What Does Matthew 9:3 Mean in the King James?

And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth.

Matthew 9:3 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

THE KEY

They call forgiveness blasphemy because they believe only God can release guilt.

THE MEANING

A verdict about what honors God can take shape inside you before you speak it; the scribes’ hidden words call Jesus’ declaration an offense. The verse sets that judgment beside forgiveness, revealing how release can look like irreverence when authority is narrowly defined.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

A private accusation is not proof of its own truth: Jesus answers the scribes’ hidden judgment by showing his authority to forgive (vv. 4–6).

THE ROOT

βλασφημεῖ

blasphēmei

GROWS FROM

βλασφημ-

Greek lexical stem

Slanderous or injurious speech, especially speech that dishonors God.

“blasphemeth” in this verse is blasphēmei. This Greek word belongs to a family for slanderous or injurious speech; it is not merely a word for profanity. The scribes give their hidden interpretation a name: they treat Jesus’ declaration of forgiveness as speech that dishonors God.

ALSO GROWS

blasphēmia: Slander, injurious or irreverent speech.

βλασφημία

This related noun names the charge the scribes make; Mark 2:7 uses the same word family for their accusation.

blasphēmos: Slanderous, abusive, or blasphemous.

βλάσφημος

This related adjective describes speech or a speaker as defaming, showing that the charge is about perceived dishonor.

THE PATTERN

An inward judgment remains visible and answerable before it is spoken aloud.

Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.

Psalm 139:2 · KJVThe thought within is already known, even before it becomes speech.

Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts.

Proverbs 21:2 · KJVInner certainty is weighed rather than accepted as its own proof.

And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts?

Mark 2:8 · KJVJesus answers the judgment the scribes have kept inside.

THE THREAD

Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?

Mark 2:7 · KJV

Mark makes explicit why the scribes use this charge: they believe forgiveness belongs to God alone. The shared Greek family ⁨βλασφημ-⁩ (blasphēm-, “slanderous speech”) links Matthew’s ⁨βλασφημεῖ⁩ (blasphēmei, “speaks blasphemously”) with Mark’s ⁨βλασφημίας⁩ (blasphēmias, “blasphemies”).

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