Evil-speaking

Evil-speaking [EBD]

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.

EVIL-SPEAKING [ISBE]

EVIL-SPEAKING - e-v'-l-spek'-ing: Occurs twice in English Versions: (1) 1 Pet 2:1 it is the translation of katalalia, "a speaking against," rendered "backbiting" in 2 Cor 12:20; compare katalalos, "backbiter" (Rom 1:30); the verb katalaleo is rendered to "speak against" (1 Pet 2:12; Jas 4:11; 1 Pet 3:16); (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 1 Tim 6:4; Jude 1:9; Col 3:8); the verb blasphemeo is rendered to "speak evil of" (Rom 14:16; 1 Cor 10:30; Tit 3:2, etc.); to "speak evil" occurs in Mk 9:39 as the translation of kakologeo, "lightly (the Revised Version (British and American) "quickly") speak evil of me"; Acts 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.

See BLASPHEMY; RAILING; SLANDER.

W. L. Walker