BLASPHEMY, five Heb. words are so tr. in the Eng. VSS. The most common is גָּדַף, H1552, used only in the piel, pael meaning “to revile,” “hurl insults,” the next most common term is נָאַץ, H5540, “to despise,” “show disrespect toward.” A set of three lesser terms are also found, (1) חָרַפ֮, H3070, lit. “taunt,” “reproach,” (2) קָלַל, H7837, “despise,” frequently in context, “to curse,” (3) בָּרַכְ֮, H1385, which is the common Heb. word for “bless” used in a few passages euphemistically for “cursing” when the mere usage of a term to curse would constitute blasphemy (1 Kings 21:10, 13; Job 1:5, 11). Blasphemy is one of the most serious of all spiritual iniquities in the OT because it denies and makes sport of the overwhelming concept of all the OT history and law, namely the sovereignty of the Creator. More than any other act of man it eradicates the fundamental creator-creature distinction upon which all the cosmic law orders are based. So horrible was this crime considered that numerous passages of the OT containing the names of pagan deities and making mention of speeches and actions against Jehovah were edited to give some less evil circumlocution which could never be construed as irreverent. The name of God in the OT was the personal revelation of His character and so to defame or defile the sacred name, the tetragrammaton (J/Y H W H=Jehovah), was to reject the mercy and power of God. In the NT the Gr. term is βλασφημέω, G1059, which meant in classical lit. “to injure one’s reputation,” and was extended to blaspheme the Deity. In heathen cults this was not only an act of impiety, but also of treason against the state, as in the case of Socrates. In the LXX this term is extended to the OT terms and given a purely religious intent. In the NT not only the Almighty can be blasphemed (Rev 16:11), but also the Messiah, Christ (James 2:7), the Spirit of God (Mark 3:29), the name of God (Rom 2:24), the messengers of God (2 Pet 2:10), and the redemptive acts and possessions which God bestows upon His people (Rom 14:16). Unfortunately none of the VSS are consistent in their handling of these terms. The noun, Gr. βλασφημία, G1060, is used also in regard to all railing and slandering of both men (Rev 2:9) and the devil (Jude 9) as well as God. All such condemnatory statements are prohibited in Scripture for the basic reason that such judgments belong to God alone (Matt 5:33-37).