Gossip

How Nave’s arranged it

• FORBIDDENLeviticus 19:16Psalms 50:20Proverbs 11:13Proverbs 20:19Ezekiel 22:9
• See Slander
• See Speaking, Evil

The passages, in Bible order (5)

The same references, sorted Genesis to Revelation. The first 5 are quoted in full; the rest are one click beneath them, book by book.

1. Leviticus 19:16

   You must not go about spreading slander among your people. You must not endanger the life of your neighbor. I am the LORD.

   ›Commentary on Leviticus 19:161 voice

   “Thou shalt not go up and down as a tale-bearer - רכיל rachil signifies a trader, a peddler, and is here applied to the person who travels about dealing in scandal and calumny, getting the secrets of every person and family, and retailing them wherever he goes. A more despicable character exists not: such a person is a pest to society, and should be exiled from the habitations of men.

   Everything gathered on Leviticus 19:16→

   Verse page →Original language →

2. Psalms 50:20

   You sit and malign your brother; you slander your own mother’s son.

   ›Commentary on Psalms 50:202 voices

   “Thou sittest and speakest against thy brother. He sits down to it, makes it his meat, studies it, resolves upon it, becomes a master of defamation, occupies the chair of calumny. His nearest friend is not safe, his dearest relative escapes not. Thou slanderest thine own mother's son. He ought to love him best, but he has an ill word for him. The son of one's own mother was to the Oriental a very tender relation; but the wretched slanderer knows no claims of kindred.

   “They are unworthy to use even the words of God's law. Their hypocrisy and vice are exposed by illustrations from sins against the seventh, eighth, and ninth commandments. God, no longer (even in appearance) disregarding such, exposes their sins and threatens a terrible punishment.

   Everything gathered on Psalms 50:20→

   Verse page →Original language →

3. Proverbs 11:13

   A gossip reveals a secret, but a trustworthy person keeps a confidence.

   ›Commentary on Proverbs 11:132 voices

   "He who walks prudently reveals secrets," etc. And the Lord in the Gospel, "If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone; if he listens to you, you have gained your brother," etc. (Matt. XVIII). From this, …

   “The man who comes to us with tales about others will reveal our secrets also. Faithfulness is shown, not only in doing what a man has been commissioned to do, but in doing it quietly and without garrulity.

   Everything gathered on Proverbs 11:13→

   Verse page →Original language →

4. Proverbs 20:19

   He who reveals secrets is a constant gossip; avoid the one who babbles with his lips.

   ›Commentary on Proverbs 20:191 voice

   “Flattereth - literally, “The man who opens his lips,” who has no reticence; such a man, with or without intending it, does the work of a talebearer.

   Everything gathered on Proverbs 20:19→

   Verse page →Original language →

5. Ezekiel 22:9

   Among you are slanderous men bent on bloodshed; within you are those who eat on the mountain shrines and commit acts of indecency.

   ›Commentary on Ezekiel 22:91 voice

   “In thee are men that carry tales to shed blood,.... Innocent blood, as the Targum; such who go from house to house, as pedlars do, with their wares or spices, as the word (a) signifies; hence the Syriac version renders it "merchants"; and carry tales and lies of innocent persons, and stir up others against them to wrath and revenge, and shed their blood; or that go to the courts of judicature, and there accuse innocent persons, and bear false witness against them, to the taking away of their lives.

   Everything gathered on Ezekiel 22:9→

   Verse page →Original language →