Topical Encyclopedia
In the context of the Bible, the term "tale" can refer to a account, account, or report, often with implications of falsehood or exaggeration. The use of "tale" in Scripture can be seen in various contexts, ranging from the recounting of events to the spreading of rumors or falsehoods.
Old Testament UsageIn the Old Testament, the Hebrew word often translated as "tale" is "sippur," which can mean a account or account. However, the term can also carry a negative connotation, as seen in the context of gossip or slander. For example, in
Exodus 23:1, the Israelites are instructed, "You shall not spread a false report. Do not join the wicked by being a malicious witness." Here, the spreading of a false report can be understood as the telling of a false tale.
Another Hebrew word, "dibbah," is used in a similar context, often translated as "slander" or "bad report." In
Numbers 13:32, the spies sent to Canaan return with a "bad report" about the land, which discourages the Israelites. This "bad report" can be seen as a tale that is not entirely truthful, as it contradicts God's promise to give them the land.
New Testament UsageIn the New Testament, the Greek word "muthos" is sometimes translated as "tale" or "myth." This term is used in a cautionary sense, warning against the acceptance of false teachings or accounts. In
2 Timothy 4:4, Paul warns, "So they will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths." Here, "myths" or "tales" are seen as false teachings that lead people away from the truth of the Gospel.
Moral and Ethical ImplicationsThe Bible consistently warns against the spreading of false tales, emphasizing the importance of truthfulness and integrity.
Proverbs 12:22 states, "Lying lips are detestable to the LORD, but those who deal faithfully are His delight." This underscores the moral imperative to avoid falsehoods and to speak truthfully.
The spreading of tales, particularly those that are false or misleading, is often associated with gossip and slander, which are condemned in Scripture.
Proverbs 16:28 warns, "A perverse man spreads dissension, and a gossip separates close friends." The destructive power of tales, when used to deceive or harm, is a recurring theme in biblical teachings.
Cultural and Historical ContextIn ancient cultures, storytelling was a primary means of communication and education. While tales could be used to convey important truths and cultural values, they could also be manipulated to deceive or control. The biblical admonitions against false tales reflect a broader concern for maintaining truth and justice within the community.
ConclusionThe concept of a "tale" in the Bible serves as a reminder of the power of words and the responsibility to use them wisely. Whether recounting history, sharing news, or teaching others, the integrity of the message is paramount. The biblical narrative consistently upholds truth as a divine attribute and a foundational principle for righteous living.
Easton's Bible Dictionary
(1.) Hebrews tokhen, "a task," as weighed and measured out = tally, i.e., the number told off; the full number (Exodus 5:18; see1 Samuel 18:27;1 Chronicles 9:28). InEzek. 45:11 rendered "measure."
(2.) Hebrews hegeh, "a thought;" "meditation" (Psalm 90:9); meaning properly "as a whisper of sadness," which is soon over, or "as a thought." The LXX. and Vulgate render it "spider;" the Authorized Version and Revised Version, "as a tale" that is told. InJob 37:2 this word is rendered "sound;" Revised Version margin, "muttering;" and inEzek. 2:10, "mourning."
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) See Tael.
2. (v. i.) That which is told; an oral relation or recital; any rehearsal of what has occurred; narrative; discourse; statement; history; story.
3. (n.) A number told or counted off; a reckoning by count; an enumeration; a count, in distinction from measure or weight; a number reckoned or stated.
4. (n.) A count or declaration.
5. (v. i.) To tell stories.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
TALEtal (tokhen, mithkoneth, micpar; leros): In the King James Version of the Old Testament (with one exception,Psalm 90:9) "tale" (in the sing.) means number. "Tell" often has the same meaning, e.g. "I may tell (i.e. reckon) all my bones" (Psalm 22:17). When Moses requested permission to go three days' journey into the wilderness to sacrifice to Yahweh, Pharaoh replied by demanding the full "tale" of bricks from the Israelites although they were compelled to provide themselves with straw (Exodus 5:8, 18; see also1 Samuel 18:271 Chronicles 9:28). InPsalm 90:9, "as a tale that is told" is a doubtful rendering (see GAMES). The Septuagint and the Vulgate (Jerome's Latin Bible, 390-405 A.D.) render "as a spider's web." The literal and perhaps accurate translation is "as a sigh" (Driver, in the Parallel Psalter, gives "as a murmur"). The word used in this psalm means "to whisper," or "speak sotto voce," as a devout believer repeats to himself the words of a favorite hymn or passage (Psalm 1:2).
