Blaspheme, Blasphemy, Blasphemer, Blasphemous

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."

"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.