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This sin is called five different things in Proverbs: talebearing (Pr. 11:13; 18:8; 20:19; 26:20-28), backbiting (Pr. 25:23), slander (Pr. 10:18), whispering (Pr. 16:28), a false witness (Pr. 6:19; 19:5; 26:18), and he that soweth discord (Pr. 6:19). In the New Testament the talebearer is called a “tattler” and a “busybody” (1 Ti. 5:13; 1 Pe. 4:15).

Two Hebrew words are translated “talebearer” in Proverbs. Rakiyl (Pr. 11:13; 20:19) Rakiyl “refers to spreading rumors or falsities about someone; it is always used in a negative manner” (Complete Word Study Bible), “a scandal-monger” (Strong). Rakiyl is also translated “slander” (Jer. 6:28; 9:4) and “carry tales” (Eze. 22:9). Rakiyl is combined with halak, which means to “walk about” (Pr. 11:13; 20:19). Halak rakiyl is translated “he that goeth about as a talebearer” (Pr. 20:19). “Talebearer” is also the Hebrew nirgan, (Pr. 18:8), meaning “a gossiper, a slanderer; it depicts a person who harms others by attacking them verbally falsely” (Complete Word Study Bible). Nirgan is also translated “whisperer” (Pr. 16:28).

Talebearing is the heart and soul of gossip.

The repetition of the warning about talebearing in Scripture emphasizes its great evil. It is a major sin in this fallen world. It has been the cause of harm in countless situations, in friendships, in homes, in churches, in businesses, in palaces, in nations. The last days is the age of false accusation (1 Ti. 3:1-3), and in the present time the power of the talebearer has been greatly enhanced by social media.

This is a slanderous world. Every sinner is capable of talebearing and slander, because his heart is “deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked” (Jer. 17:9). The fallen heart contains “evil thoughts, murders ... false witness” (Mt. 15:18-19), “deceit ... an evil eye” (Mr. 7:21-22).

Lucifer is the chief whisperer. He is “the devil” (diabolos), meaning false accuser, slanderer. Diabolos is translated by these words (1 Ti. 3:11; 2 Ti. 3:3; Tit. 2:3). We see this in the devil’s dealings with Eve (Ge. 3). He slandered God, accusing God of withholding good things from man.

The wise must learn how to discern these things and how to deal with these things. God’s people teach these things in the churches and homes.

The characteristics of talebearing

Talebearing is a destructive sin, but some have been charged falsely with talebearing when they have only spoken the truth.

The talebearer speaks false things to cause harm (Pr. 26:20-22). His aim to cause harm is purposeful.

- Talebearing is summarized in Pr. 26:28. The talebearer lies; he hates those he targets; he hides his evil with flattery; and his talebearing “worketh ruin.”

- We see talebearers in 1 Ti. 5:13, “And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.”

- Webster’s 1828 dictionary defined slander as “to defame; to injure by maliciously uttering a false report; to tarnish or impair the reputation of one by false tales, maliciously told or propagated.”

- The talebearer might not tell a complete lie; he might merely exaggerate the truth or modify it or by subtle wording leave his hearer with a false impression, but it is an impression that the talebearer wants to make even though only implied.

- Matthew Henry defined talebearing as follows: “Tale-bearers are those who secretly carry stories from house to house, which perhaps have some truth in them, but are secrets not fit to be told, or are basely misrepresented, and false colours put upon them, and are all told with design to blast men’s reputation, to break their friendship, to make mischief between relations and neighbours, and set them at variance.” The Bible emphasizes the talebearer’s deceit. It is important to understand that the slanderer often pretends to be a faithful, caring witness, and he puts on a good show and can deceive the hearts of the simple, but the Bible exposes his deception.

- On the other hand, to speak the truth with a godly motive is not talebearing. The house of Chloe communicated with the apostle Paul about the sin that was in the church at Corinth (1 Co. 1:11), but they weren’t trying to harm anyone and they weren’t telling lies or exaggerating the truth. They weren’t spreading rumors. They cared about the church and the Lord’s work. They had personal knowledge of the matter and felt that Paul should know about it so he could take steps to correct it, and they were commended by Paul.

The talebearer lies (“dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him,” Pr. 26:24). To dissemble refers to deception. He is a deceiver.