The disciples considered the account given by the women in regard to the resurrection as "idle tales" (the King James Version, the Revised Version (British and American) "idle talk"), literally, "nonsensical talk" (Luke 24:11).
In talebearer the word has another meaning, namely, "slanderous talk or gossip." The word occurs 5 times inProverbs 11:13;Proverbs 18:8;Proverbs 20:19;Proverbs 26:20, 22 (the King James Version) and once in Leviticus (19:16). The word used in Leviticus and also inProverbs 20:19 means a person who gads about from house to house hawking malicious gossip (compare1 Timothy 5:13). From the same root comes the Hebrew word for "merchant." InEzekiel 22:9 for the King James Version "men that carry tales" the Revised Version (British and American) gives "slanderous men," as Doeg (1 Samuel 22:9, 22); Ziba (2 Samuel 16:3;2 Samuel 19:27); and a certain maid-servant (2 Samuel 17:17).
SeeSLANDER.
T. Lewis
Greek
3454. muthos -- a speech, story, ie a fable... story, ie a fable. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: muthos Phonetic
Spelling: (moo'-thos) Short Definition: an idle
tale, fable Definition: an
...3026. leros -- silly talk
... word Definition silly talk NASB Word Usage nonsense (1). idletale. Apparently
a primary word; twaddle, ie An incredible story -- idletale....
1126. graodes -- characteristic of old women, anile
... denoting similarity) Definition characteristic of old women, anile NASB
Word Usage fit only (1), old women (1). silly, wives'tale....
Strong's Hebrew
8506. token -- a measurement... quota (1). measure,
tale. From takan; a fixed quantity -- measure,
tale. see
HEBREW takan. 8505, 8506. token. 8507 . Strong's Numbers.
4557. mispar -- number, tally
... time* (1). abundance, account, all, infinite,tale, telling, time. From caphar;
a number, definite (arithmetical) or indefinite (large...
4971. mathkoneth -- measurement, tally, proportion
... quota (1), specifications (1), standard (1). composition, measure, state,
tale. Or mathkuneth {math-koo'-neth}; from takan in the...
1899. hegeh -- a rumbling, growling, moaning
... mourning, sound,tale. From hagah; a muttering (in sighing, thought, or as thunder) --
mourning, sound,tale. see HEBREW hagah. 1898, 1899. hegeh. 1900 ....
8510. tel -- a mound
... 8509, 8510. tel. 8511 . a mound. Transliteration: tel Phonetic Spelling:
(tale) Short Definition: heap. Word Origin from an unused...
4390. male -- to be full, to fill
... accomplish, confirm, + consecrate, be at an end, be expired, be fenced, fill, fulfil,
(be, become, X draw, give in, go) full(-ly, -ly set,tale), (over-)flow...
1980. halak -- to go, come, walk
... X more and more, move (self), needs, on, pass (away), be at the point, quite, run
(along), + send, speedily, spread, still, surely, +tale-bearer, + travel(-ler...
8521. Tel Charsha -- "mound of a craftsman," a city in Babylon
... Tel Charsha. 8522 . "mound of a craftsman," a city in Babylon. Transliteration:
Tel Charsha Phonetic Spelling: (tale khar-shaw') Short Definition: Tel-harsha....
8512. Tel Abib -- "hill of grain," a place in Babylon
... 8511, 8512. Tel Abib. 8513 . "hill of grain," a place in Babylon. Transliteration:
Tel Abib Phonetic Spelling: (tale aw-beeb') Short Definition: Tel-abib....
