Topical Encyclopedia The term "profane" in the Bible is used to describe actions, words, or attitudes that are irreverent or disrespectful towards what is considered holy or sacred. The concept of profanity is deeply rooted in the biblical understanding of holiness, where God is set apart, and His name, commandments, and worship are to be treated with utmost reverence.Old Testament Usage In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word often translated as "profane" is "ḥālal," which means to defile, pollute, or treat as common. The Israelites were repeatedly warned against profaning the name of the Lord. Leviticus 19:12 states, "You must not swear falsely by My name and so profane the name of your God. I am the LORD." This command underscores the importance of maintaining the sanctity of God's name, reflecting His holy character. The priests, who served in the temple, were given specific instructions to avoid profaning the sacred offerings and rituals. Leviticus 21:6 instructs, "They must be holy to their God and not profane the name of their God. For they present the offerings made by fire to the LORD, the food of their God. So they must be holy." This highlights the expectation of holiness in those who serve God directly. New Testament Usage In the New Testament, the Greek word "bebēlos" is used to describe what is profane. The apostle Paul warns Timothy to avoid "profane and old wives' fables" (1 Timothy 4:7), urging him to focus on godliness instead. This admonition reflects the early Christian emphasis on maintaining purity in doctrine and practice, avoiding teachings and behaviors that would detract from the truth of the Gospel. Hebrews 12:16 uses the example of Esau to illustrate profanity: "See to it that no one is sexually immoral or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his birthright." Esau's actions are described as profane because he treated his birthright, a sacred inheritance, as something common and of little value. Profanity in Worship and Conduct Throughout Scripture, profanity is often linked to improper worship and conduct. Ezekiel 22:26 criticizes the priests for failing to distinguish between the holy and the common: "Her priests do violence to My law and profane My holy things. They do not distinguish between the holy and the common; they teach that there is no difference between the unclean and the clean; and they shut their eyes to the keeping of My Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them." The biblical narrative consistently calls God's people to a life of holiness, set apart from the world. Profanity, in its various forms, is a violation of this call, as it diminishes the reverence due to God and His commandments. The Bible encourages believers to honor God in speech, action, and heart, recognizing the sacredness of their relationship with Him. Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary 1. (a.) Not sacred or holy; not possessing peculiar sanctity; unconsecrated; hence, relating to matters other than sacred; secular; -- opposed to sacred, religious, or inspired; as, a profane place.2. (a.) Unclean; impure; polluted; unholy. 3. (a.) Treating sacred things with contempt, disrespect, irreverence, or undue familiarity; irreverent; impious. 4. (a.) Irreverent in language; taking the name of God in vain; given to swearing; blasphemous; as, a profane person, word, oath, or tongue. 5. (v.) To violate, as anything sacred; to treat with abuse, irreverence, obloquy, or contempt; to desecrate; to pollute; as, to profane the name of God; to profane the Scriptures, or the ordinance of God. 6. (v.) To put to a wrong or unworthy use; to make a base employment of; to debase; to abuse; to defile. