And he that blasphemeth the name of the Lord, dying let him die. All the multitude shall stone him, whether he be a native or a stranger. He that blasphemeth the name of the Lord, dying let him die.
וְנֹקֵ֤ב שֵׁם־יְהוָה֙ מ֣וֹת יוּמָ֔ת רָג֥וֹם יִרְגְּמוּ־ב֖וֹ כָּל־הָעֵדָ֑ה כַּגֵּר֙ כָּֽאֶזְרָ֔ח בְּנָקְבוֹ־שֵׁ֖ם יוּמָֽת׃
2 Church Fathers comment on this verse
Those who profane the name of the Lord shall be put to death; the entire assembly shall stone them. This refers to individuals who take the name of the one true God and misapply it to false deities. Such an act constitutes an unforgivable sin, warranting the harshest consequence.
How should we interpret the statement, 'Whoever curses his God shall bear sin; but he who calls upon the name of the Lord shall face death?' There was a man who had blasphemed the God of all humanity; however, the edict against blasphemy had not yet been established. Consequently, Moses ordered that he be imprisoned, and the following day he sought the Lord's guidance regarding the punishment for this wicked individual. God commanded that he be stoned, instructing that those who had heard the blasphemy should be the first to cast stones at him. Additionally, God instituted the law against blasphemy. He also referred to a false god, stating that although one who speaks against such a deity sins, He did not deem that individual deserving of death.
It is not a righteous person who sins by speaking ill of a false god but rather the one who believes in him and yet disrespects him, since they dishonor what they themselves uphold. Thus, this kind of blasphemy is condemned not based on the worth of the one being blasphemed, but rather according to the understanding of the blasphemer, because they blaspheme not in reference to a false deity but to the true God. Therefore, anyone who blasphemes the true God was sentenced to be stoned. The commandment against murder should be considered alongside the laws pertaining to blasphemy, for the blasphemer, lacking the authority to take life, seeks to assail the Creator with his words.
Passages read together with this verse.
THEOSIS