Bible Dictionary
Evil-speaking
Evil-speaking means speaking against others in a way that damages their reputation, including backbiting, slander, railing, and detraction. Scripture repeatedly forbids it as contrary to Christian conduct.
Definition
Evil-speaking is speech directed against another in a way that injures the person’s good name. It includes backbiting, detraction, slander, railing, and speaking hurtfully against others.
Biblical Usage
The New Testament repeatedly forbids evil-speaking and treats it as incompatible with Christian conduct. Believers are commanded to avoid such speech and to put away railing, blasphemy, and speaking against others.
Historical Background
The biblical expressions include words meaning speaking against, backbiting, detraction, slander, and speaking evil. The wrong condemned is chiefly speech that damages reputation.
Scripture References
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Is expressly forbidden (Titus 3:2; James 4:11), and severe punishments are denounced against it (1 Cor. 5:11; 6:10). It is spoken of also with abhorrence (Ps. 15:3; Prov. 18:6, 7), and is foreign to the whole Christian character and the example of Christ.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>e-v'-l-spek'-ing:</p><p>Occurs twice in English Versions:</p><p>(1) 1Pe 2:1 it is the translation of katalalia, "a speaking against," rendered "backbiting" in 2Co 12:20; compare katalalos, "backbiter" (Ro 1:30); the verb katalaleo is rendered to "speak against" (1Pe 2:12; Jas 4:11; 1Pe 3:16);</p><p>(2) of blasphemia, "what is hurtful to the good name of anyone," "detraction," "slander" (Eph 4:31 the Revised Version (British and American), "railing"; compare 1Ti 6:4; Jude 1:9; Col 3:8); the verb blasphemeo is rendered to "speak evil of" (Ro 14:16; 1Co 10:30; Tit 3:2, etc.); to "speak evil" occurs in Mr 9:39 as the translation of kakologeo, "lightly (the Revised Version (British and American) "quickly") speak evil of me"; Ac 19:9 the King James Version "spake evil of that way." In Ps 140:11, we have "evil-speaker" as the translation of 'ish lashon, "a man of tongue"; so the Revised Version (British and American). The wrong thing condemned as evil-speaking seems to be essentially detraction, what is hurtful to the reputation, and it is often too lightly regarded even among Christians.</p><p>See BLASPHEMY; RAILING; SLANDER.</p><p>W. L. Walker</p>