Topical Encyclopedia
Definition and Nature:Slander is the act of making false and damaging statements about someone, with the intent to harm their reputation. It is considered a serious sin in the Bible, as it not only injures the person being spoken about but also reflects a corrupt heart and a lack of love for one's neighbor. Slander is often associated with gossip, deceit, and malice, and is condemned throughout Scripture.
Biblical References:1.
Old Testament:·
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."
·
Proverbs 10:18 · "The one who conceals hatred has lying lips, and whoever spreads slander is a fool."
·
Psalm 101:5 · "Whoever slanders his neighbor in secret, I will put to silence; whoever has haughty eyes and a proud heart, I will not tolerate."
2.
New Testament:·
Ephesians 4:31 · "Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, outcry and slander, along with every form of malice."
·
James 4:11 · "Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it."
·
1 Peter 2:1 · "Rid yourselves, therefore, of all malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander."
Theological Implications:Slander is a violation of the commandment to love one's neighbor as oneself (
Matthew 22:39). It is an expression of the sinful nature that believers are called to put off (
Colossians 3:8). Slander not only harms the individual being spoken about but also disrupts the unity and fellowship within the body of Christ. It is a tool of the enemy, used to sow discord and division among believers.
Moral and Ethical Considerations:Christians are called to speak truthfully and lovingly, building each other up rather than tearing each other down (
Ephesians 4:29). The tongue, though small, has the power to cause great harm, and believers are urged to control it (
James 3:5-6). Slander is a reflection of a heart that is not aligned with God's will, and it is a behavior that must be repented of and forsaken.
Practical Applications:Believers are encouraged to examine their speech and ensure that it aligns with the teachings of Christ. This includes refraining from spreading rumors, speaking ill of others, or engaging in conversations that could damage someone's reputation. Instead, Christians are to speak words that are edifying, truthful, and reflective of the love of Christ. In situations where slander has occurred, it is important to seek forgiveness and reconciliation, both with God and with those who have been wronged.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) A false tale or report maliciously uttered, tending to injure the reputation of another; the malicious utterance of defamatory reports; the dissemination of malicious tales or suggestions to the injury of another.
2. (n.) Disgrace; reproach; dishonor; opprobrium.
3. (n.) Formerly, defamation generally, whether oral or written; in modern usage, defamation by words spoken; utterance of false, malicious, and defamatory words, tending to the damage and derogation of another; calumny.
4. (v. t.) To defame; to injure by maliciously uttering a false report; to tarnish or impair the reputation of by false tales maliciously told or propagated; to calumniate.
5. (v. t.) To bring discredit or shame upon by one's acts.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
SLANDERslan'-der (substantive, dibbah, "slander"; diabolos, "slanderer"; verb raghal, "to slink about" as a talebearer, lashan, "to use the tongue," "to slander"; diaballo, "to calumniate," "to slander"; and other words): Slander (etymologically a doublet of "scandal," from OFr. esclandre, Latin scandalum, "stumblingblock") is an accusation maliciously uttered, with the purpose or effect of damaging the reputation of another. As a rule it is a false charge (compareMatthew 5:11); but it may be a truth circulated insidiously and with a hostile purpose (e.g.Daniel 3:8, "brought accusation against," where Septuagint has diaballo, "slander";Luke 16:1, the same Greek word). Warnings, condemnations and complaints in reference to this sin are very frequent, both in the Old Testament and New Testament. Mischievous "tale-bearing" or "whispering" is condemned (Leviticus 19:16Ezekiel 22:9). There are repeated warnings against evil-speaking (as inPsalm 34:13Proverbs 15:28Ephesians 4:31Colossians 3:8James 4:111 Peter 3:10), which is the cause of so much strife between man and man (Proverbs 16:27-30), and which recoils on the speaker himself to his destruction (Psalm 101:5;Psalm 140:11). Especially is false witness, which is "slander carried into a court of justice," to be condemned and punished (Exodus 20:16Deuteronomy 19:16-21; compareProverbs 12:17;Proverbs 14:5, 25; 19:05; 21:28; 24:28). Special cases of slander more than usually mean are when a wife's chastity is falsely impeached by her husband (Deuteronomy 22:13-19), and when one slanders a servant to his master (Proverbs 30:10). Even a land may be slandered as well as persons (Numbers 14:36). Slanderers and backbiters are mentioned in some of Paul's darkest catalogues of evildoers (Romans 1:29, 302 Corinthians 12:202 Timothy 3:3). To refrain from slander is an important qualification for citizenship in theocracy (Psalm 15:1, 3;Psalm 24:3, 4) and for a place in the Christian church (1 Timothy 3:11Titus 2:3). Jesus Himself was the victim of slanders (Matthew 11:19) and of false testimony (Matthew 27:63). The apostles, too, came in for a full share of it (e.g.Acts 24:5; 28:22:00;2 Corinthians 6:8). In the case of Paul, even his central doctrine of justification was "slanderously reported" as if it encouraged immorality (Romans 3:8). The devil (= "the calumniator") is represented as the great accuser of God's people (Revelation 12:10), the slanderer paragraph excellence (compareJob 1:9-11Zechariah 3:1).
