Protection from Verbal Abuse and Slander in Scripture
The Bible frequently addresses verbal abuse and slander, condemning such speech and offering guidance on how believers should respond to it. Slander is identified as an abomination to God in Proverbs 6:16,19 and is explicitly forbidden in various passages, including Exodus 23:1, Ephesians 4:31, and James 4:11 [1].
Scripture details various forms of harmful speech that fall under the umbrella of slander and verbal abuse. These include whispering (Romans 1:29; 2 Corinthians 12:20), backbiting (Romans 1:30; 2 Corinthians 12:20), evil surmising (1 Timothy 6:4), tale-bearing (Leviticus 19:16), babbling (Ecclesiastes 10:11), tattling (1 Timothy 5:13), evil speaking (Psalm 41:5; 109:20), defaming (Jeremiah 20:10; 1 Corinthians 4:13), and bearing false witness (Exodus 20:16; Deuteronomy 5:20; Luke 3:14) [1]. The tongue's capacity for both blessing and cursing is highlighted, with Adam Clarke noting that while the tongue can praise God and proclaim the Gospel, it is often tragically employed in falsehoods, calumny, or infidelity [9]. John Gill further emphasizes the need to keep the tongue from evil, including speaking ill of God and men, and from all obscene or unchaste language [8].
The Bible also warns against the deceitful nature of slander, describing it as a "deceitful work" (Psalm 52:2) that originates from an "evil heart" (Matthew 15:19; Luke 6:45) [1]. Proverbs 6:24 warns against the "smoothness of the tongue of an adulteress," indicating the deceptive power of words [2]. John Gill interprets this as a warning against the flattery of a "strange woman" [7].
Believers are called to exercise restraint and wisdom in their speech. Psalm 34:13 advises, "Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from deceitful speech" [3]. This principle extends to not raising false reports (Exodus 23:1) or repeating matters (Proverbs 17:9) [1]. The New Testament reinforces these prohibitions, with Titus 3:2 and James 4:11 forbidding "evil-speaking," and severe punishments being denounced against it in 1 Corinthians 5:11 and 6:10 [4]. Such speech is considered foreign to the Christian character and the example of Christ [4].
Despite these prohibitions, the Bible acknowledges that believers will endure reviling and reproach. Christ himself was reviled (Matthew 27:39; Luke 7:34), and saints are expected to endure such treatment for God's sake (Psalm 69:7) and Christ's sake (Luke 6:22) [5]. Matthew Henry, commenting on Psalm 119:22, notes that even David, despite his greatness and goodness, was subject to reproach and contempt, finding such "hard and foul words" grievous [6]. The conduct of Christ under reviling serves as an example for believers (1 Peter 2:23) [5].
Sources
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Slander — An abomination to God -- Pr 6:16,19. Forbidden -- Ex 23:1; Eph 4:31; Jas 4:11. Includes Whispering. -- Ro 1:29; 2Co 12:20. Backbiting. -- Ro 1:30; 2Co 12:20. Evil surmising. -- 1Ti 6:4. Tale-bearing. -- Le 19:16. Babbling. -- Ec 10:11. Tattling. -- 1Ti 5:13. Evil speaking. -- Ps 41:5; 109:20. Defaming. -- Jer 20:10; 1Co 4:13. Bearing false witness. -- Ex 20:16; De 5:20; Lu 3:14. Judging charitably. -- Jas 4:11,12. Raising false reports. -- Ex 23:1. Repeating matters. -- Pr 17:9. Is a deceitful work -- Ps 52:2. Comes from the evil heart -- Mt 15:19; Lu 6:45.”
- Proverbs “Proverbs 6:24 (LEB) — in order to preserve you from an evil woman, from the smoothness of the tongue of ⌞an adulteress⌟.”
- Psalms “Psalms 34:13 (BSB) — Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from deceitful speech.”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Evil-speaking — 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.”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Reviling and Reproaching — Forbidden -- 1Pe 3:9. Of rulers specially forbidden -- Ex 22:28; Ac 23:4,5. The wicked utter, against God. -- Ps 74:22; 79:12. God, by opposing the poor. -- Pr 14:31. Christ. -- Mt 27:39; Lu 7:34. Saints. -- Ps 102:8; Zep 2:8. Rulers. -- 2Pe 2:10,11; Jude 1:8,9. Of Christ, predicted -- Ps 69:9; Ro 15:3; Ps 89:51. The conduct of Christ under -- 1Pe 2:23. Saints Endure. -- 1Ti 4:10; Heb 10:33. Endure for God's sake. -- Ps 69:7. Endure for Christ's sake. -- Lu 6:22. Should expect. -- Mt 10:25. Should not fear. -- Isa 51:7. Sometimes depressed ”
- Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 119:22: Here, 1. David prays against the reproach and contempt of men, that they might be removed, or (as the word is) rolled, from off him. This intimates that they lay upon him, and that neither his greatness nor his goodness could secure him from being libelled and lampooned. Some despised him and endeavoured to make him mean; others reproached him and endeavoured to make him odious. It has often been the lot of those that do well to be ill-spoken of. It intimates that they lay heavily upon him. Hard and foul words indeed break no bones, and yet they are very grievou”
- Proverbs (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Proverbs 6:23: To keep thee from the evil woman,.... This is one use of the profit arising from attending to the instructions of parents, and to the law of God, as taught by them; to preserve from fornication and adultery, one of its precepts expressly forbidding adultery and all corporeal uncleanness; and the whole of it directing to an observance of all duties respecting God and our neighbour, which requires diligence and industry, and prevents idleness, that inlet to all sin, and especially to uncleanness (k); from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman; the same with ”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 34:13: Keep thy tongue from evil,.... This, and what follows in this verse and Psa 34:14, point at the things wherein the fear of God shows itself; and suggest, that those who have it, and which is known by these fruits, shall enjoy the desirable and good days before mentioned. The tongue is an instrument of much evil, an unruly member, and needs restraint; and it is from evil, and not from good, it is to be kept; from evil speaking of God, from cursing and swearing; from evil speaking of men, reproaching and reviling them; from filthy speaking, from all obscene and unchast”
- James (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on James 3:9: Therewith bless we God - The tongue is capable of rehearsing the praises, and setting forth the glories, of the eternal King: what a pity that it should ever be employed in a contrary work! It can proclaim and vindicate the truth of God, and publish the Gospel of peace and good will among men: what a pity that it should ever be employed in falsehoods, calumny, or in the cause of infidelity! And therewith curse we men - In the true Satanic spirit, many pray to God, the Father, to destroy those who are objects of their displeasure! These are the common swearers, whose m”