Profane

Profane (חָנִŠ, chandph, Jer 23:11; βέβηλος, Heb 12:16). To profane is to put holy things to vile or common uses; as the money- changers did the Temple, by converting a part of it into a place of business (Mt 21:12), and as those do who allow secular occupations to engross any part of the Sabbath under the old, or of the Lord's day under the new dispensation (Ex 20:8-10). Esau, for despising his birthright and its privileges, is styled by the apostle "a profane person" (Heb 12:16). The term is also used in opposition to holy. Thus the general history of ancient nations is styled profane, as distinguished from that contained in the Bible; profane writings are such as have been composed by heathens, in contradistinction from the sacred books of Scripture, and the writings of Christian authors on sacred subjects.

⇒Bible concordance for PROFANITY.

⇒Definition of profane

⇒See also the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia.