βλάσφημος (G989) — Greek Lexicon

βλάσφημος

blásphēmos

G989 attributive adjective

SILEX Entry

Definition

Speaking abusively, dishonorably, or slanderously, either against people or against what is regarded as sacred; applies to those who use language or speech that discredits, defames, or insults, especially in social or religious contexts. The meaning can range from personal defamation (slanderous, abusive) to expressions regarded as irreverent or offensive toward the divine (sacrilegious, impious).

Semantic Range

slanderous, abusive, reviling (against people); irreverent, impious, profaning (against sacred/deity); blasphemous, calumnious, railing

Root / Etymology

From βλάσφημος, itself a compound of βλάπτω ('to harm, to injure') and φήμη ('utterance, report, fame'). The sense is of speech or utterance that damages reputation or authority.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, βλάσφημος designated speech or behavior that harmed the honor or reputation of individuals or deities and could be applied to both interpersonal insult and sacrilegious utterance. In the LXX (Septuagint), the term is regularly used to translate Hebrew concepts related to cursing or reviling God, broadening its association with impiety. In Hellenistic and NT Greek, the word often carries the dual connotation of both social slander (against people) and religious profanation (against the divine or sacred). English translations traditionally use 'blasphemous' or 'blasphemer,' but these may emphasize the religious aspect; however, the Greek usage is equally concerned with social defamation and abusive speech. The word thus contains a range that spans from personal insult to profanation and irreverence, with context determining whether the target is human or divine. Related to βλασφημέω ('to speak ill of, to revile'), the adjectival form points to the character of the person or speech.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from a derivative of βλάπτω and φήμη; scurrilious, i.e. calumnious (against men), or (specially) impious (against God):--blasphemer(-mous), railing.

Root Family

βλάσφημος (blasphēmos) — to injure by speech, to slander, to speak abusively

Root βλασφημ- to injure by speech, to slander, to speak abusively

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G989-03`	βλάσφημον	blasphemon	`ADJ.S ACC M SG`	a blasphemer	slanderous one	slanderous one	2
`G989-02`	βλάσφημοι	blasphemoi	`ADJ.S NOM M PL`	blasphemers	abusive slanderers	abusive slanderers	1
`G989-01`	βλάσφημα	blasphema	`ADJ.A ACC N PL`	blasphemous	abusive things	blasphemous	1

Occurrences in Scripture

4 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G989-01`	Acts 6:11	βλάσφημα	blasphema	`ADJ.A ACC N PL`	blasphemous	abusive things	blasphemous
`G989-03`	1 Timothy 1:13	βλάσφημον	blasphemon	`ADJ.S ACC M SG`	a blasphemer	slanderous one	slanderous one
`G989-02`	2 Timothy 3:2	βλάσφημοι	blasphemoi	`ADJ.S NOM M PL`	blasphemers	abusive slanderers	abusive slanderers
`G989-03`	2 Peter 2:11	βλάσφημον	blasphemon	`ADJ.A ACC F SG`	reviling	slanderous one	slanderous one

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