MAT 12:31-32

The Unpardonable Sin

31"Therefore I say to you: every failure and slander will be forgiven men, but slander against the Spirit will not be forgiven.

32And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him — neither in this age nor in the coming one."

In the world it was spoken into

In 1st-century Jewish thought, blasphemy was a grave offense, particularly when directed against God or His name. The distinction between blasphemy against the Son of Man and blasphemy against the Holy Spirit reflects a theological hierarchy of divine authority. The Son of Man, a term rooted in Daniel 7:13, was understood as a messianic figure, while the Holy Spirit was seen as God’s active presence and power. For Jesus’ audience, this teaching highlighted the irreversible nature of rejecting the Spirit’s work, which was evident in Jesus’ miracles and teachings. The mention of forgiveness in this age and the coming one underscores the eschatological framework of Jewish expectation, where divine judgment and mercy were ultimate realities. The Pharisees’ attribution of Jesus’ power to Beelzebul (Matt 12:24) exemplified such blasphemy, aligning them with a stance that severed them from God’s redemptive work.

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How other translations render this

MAT 12:31

KJV: Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.
BSB: Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.
Koinōnos: Therefore I say to you: every failure and slander will be forgiven men, but slander against the Spirit will not be forgiven.

MAT 12:32

KJV: 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.
BSB: 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.
Koinōnos: And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him — neither in this age nor in the coming one.

Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.

Where the historical framing draws from

Josephus, WarsWars 2.8.9

›Josephus, Wars Wars 2.8.9

“What they most of all honor, after God himself, is the name of their legislator [Moses], whom if any one blaspheme he is punished capitally.”

Cited to ground: blasphemy was a grave offense, particularly when directed against God or His name.

Translator's notes

MAT 12:31

sin:The word translated 'sin' here refers to a failure or fault, often with the implication of missing the mark or falling short of a standard, rather than just a moral transgression.
blasphemy:The term translated 'blasphemy' carried the sense of speaking evil or slander against someone, particularly against divine authority, and could include defamation or profane speech.
Spirit:The word translated 'Spirit' can also mean 'wind' or 'breath,' carrying a sense of invisible, powerful, and life-giving force, which is often lost in the English translation.

MAT 12:32

present:The word translated 'present' refers to an 'age' or a distinct period of time, implying a specific era with its own characteristics, rather than just the current moment.