James 2:7 Meaning: Who Are 'They' That Blaspheme the Name?

The Greek word behind "blaspheme" (blasphēmeō) means more than cursing God. It carries the sense of slander, reviling, and speaking evil of someone. Here the object is the "good name", and the adjective kalos is richer than our English "honorable." In the ancient world, kalos described something beautiful, excellent, and worthy of admiration. So the name being attacked is not just any name; it is beautiful and excellent, the name of Christ himself.

The phrase "by which you are called" comes from the verb epikaleō, which often referred to a name being invoked or called over someone, as at baptism, when believers were named with the name of the Lord (see also Deuteronomy 28:10 in the Greek Old Testament). This means the honor of that name is tied to your own identity. When someone blasphemes it, they are not only insulting God but also the people who carry that name. James is asking: why would you fawn over people who treat the most precious thing about you with contempt?

Commentators have read this verse with a subtle difference in who "they" refers to. Many, like Matthew Henry and Adam Clarke, see "they" as rich unbelievers, Jewish or pagan persecutors who openly reviled Christ and his followers. Others, including John Gill and the Jamieson-Fausset-Brown commentary, include a second layer: professing Christians whose inconsistent behavior causes the name of Christ to be blasphemed by outsiders. Gill specifically notes that rich Christians who dragged their poor brethren to heathen courts gave the Gentiles occasion to speak evil of the name. Both readings agree on the main point: the name of Christ is being dishonored, directly or indirectly, by the people believers are inclined to honor. The warning stands regardless of which group James primarily intended.

A common misreading assumes the name being blasphemed is simply the label "Christian." In fact, the phrase "the name by which you are called" echoes Old Testament passages where God’s own name is called over his people (Deuteronomy 28:10; Isaiah 4:1). As Calvin notes, the worthy name here is the name of God and of Christ. The blasphemy is against the Lord himself, not just against a human title. This makes the insult far more serious, and the irony of honoring those who commit it even sharper.

This verse asks you to think about whose approval you really want. This week, notice the people you are most eager to please. Is there someone at work, in your neighborhood, or even at church whose opinion matters more than it should? Especially if that person has little respect for Christ or for the people who follow him. James doesn't tell you to be rude to anyone, he calls you to stop chasing the favor of people who insult the name you bear. You can be kind without being eager. Let your loyalty to Christ shape who you honor, not the other way around.