See alsoCRIMES;PUNISHMENTS.
D. Miall Edwards
Greek
988. blasphemia --slander...slander. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: blasphemia Phonetic Spelling:
(blas-fay-me'-ah) Short Definition: abusive or scurrilous language
...987. blasphemeo -- toslander, hence to speak lightly or profanely...
... toslander, hence to speak lightly or profanely of sacred things. Part of Speech:
Verb Transliteration: blasphemeo Phonetic Spelling: (blas-fay-meh'-o) Short...
940. baskaino -- toslander, hence by ext. to bewitch
... 939, 940. baskaino. 941 . toslander, hence by ext.... 5,13, ).]. Word Origin
from baskanos (slanderous) Definition toslander, hence by ext....
2635. katalaleo -- to speak evil of
... of Speech: Verb Transliteration: katalaleo Phonetic Spelling: (kat-al-al-eh'-o)
Short Definition: I speak evil of Definition: I speak evil of, rail at,slander...
1225. diaballo -- to bring charges (usually with hostile intent)
... charges (usually with hostile intent). Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: diaballo
Phonetic Spelling: (dee-ab-al'-lo) Short Definition: Islander, complain of...
2636. katalalia -- evil-speaking
... Phonetic Spelling: (kat-al-al-ee'-ah) Short Definition: evil-speaking, backbiting,
detraction Definition: evil-speaking, backbiting, detraction,slander....
3469. momaomai -- to find fault with
... to find fault with. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: momaomai Phonetic Spelling:
(mo-mah'-om-ahee) Short Definition: I blame,slander Definition: I blame...
5587. psithurismos -- a whispering
... whispering. From a derivative of psithos (a whisper; by implication, aslander;
probably akin to pseudomai); whispering, ie Secret detraction -- whispering....
3570. nuni -- now
... Col 3:8: "But (3570 ) you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice,
slander, and abusive speech from your mouth" (). 3570...
1908. epereazo -- to revile
... mistreat, falsely accuse. From a comparative of epi and (probably) areia (threats);
to insult,slander -- use despitefully, falsely accuse. see GREEK epi....
Strong's Hebrew
3960. lashan -- to use the tongue,slander... 3959, 3960. lashan. 3961 . to use the tongue,
slander. Transliteration: lashan
Phonetic Spelling: (law-shan') Short Definition:
slander.
...7400. rakil --slander
... 7399, 7400. rakil. 7401 .slander. Transliteration: rakil Phonetic Spelling:
(raw-keel') Short Definition: slanderer....slander, carry tales, talebearer....
1681. dibbah -- whispering, defamation, evil report
... Origin from dabab Definition whispering, defamation, evil report NASB Word Usage
bad report (2), bad* (2), evil report (1), report (2),slander (2), whispering...
7270. ragal -- to go about on foot
... Word Origin denominative verb from regel Definition to go about on foot NASB Word
Usageslander (1), slandered (1), spied (3), spies (11), spy (9), taught to...
1848. dophi -- a blemish, fault
... 1847, 1848. dophi. 1849 . a blemish, fault. Transliteration: dophi Phonetic
Spelling: (dof'-ee) Short Definition:slander. Word...
5414. nathan -- to give, put, set
... Requite (2), requited (1), roared loudly* (1), roared* (1), send (4), sends (1),
sent (4), set (74), setting (5), show (2), showed (1),slander* (1), sounds...
561. emer -- speech, word
... from amar Definition speech, word NASB Word Usage arguments (1), chastisement (1),
command (1), decreed (1), promise (1), sayings (4),slander* (1), speech (2...
7170. qerats -- a piece
... accuse. (Aramaic) corresponding to qerets in the sense of a bit (to "eat the morsels
of" any one, ie Chew him up (figuratively) byslander) -- + accuse....
