῖςpresent active indicativeongoingActs 13:45βλασφημοῦντεςpresent active participleparticipleActs 18:6βλασφημούντωνpresent active participleparticipleActs 19:37βλασφημοῦνταςpresent active participleparticipleActs 26:11βλασφημεῖνpresent active infinitiveinfinitiveRomans 2:24βλασφημεῖταιpresent passive indicativeongoingRomans 3:8βλασφημούμεθαpresent passive indicativeongoingRomans 14:16βλασφημείσθωpresent passive imperativeimperative1 Corinthians 4:13δυσφημούμενοιpresent passive participleparticiple1 Corinthians 10:30βλασφημοῦμαιpresent passive indicativeongoing1 Timothy 1:20βλασφημεῖνpresent active infinitiveinfinitive1 Timothy 6:1βλασφημῆταιpresent passive subjunctivesubjunctiveTitus 2:5βλασφημῆταιpresent passive subjunctivesubjunctiveTitus 3:2βλασφημεῖνpresent active infinitiveinfinitiveJames 2:7βλασφημοῦσινpresent active indicativeongoing1 Peter 4:4βλασφημοῦντεςpresent active participleparticiple2 Peter 2:10βλασφημοῦντεςpresent active participleparticiple2 Peter 2:12βλασφημοῦντεςpresent active participleparticiple2 Peter 2:2βλασφημηθήσεταιfuture passive indicativeprospectiveJude 1:10βλασφημοῦσινpresent active indicativeongoingJude 1:8βλασφημοῦσινpresent active indicativeongoingRevelation 13:6βλασφημῆσαιaorist active infinitiveinfinitiveRevelation 16:11ἐβλασφήμησανaorist active indicativecompletedRevelation 16:21ἐβλασφήμησανaorist active indicativecompletedRevelation 16:9ἐβλασφήμησανaorist active indicativecompleted
Aspect reflects grammatical form — not authorial emphasis. Participles and infinitives are verbal adjectives and nouns respectively.
Clause data: MACULA Greek (Clear Bible, CC BY 4.0) · SBLGNT (Logos/SBL, CC BY 4.0)
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Additional Occurrences
Jude 1:8–10βλασφημοῦσινblasphēméō
to speak abusively; to slander
Luke 12:8–12βλασφημήσαςblasphēméō
Having blasphemed
Luke 23:39–43ἐβλασφήμειblasphēméō
He was blaspheming, reviling
Luke 5:17–26βλασφημεῖblasphēméō
Blasphemes
Mark 3:20–30βλασφημέωblasphēméō
to slander, speak irreverently
New Testament Witnesses
to speak abusively, slander
blaspheme
blasphemes
Showing 8 selected witnesses from 34 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
βλασφημέω is built from this root:
βλάσφημοςG989
Why This Word Matters
Defines the nature of hardened rejection.
Describes willful rejection of the Spirit’s testimony about Christ.
Recognizes divine prerogative claimed by Jesus.
Marks irreverent, defiant speech toward sacred or spiritual realities, exposing contempt rather than humility.
Highlights irreverent speech toward sacred or spiritual realities.
Canonical Themes
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.
For the Preacher and Teacher
Blasphemy language is morally serious, but the Gospels also teach readers to test who is speaking and whether the accusation is true. Religious experts accuse Jesus while he exercises authority to forgive and heal. Passersby later revile him at the cross. Jesus warns opponents who have persistently described the Spirit's liberating work as demonic. These scenes do not minimize speech against God, and they do not give leaders an unlimited label for suppressing criticism.
Pastoral use should protect both reverence and truth: name abusive defamation honestly, distinguish it from responsible correction, and address anxious questions about the unforgivable sin from Mark's full narrative rather than from the verb alone.
Anchor passage
Matt.9.3
Doctrinal connections
- Matthew 9:3-8 distinguishes the scribes' accusation from Jesus' demonstrated authority to forgive and heal.
- Matthew 26:63-68 places the formal charge within Jesus' hearing and subsequent abuse.
- Matthew 27:39-43 portrays verbal abuse against the crucified Jesus.
- Mark 3:22-30 supplies the stated controversy governing Jesus' warning about the Holy Spirit.
βλασφημέω is cataloged in the local registry as a Greek verb with Strong's ID G987. Selected BSB source-word forms include βλασφημεῖ, Ἐβλασφήμησεν, ἐβλασφήμουν, βλασφημήσωσιν, with English alignments such as is blaspheming, He has blasphemed, heaped abuse on, He is blaspheming, they utter. The pastoral entry uses the local registry and BSB source-word witnesses as controls; it does not reproduce lexical-source wording as public prose.
From Old to New Testament
Old Testament law and narrative provide backgrounds for speech against God and formal charges, but each Gospel scene supplies its own decisive evaluation. A lexical link alone cannot transfer every legal feature into Jesus' disputes.
Canonical parallelPastoral application