988. batal -- to cease
... 987, 988. batal. 989 . to cease. Transliteration: batal Phonetic Spelling:
(baw-tale') Short Definition: idle. Word Origin a prim....
Library
Gathering Clouds: ATale of the Days of St. Chrysostom
Gathering Clouds: ATale of the Days of St. Chrysostom. <. Gathering Clouds:
ATale of the Days of St. Chrysostom Frederic William Farrar....
ATale About Words
... ATALE ABOUT WORDS.... This fairy-tale comes from France, and it is told by Katherine
Pyle in her book, "Fairy-Tales from Many Lands." A widow had two daughters....
WhetherTale-Bearing is a Sin Distinct from Backbiting?
... OFTALE-BEARING [*'Susurratio,' ie whispering] (TWO ARTICLES) Whether
tale-bearing is a sin distinct from backbiting? Objection...
Whether Backbiting is a Graver Sin thanTale-Bearing?
... OFTALE-BEARING [*'Susurratio,' ie whispering] (TWO ARTICLES) Whether
backbiting is a graver sin thantale-bearing? Objection 1: It...
OfTale-Bearing [*'susurratio,' IE Whispering] (Two Articles)
... OFTALE-BEARING [*'Susurratio,' ie whispering] (TWO ARTICLES). We must now consider
tale-bearing: under which head there are two points of inquiry:...
Life aTale
... LIFE ATALE. We spend our years as atale that is told. Psalm 90:9. We bring
our years to an end like a thought, is the proper rendering...
ThatTale-Bearers are Accursed.
... Third Book. 110. Thattale-bearers are accursed. In Ecclesiasticus, in Solomon:
"The talebearer and the double-tongued is accursed...
Gathering Clouds: ATale of the Days of St. Chrysostom
Gathering Clouds: ATale of the Days of St. Chrysostom. <.... Title Page. GATHERING
CLOUDS ATALE OF THE DAYS OF ST. CHRYSOSTOM. BY THE SAME AUTHOR....
Preface
... Everywhere, everywhere,. Atale is told to me". It is told in the sunny air,.... The
tale is told to me,. The sweetesttale and the best. Of all the tales that be....
Light.
... What makes thistale the good news? Is everything in the story of Christ's life
on earth good news?... What makes it fit, I repeat, to call thetale good news?...
Thesaurus
Tale (7 Occurrences)... and Vulgate render it "spider;" the Authorized Version and Revised Version,
"as a
tale" that is told.
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.
TALE.
...Tale-bearer (7 Occurrences)
Tale-bearer. Talebearer,Tale-bearer. Talebearers . Multi-Version
ConcordanceTale-bearer (7 Occurrences). Leviticus...
Talebearer (8 Occurrences)
Slander (34 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) A falsetale or report maliciously uttered, tending to injure the reputation
of another; the malicious utterance of defamatory reports; the...
Self-inflicted (2 Occurrences)
... Proverbs 18:8 The words of atale-bearer 'are' as self-inflicted wounds, And
they have gone down 'to' the inner parts of the heart. (YLT)....
Judith (1 Occurrence)
... Though atale of Jewish patriotism written originally in Hebrew, this book was never
admitted into the Hebrew Canon, and the same applies to the Book of Tobit....
Story (92 Occurrences)
... 3. (n.) The relation of an incident or minor event; a short narrative; atale;
especially, a fictitious narrative less elaborate than a novel; a short romance....
Tobit
... sources, Biblical and non-Biblical, and he shows no regard for correctness of facts
so long as he succeeds in making the teaching clear and thetale interesting...
Anaharath (1 Occurrence)
... sources, Biblical and non-Biblical, and he shows no regard for correctness of facts
so long as he succeeds in making the teaching clear and thetale interesting...
Resources
Is the Bible a fairy tale? | GotQuestions.orgThe Atheist Fairy Tale | GotQuestions.orgIs it possible to sell your soul to the devil? | GotQuestions.orgTale: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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