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia PROFANEpro-fan' (verb chalal, adjective chalal, chol; bebeloo, bebelos): From profanus, "before (i.e. outside) the temple," therefore unholy, polluted, secular, is of frequent occurrence (verb and adjective) in both the Old Testament and the New Testament. It occurs as the translation of chol in the King James Version only in Ezekiel (22:26, the Revised Version (British and American) "common"; 42:20:00; 44:23:00; 48:15, the Revised Version (British and American) "for common use"); as the translation of chalal in Leviticus 21:7, 14, the Revised Version margin "polluted"; and Ezekiel 21:25, where, for the King James Version "thou profane wicked prince of Israel," the Revised Version (British and American) has "thou, O deadly wounded wicked one, the prince of Israel." "To profane" (chalal) is seen in Leviticus 18:21; Leviticus 19:8 Nehemiah 13:17, 18 Psalm 89:39 Isaiah 43:28 Ezekiel 22:8, 26, etc. "Profaneness" in Jeremiah 23:15 (chanuppah) is in the American Standard Revised Version "ungodliness." In the New Testament "profane" occurs in the sense of unholy, godless, regardless of God and divine things (1 Timothy 1:9; 1 Timothy 4:7; 1 Timothy 6:20 2 Timothy 2:16 Hebrews 12:16), and "to profane," or violate, in Matthew 12:5 Acts 24:6. The verb is frequent in Apocrypha in 1 Maccabees (1:43, 45, 63; 2:34, etc.; also in 2 Maccabees 8:2; 10:05; compare 2 Esdras 15:8; Judith 4:3, 12; 1 Maccabees 1:48; 2 Maccabees 4:13). In numerous cases the Revised Version (British and American) substitutes "profane" for other words and phrases in the King James Version, as for "to prostitute" (Leviticus 19:29), "an hypocrite" (Isaiah 9:17), "pollute" (Numbers 18:32 Ezekiel 7:21), etc. Greek 953. bebeloo -- to profane ... to profane. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: bebeloo Phonetic Spelling: (beb-ay-lo'-o) Short Definition: I profane Definition: I profane, pollute, violate. ... //strongsnumbers.com/greek2/953.htm - 6k 952. bebelos -- permitted to be trodden, by impl. unhallowed 2839. koinos -- common 2840. koinoo -- to make common 462. anosios -- unholy Strong's Hebrew 2610. chaneph -- to be polluted or profane... to be polluted or profane. Transliteration: chaneph Phonetic Spelling: (khaw-nafe') Short Definition: polluted. ... corrupt, defile, greatly, pollute, profane. ... /hebrew/2610.htm - 6k 2490c. chalal -- to pollute, defile, profane 2611. chaneph -- profane, irreligious 2455. chol -- profaneness, commonness 2490. chalal -- to bore, pierce 2491. chalal -- pierced 2114. zuwr -- to be a stranger 8610. taphas -- to lay hold of, wield Library December the Thirteenth the Holy and the Profane The Profane and Wicked Prince of Israel The Heinous Sin of Profane Cursing and Swearing The Profane Account Given of the Origin of Christ and the Holy ... Profane History Gives no Account of These Matters. Profane Authors had no Means of Knowing the Truth. These Vagaries Stimulated Some Profane Corruptions of Christianity ... Sacred Scripture Compared with Profane Authors. But Does not this Doctrine Make Men Careless and Profane? Argument. From the Prison they are Led Forth with Joy into the ... Thesaurus Profane (69 Occurrences)... peculiar sanctity; unconsecrated; hence, relating to matters other than sacred; secular; -- opposed to sacred, religious, or inspired; as, a profane place. ... /p/profane.htm - 30k Desecrate (9 Occurrences) Godless (31 Occurrences) Irreligious (7 Occurrences) Profanity (2 Occurrences) Profaning (10 Occurrences) Profaned (43 Occurrences) Ahasuerus (28 Occurrences) Sanctifieth (21 Occurrences) Sanctifies (14 Occurrences) Resources What can ordinary people do about sinful religious leaders (Zephaniah 3:4)? | GotQuestions.orgIs Christian rap music appropriate? | GotQuestions.org How do we bring blemished offerings to God (Malachi 1:8)? | GotQuestions.org Profane: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Concordance Profane (69 Occurrences)Matthew 12:5 Acts 24:6 1 Timothy 1:9 1 Timothy 4:7 1 Timothy 6:20 2 Timothy 2:16 2 Timothy 3:2 Hebrews 12:16 Revelation 21:27 Exodus 20:25 Leviticus 10:10 Leviticus 18:21 Leviticus 19:12 Leviticus 19:29 Leviticus 20:3 Leviticus 21:4 Leviticus 21:6 Leviticus 21:7 Leviticus 21:9 Leviticus 21:12 Leviticus 21:14 Leviticus 21:15 Leviticus 21:23 Leviticus 22:2 Leviticus 22:9 Leviticus 22:15 Leviticus 22:32 Numbers 18:32 Numbers 35:33 Nehemiah 13:17 Job 8:13 Job 13:16 Job 15:34 Job 17:8 Job 20:5 Job 27:8 Job 34:30 Job 36:13 Psalms 35:16 Psalms 89:31 Psalms 89:34 Proverbs 30:9 Isaiah 9:17 Isaiah 10:6 Isaiah 23:9 Isaiah 33:14 Isaiah 43:28 Isaiah 56:6 Jeremiah 23:11 Ezekiel 7:21 Ezekiel 7:22 Ezekiel 13:19 Ezekiel 20:39 Ezekiel 21:25 Ezekiel 22:16 Ezekiel 22:26 Ezekiel 23:39 Ezekiel 24:21 Ezekiel 28:16 Ezekiel 39:7 Ezekiel 42:20 Ezekiel 44:7 Ezekiel 44:23 Ezekiel 48:15 Daniel 11:31 Amos 2:7 Zephaniah 3:4 Malachi 1:12 Malachi 2:10 Subtopics Related Terms Nergalsharezer (2 Occurrences) |