8267. sheqer -- deception, disappointment, falsehood
... hope (1), falsehood (19), falsehoods (1), falsely (19), liar (1), lie (14), lies
(5), lying (12), lying visions (1), perjury* (1),slander* (1), treacherously...
Library
Psalm 31 Part 2 Deliverance fromSlander and Reproach.
... THE PSALMS OF DAVID PSALM 31 PART 2 Deliverance fromslander and reproach.
v.7-13,18-21 CM. Deliverance fromslander and reproach. PAUSE....
The Twenty-Eighth Chapter: Strength againstSlander
... BOOK THREE. INTERNAL CONSOLATION The Twenty-Eighth Chapter: Strength Against
Slander. The Voice of Christ MY CHILD, do not take it...
The Folly ofSlander. Part 1.
... THE FOLLY OFSLANDER. Part 1. "He that utterethslander is a fool.""Proverbs
10:18. General declamations against vice and sin...
The Folly ofSlander. Part 2.
... THE FOLLY OFSLANDER. Part 2. "He that utterethslander is a fool.""Proverbs
10:18. I have formerly in this place, discoursing...
Psalm 31:2. 7-13 18-21. Second Part. Deliverance fromSlander and...
... Deliverance fromslander and reproach.... 4Slander and fear on every side, Seiz'd and
beset me round; I to the throne of grace apply'd, And speedy rescue found....
In the Next Place, as it is his Object toSlander Our Scriptures.....
... Chapter XXXVIII. In the next place, as it is his object toslander our
Scriptures? In the next place, as it is his object toslander...
The Forty-Sixth Chapter: Trust in God againstSlander
... BOOK THREE. INTERNAL CONSOLATION The Forty-Sixth Chapter: Trust in God AgainstSlander.
The Voice of Christ MY CHILD, stand firm and trust in Me....
Ninth Commandment
... Lying"uttering or acting falsehood"andslander"the spreading of false reports tending
to destroy the reputation of another"are two of the most common...
Commandment Second. On Avoiding Evil-Speaking, and on Giving Alms...
... But if you listen, you will partake of the sin of him who speaks evil, if you believe
theslander which you hear; [154] for believing it, you will also have...
The Ninth Commandment
... They raised for aslander of Paul, that he preached Men might do evil that good
might come of it.' We be slanderously reported; and some affirm that we say...
Thesaurus
Slander (34 Occurrences)... 5. (vt) To bring discredit or shame upon by one's acts. Int. Standard Bible
Encyclopedia.
SLANDER. slan'-der (substantive, dibbah, "
slander...Defame
... 1. (vt) Toslander; to harm or destroy the good reputation of; to disgrace; especially,
to speak evil of maliciously; to dishonor by slanderous reports; to...
Defaming (3 Occurrences)
... de-fam', de-fam'-ing: These words occur but twice in the King James Version, and
are translations of dibbah, "slander," from dabhath, "toslander," or spread...
Slandered (8 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) ofSlander. Multi-Version Concordance Slandered
(8 Occurrences). Romans 14:16 Then don't let your good be slandered, (WEB)...
Slanderous (4 Occurrences)
... 1. (a.) Given or disposed toslander; utteringslander. 2. (a.) Embodying or containing
slander; calumnious; as, slanderous words, speeches, or reports....
Uttereth (30 Occurrences)
... 2 Samuel 19:27 and he utterethslander against thy servant unto my lord the king,
and my lord the king 'is' as a messenger of God; and do thou that which is...
Rage (43 Occurrences)
... NIV). Ephesians 4:31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, outcry, andslander,
be put away from you, with all malice. (See NIV). Colossians...
Evilspeaking
... to "speak against" (1 Peter 2:12 James 4:11 1 Peter 3:16); (2) of blasphemia, "what
is hurtful to the good name of anyone," "detraction," "slander" (Ephesians 4...
Evil-speaking (5 Occurrences)
... to "speak against" (1 Peter 2:12 James 4:11 1 Peter 3:16); (2) of blasphemia, "what
is hurtful to the good name of anyone," "detraction," "slander" (Ephesians 4...
Malice (24 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS). Ephesians 4:31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger,
outcry, andslander, be put away from you, with all malice....
Resources
What does the Bible say about slander? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does the Bible say about libel? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does the Bible say about backstabbing? | GotQuestions.orgSlander: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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