"slanderous, railing, reproachful, 2 Tim. 3:2; 2 Pet. 2:11; blasphemous, Acts 6:11, 13; 1 Tim. 1:13"
Definition and meaning
slanderous, railing, reproachful, 2 Tim. 3:2; 2 Pet. 2:11; blasphemous, Acts 6:11, 13; 1 Tim. 1:13
In the original Greek the word is written: βλάσφημος
Historical context
The Roman Empire provided infrastructure no previous civilization had built — roads, sea routes, a common language in Greek, and relative peace across the Mediterranean. Jewish synagogues existed in every major city, giving Paul a starting point everywhere he traveled. The early church had no buildings, no political power, no social standing — and spread faster than any movement in ancient history.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of blasphemos (G989) across the King James Bible.
Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God.
And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law:
Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord.
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Common questions
Strong's G989 (blasphemos) is a Greek word that means: slanderous, railing, reproachful, 2 Tim. 3:2; 2 Pet. 2:11; blasphemous, Acts 6:11, 13; 1 Tim. 1:13 It appears 5 times in the King James Bible.
The word blasphemos (G989) appears 5 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G989 is blasphemos, a Greek word defined as: slanderous, railing, reproachful, 2 Tim. 3:2; 2 Pet. 2:11; blasphemous, Acts 6:11, 13; 1 Tim. 1:13. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
blasphemos is a Greek word found in the New Testament.