Bible Strands
Matthew 12:32
Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the one to come.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Jesus addresses this warning to His immediate listeners in Matthew 12, placing it directly after the blasphemy declaration and before the tree-fruit teaching.
The words — εἴπῃ (eipē) = shall speak and λόγον (logon) = a word establish the conditional utterance that determines whether forgiveness applies.
The thread — Mark 3:29 states that whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven and is guilty of eternal sin. Hebrews 10:26 states that for those who sin deliberately after receiving knowledge of the truth, no further sacrifice for sins is left.
Why it lands — The text distinguishes between forgivable speech against the Son of Man and unforgivable speech against the Holy Spirit across both ages. It requires the reader to acknowledge that rejection of the Spirit’s testimony carries absolute finality, while other offenses remain within the scope of forgiveness.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.
Cross-references
- Mark 3:29 But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of eternal sin.”
- Hebrews 10:26 If we deliberately go on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no further sacrifice for sins remains,
- Hebrews 6:4 It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit,
- Matthew 12:31 Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.
- Luke 12:10 And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.
- John 7:39 He was speaking about the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were later to receive. For the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet been glorified.
- 1 Timothy 1:13 I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a violent man; yet because I had acted in ignorance and unbelief, I was shown mercy.
- Acts 3:19 Repent, then, and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped away,
- Titus 2:12 It instructs us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live sensible, upright, and godly lives in the present age,
- Job 36:13 The godless in heart harbor resentment; even when He binds them, they do not cry for help.