Slanderers.
The words “slander,” “slanders,” “slanderers,” “slandereth,” and “slandered” occur 8 times in the Bible (Numbers 14:36; 2 Samuel 19:27; Psalm 31:13; 101:5; Proverbs 10:18; Jeremiah 6:28; 9:4; 1 Timothy 3:11). The Hebrew word dibbah means evil speaking, lashan means to lick, to wag the tongue, and accuse, and rakyil means a scandal monger. The Greek word is diabolos and it is translated “devil” and “false accusers” (2 Timothy 3:3; Titus 2:3). Slanderers then are devil talkers. What are some common characteristics of slanderers?
Slanderers work in the realm of untruth (cf. Proverbs 10:18). Such is of no surprise since they talk like their father (cf. John 8:44). The most harmful slanderers are the ones who tell outright lies, spreading false tales to others about others. Such an action was a sin under the Law of Moses (Deuteronomy 19:16-19). Others may only subtly hint at untruths, but they are just as destructive, for they may not share vital information or add details in their story to fit their narrative. They may say:
“Well, I don’t know if this is true but…”
“This person is doing____; now I’m not 100% sure, don’t quote me on that.”
While they appear to be concerned and godly, they seek to destroy another’s reputation and character by their devilish lies.
Slanderers work in the realm of maligning (Romans 1:29-30). Interestingly, Paul lists malignity, whisperers, and backbiters in a line. The word comes from kakoētheia and it “consists in misinterpreting the words or actions of others, or putting the worst construction on their conduct.”[1] Slanderers run with a whisper and concoct a whole book out of it. They fail to do adequate research and always place the worst connotations on someone by saying, “I bet he is doing this…,” or “I’m sure she meant…” They always look for something negative in every situation and when they find that bit of information, despite the evidence against it (cf. Proverbs 16:27), they take it and run. Some just have a record of making inadequate, slanderous judgements.[2] Israel (Numbers 14:36; cf. 13:26-33), Haman (Esther 3:5-10), the adversaries of God’s people (Ezra 4:1-16), or the elders (Matthew 28:13) are examples.
Slanderers work in the realm of destroying people. Solomon said, “A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow” (Proverbs 25:18). David acknowledged the slanderers “devised to take away my life” (Psalm 31:13). These ones wait so anxiously, watch so closely, and jump so quickly when the person of interest falls, and they excitedly take their actions to the world (Jeremiah 20:10). A Japanese proverb says that although the tongue is only three inches long it can slay a man six feet high. Gossip hurts the slander, the one being slandered, and the one to whom the slander is being told to. "According to the Chicago Tribune, on May 9, 1994, a group of fourth graders at Fuller school on the south side of Chicago accused their substitute teacher of sexually molesting them. By this afternoon the school board promised to bring in counselors for the children. By evening the story was all over the news broadcasts. But the next day police investigators came and interviewed fourteen of the children, and authorities determined the charges were false. Apparently, the children made their false accusations because the substitute teacher threatened to report their unruliness…The teachers union president said that exonerating the teacher doesn’t always make everything better. ‘What usually happens,’ he said, ‘when a person is accused of this king of thing, it they’re exonerated by the board publicly, but then later, quietly, they’re let go.”[3]
“Is slander that big of a deal” one little boy asked his father. His father responded with a old tale: “One such man had told so many malicious untruths about the local rabbi that, overcome by remorse, he begged the rabbi to forgive him. ‘And, Rabbi, tell me how I can make amends.’ The rabbi sighed, ‘Take two pillows, go to the public square and there cut the pillows open. Wave them in the air. Then come back.’ The rumormonger quickly went home, got two pillows and a knife, hastened to the square, cut the pillows open, waved them in the air and hastened back to the rabbi's chambers. "I did just what you said, Rabbi!’ ‘Good.’ The rabbi smiled. ‘Now, to realize how much harm is done by gossip, go back to the square...’ ‘And?’ ‘And collect all your feathers.’”[4]
Truly death and life are in the power of the tongue (Proverbs 18:21). Stay away from slandering.
Busybodies.
The words “busybody” and “busybodies” occur three times in the New Testament (2 Thessalonians 3:11; 1 Timothy 5:13; 1 Peter 4:15). In each verse is a different Greek word.
periergazomai- Thayer says, “to bustle about uselessly, to busy one’s self about trifling, needless, useless matters…used apparently of a person officiously inquisitive about other’s affairs.” Here it is a verb.
periergos- It describes a person busy in useless matters, in other people’s affairs.
allotriepiskopos-Vincent says, “one who usurps authority in matters not within his province.” Barnes writes: “one who busies himself with what does not concern him; that is, one who pries into the affairs of another; who attempts to control or direct them as if they were his own.”
A busybody is a person who is busy about other people’s business, when they should be busy about their own business. Usually busybodies are gossips, for they love to share the information they have gathered and seek to gain more information by listening to gossip.
A busybody is lazy (2 Thessalonians 3:6-11). Paul wrote to the Thessalonians about work; some did not want to use their hands. These idle persons were busybodies who were working with their mouths for evil instead of using their hands for good. Because of their sin, Paul admonished that they be withdrawn from (2 Thessalonians 3:14-15). Busybodies have much time on their hands because they refuse to be busy about doing the work of Jesus.
A busybody is involved in matters that do not concern him (1 Timothy 5:13). The women in Paul’s day went from house to house “speaking things which they ought not.” Busybodies want to know everything about everyone. These people involve themselves in the personal lives, sins, and actions of others in which they do not have any part. They must always be in the know and they believe they have a right to talk about what they do know (and sometimes what they do not). Peter was a busybody in John 21:21-22.
A busybody attempts to enforce rule upon matters with which he has no business (1 Peter 4:15). Busybodies believe they can usurp authority of others or have authority in matters they have no business in. The Greek word in 1 Peter 4:15 is the word for overseer. Busybodies enforce opinions are as doctrine.
“this is the only way to do it.”
“that way is not right.”
“my way or the high way.”
They criticize the work of others saying “you should do this or that” and yet they fail to take the responsibility upon themselves. They do not have a respect for boundaries.[5] These are manipulative sneaks who attempt to usurp authority and put down others.
Stay away from busybodying.
Scripture is abundantly clear about the definitions and detriment of gossip. Let us stay away from it at all costs!
Endnotes
[1]Albert Barnes.
[2]Lost Source.
[3]Craig Brian Larson, 750 Engaging Illustrations, for Preachers, Teachers, and Writers, Baker Books, 2007, p. 517.
[5]Victor Eskew, The Sin of Being a Busybody
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