Slander

Slander [NAVE]

SLANDER
Comes from the evil heart, Luke 6:45.
Often arises from hatred, Psa. 109:3.
Idleness leads to, 1 Tim. 5:13.
The wicked addicted to, Psa. 50:20.
Hypocrites addicted to, Prov. 11:9.
A characteristic of the devil, Rev. 12:10.
The wicked love, Psa. 52:4.
they who indulge in, are fools, Prov. 10:18.
Women warned against, Tit. 2:3.
Ministers' wives should avoid, 1 Tim. 3:11.
Christ was exposed to, Psa. 35:11; Matt. 26:60.
Rulers exposed to, Jude 8.
Ministers exposed to, Rom. 3:8; 2 Cor. 6:8.
The nearest relations exposed to, Psa. 50:20.
Saints exposed to, Psa. 38:12; 109:2; 1 Pet. 4:4.
Saints should keep their tongues from, Psa. 34:13, with 1 Pet. 3:10; should lay aside, Eph. 4:31; should be warned against, Tit. 3:1, 2; should give no occasion for, 1 Pet. 2:12; 3:16; should return good for, 1 Cor. 4:13; blessed in enduring, Matt. 5:11; characterized as avoiding, Psa. 15:1, 3.
Should not be listened to, 1 Sam. 24:9; causes anger, Prov. 25:23.
Effects of: Separating friends, Prov. 16:28; 17:9; deadly wounds, Prov. 18:8; 26:22; strife, Prov. 26:20; discord among brethren, Prov. 6:19; murder, Psa. 31:13; Ezek. 22:9.
The tongue of, is a scourge, Job 5:21; is venomous, Psa. 140:3; Eccl. 10:11; is destructive, Prov. 11:9.
End of, is mischievous madness, Eccl. 10:13.
Men shall give account for, Matt. 12:36.
Punishment for, Deut. 19:16-21. - Bible Text-Book.
Unclassified Scriptures Relating to
Ex. 23:1; Deut. 22:13-19; Job 5:21; Psa. 41:6-9; Psa. 50:20; Psa. 101:5; Prov. 10:18; Prov. 25:23; Jer. 6:28; Jer. 9:4; Rom. 1:29, 30; 1 Cor. 4:13; 1 Cor. 6:10; 2 cor. 12:20; Jas. 4:11; 1 Pet. 2:1; 2 Pet. 2:10
Instances of
Joseph, by Potiphar's wife, Gen. 39:14-18.
Land of Canaan misrepresented by the spies, Num. 14:36.
Of Mephibosheth, by Ziba, 2 Sam. 16:3; 19:24-30.
Of David, by his enemies, Psa. 31:13; 35:21; 41:5; 64:3; 140:3.
Of Naboth, by Jezebel, 1 Kin. 21:9-14.
Of Jeremiah, by the Jews, Jer. 18:18.
Of Jesus, by the Jews falsely charging that he was a drunkard, Matt. 11:19; that he blasphemed, Mark 14:64; John 5:18; that he had a devil, John 8:48, 52; 10:20; that he was seditious, Luke 22:65; 23:5; that he was a king, Luke 23:2; John 18:37, with John 19:1-5.
Of Paul, See: Paul.
See: Accusation, False; Backbiting; Blasphemy; Railing Lies and Deceits, False Witness; Speaking, Evil.

SLANDER [ISBE]

SLANDER - slan'-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 (compare Mt 5:11); but it may be a truth circulated insidiously and with a hostile purpose (e.g. Dan 3:8, "brought accusation against," where Septuagint has diaballo, "slander"; Lk 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 (Lev 19:16; Ezek 22:9). There are repeated warnings against evil-speaking (as in Ps 34:13; Prov 15:28; Eph 4:31; Col 3:8; Jas 4:11; 1 Pet 3:10), which is the cause of so much strife between man and man (Prov 16:27-30), and which recoils on the speaker himself to his destruction (Ps 101:5; 140:11). Especially is false witness, which is "slander carried into a court of justice," to be condemned and punished (Ex 20:16; Dt 19:16-21; compare Prov 12:17; 14:5,25; 19:5; 21:28; 24:28). Special cases of slander more than usually mean are when a wife's chastity is falsely impeached by her husband (Dt 22:13-19), and when one slanders a servant to his master (Prov 30:10). Even a land may be slandered as well as persons (Nu 14:36). Slanderers and backbiters are mentioned in some of Paul's darkest catalogues of evildoers (Rom 1:29,30; 2 Cor 12:20; 2 Tim 3:3). To refrain from slander is an important qualification for citizenship in theocracy (Ps 15:1,3; 24:3,4) and for a place in the Christian church (1 Tim 3:11; Tit 2:3). Jesus Himself was the victim of slanders (Mt 11:19) and of false testimony (Mt 27:63). The apostles, too, came in for a full share of it (e.g. Acts 24:5 f; 28:22; 2 Cor 6:8). In the case of Paul, even his central doctrine of justification was "slanderously reported" as if it encouraged immorality (Rom 3:8). The devil (= "the calumniator") is represented as the great accuser of God's people (Rev 12:10), the slanderer paragraph excellence (compare Job 1:9-11; Zec 3:1).

See also CRIMES; PUNISHMENTS.

D. Miall Edwards