Slander of the tongue
Numbers 14:36 (KJV)
36 And the men, which Moses sent to search the land, who returned, and made all the
congregation to murmur against him, by bringing up a slander upon the land,
Psalm 31:13 (KJV)
13 For I have heard the slander of many: fear was on every side: while they took counsel together
against me, they devised to take away my life.
Proverbs 10:18 (KJV)
18 He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool.
c [refraineth his lips is wise] Three examples of wisdom in speaking:
- Eleazar (Gen. 24:21; cp. Prov. 15:28)
- Aaron (Lev. 10:3)
- Saul (1Sam. 10:27; cp. Prov. 11:12)
Notes For Verse 20
a [The tongue of the just is as choice silver: the heart of the wicked is little worth] What a
just man speaks is like silver, but what comes out of the heart of a wicked man is like worthless
dross.
Twelve Uses of the Tongue Condemned
1. Gossiping (Deut. 22:13-19)
2. Talebearing (Leviticus 19:16; Proverbs 11:13)
3. False witnessing (Exodus 20:16; Exodus 23:7)
4. Whisperings (Romans 1:29)
5. Slandering (1 Tim. 3:11)
6. False accusations (Titus 2:3)
7. Vain talking (Titus 1:10)
8. Defaming (Jeremiah 20:10)
9. Tattling (1 Tim. 5:13)
10. Lying (Proverbs 6:17; Rev. 21:8; Rev. 22:15)
11. Deceiving (Rev. 12:9)
12. Backbiting (Psalm 15:3; Romans 1:30)
Five Examples of Death by the Tongue:
- The ten spies (Numbers 14:36-37)
Usage Notes:
English Words used in KJV:
evil report 3
slander 3
infamy 2
slander 1
from <H1680> (dabab) (in the sense of furtive motion); slander :- defaming, evil report,
infamy, slander.
Strong’s Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary.
2. Doeg (1 Samuel 22:9-10)
3. Sennacherib (2 Kings 18:28-35; 2 Kings 19:22-35)
4. The Ammonites (Ezekiel 25:3-7)
5. Annanias and Sapphira (Acts 5:5-10)
Four Uses of the Tongue:
1. Speaking truth (John 14:6)
2. Speaking lies (1 Tim. 4:1-2)
3. Speaking cutting things (Proverbs 12:18; James 3)
4. Speaking blessing (Proverbs 12:19; Matthew 8:8)
Four Examples of Lying Tongues Judged:
1. Ahab (1 Kings 22:30, 37 )
2. Hananiah (Jeremiah 28:2, 11 )
3. Gehazi (2 Kings 5:22-27)
4. Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-10)
Three Examples of Life by the Tongue:
1. Esther (Esther 7-8)
2. Paul (Acts 16:28-34)
3. Believers (Romans 10:9-10; 1 Peter 3:10)
Twelve Things about the Tongue
1. A little member (James 3:5)
2. Boasts great things (James 3:5)
3. Is a fire (James 3:6)
4. A world of iniquity (James 3:6)
5. It defiles the whole body (James 3:6)
6. Sets on fire the course of nature (James 3:6)
7. It is untameable (James 3:7-8)
8. An unruly evil (James 3:8)
9. Full of deadly poison (James 3:8)
10. Used to bless God and curse men (James 3:9)
11. Capable of good conversation (James 3:13)
12. Capable of bitter strife (James 3:14)
Fifteen Kinds of Tongues
1. Viper’s tongues (Job 20:16)
2. Flattering tongue (Psalm 5:9)
3. Proud tongue (Psalm 12:3)
4. Lying tongue (Psalm 109:2; Proverbs 6:17)
5. Deceitful tongue (Psalm 120:2)
6. False tongue (Psalm 120:3)
7. Froward tongue (Proverbs 10:31)
8. Wholesome tongue (Proverbs 10:31)
9. Healthy tongue (Proverbs 12:18)
10. Naughty tongue (Proverbs 17:4)
11. Perverse tongue (Proverbs 17:20)
12. Soft tongue (Proverbs 25:15)
13. Stammering tongue (Isaiah 28:11; Isaiah 33:19)
14. Backbiting tongue (Proverbs 25:23)
15. Poison tongue (James 3:8)
James 3:11
Questions 12-15. Next, James 4:1. Nothing has been found in nature that can compare to the
double use of the tongue-to the blessing and cursing out of the same mouth.
Four Comparisons (James 3:11-12):
1. A fountain cannot produce sweet and bitter water at the same time
2. A fig tree cannot produce olives
3. A vine cannot produce figs
4. The ocean cannot produce sweet water
James 3:13
One who can bridle his own tongue and is qualified to teach others.
Greek: anastrophe (NT:391), conduct; behavior. See pt. 2, Six Things in Which to Be an
Example.
True wisdom is always accompanied with meekness and gentleness. Scholars are sometimes
proud, overbearing, and disdainful. Such men have education, but not true wisdom.