The talebearer hates those he targets (“he that hateth,” Pr. 26:24, “a lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted,” Pr. 26:28).

The talebearer hides his hatred with fair speech (Pr. 26:25, 26). When he “speaks far” he should not be believed, because “there are seven abominations in his heart.” He hates, but his hatred is covered by deceit (Pr. 26:26). He is like a potsherd that is covered with silver dross (Pr. 26:23). A potsherd is a piece of broken earthen pottery, and silver dross is refuse that is discarded after the refining process. At first glance, the potsherd covered with silver dross might appear to have some value, but actually it has none.

The talebearer hides his hatred with flattery (v. 28). Flattery is insincere praise. He uses flattery to deceive and to obtain information for his evil purposes. He uses flattery to ingratiate himself with those who wants to influence with his evil purposes. Beware of flattery!

The talebearer sows strife (Pr. 26:20-22; 16:28). The talebearer is “a contentious man” (v. 21). Strife and disunity is his objective. He enjoys this. He is not a peacemaker; he is a troublemaker. He is willing to undermine the unity of a family or a business or a church.

The talebearer digs up evil (Pr. 16:27-28). He loves to snoop around and find out evil things about people. He doesn’t do this because he cares about righteousness or because he wants to help people overcome evil.

The talebearer reveals secrets (Pr. 20:19). “... he repeateth a matter” (Pr. 17:9). He cannot be trusted with a secret. He can’t wait to tell others and to spread abroad the things that should be private. The temptation to reveal secrets is something everyone faces. We must be careful what we say and to whom we say it.

The spiritual condition of the talebearer

The talebearer is “ungodly” and “froward” (Pr. 16:27-28). “Ungodly” is the Hebrew Belial, meaning worthless, wicked. It is translated “Belial” and is used for the men of Sodom (Jg. 19:22; 20:13). “Froward” is tahpuka, “perversity or fraud” (Strong). These strong words inform us that those who engage in such things are evil people. To practice these things is not an innocent, harmless endeavor. Gossip should never be excused as a small thing.

The talebearer has a wicked heart (Pr. 26:23, 25). Lying against others and slandering them is a very evil thing that reveals that the individual’s heart is in a sinful condition. Godly men and women do not practice this evil. If a person is involved in this devilish practice, he is demonstrating that there is something wrong with him; he is walking in darkness rather than light; he is walking in fleshly hatred rather than Christ-like love. Christ spoke plainly rather than in whispers. He spoke only to build up, not to tear down. He spoke the truth and never a lie. The devil, on the other hand, came secretly to Eve and whispered his evil words. He whispered about Almighty God Himself, implying that He was keeping something good from the first couple (Ge. 3:1-5). And did not that first hissing whisperer separate chief friends by getting between God and the man made in His image! Since that time, many have walked in the secretive footsteps of their father the devil and have separated friends from friends, husbands from wives, kings from loyal counsellors and subjects, citizens from citizens, employers from employees, and pastors from church members and church members from church members.

The evil power of talebearing

1. Talebearing has the power to sow strife (Pr. 26:20-21). The talebearer can even separate best friends (Pr. 16:28). Oh, the evil power of backbiting and slanderous gossip! The whisperer doesn’t confront the person to his face with alleged sin and error, as a true friend, but he whispers to others behind his back. He might not come right out and say that the object of his attack has done something wrong; he might only imply that this is the case by devilishly clever words; but he knows full well the impression that he is leaving his hearers.

2. Talebearing has the power to wound the inner man (Pr. 26:22). How hurtful is slander! It not only harms the object’s reputation, it enters into his very heart and soul as a wound of the spirit. “They go down as poison into the innermost parts of the belly” (Matthew Henry).

3. Talebearing has the power to destroy (“a burning fire” (Pr. 16:27; “is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow,” Pr. 25:18; “worketh ruin,” Pr. 26:28). A maul (a war club), a sword, and a sharp arrow are killing instruments. The talebearer, with his lies and cleverly-concealed hatred, can destroy a man’s reputation, family, ministry, and livelihood. He can destroy churches. Slander put Joseph in prison (Ge. 39:7-20). Slander killed Naboth (1 Ki. 21). David was often persecuted by slander (Ps. 35:11; 52:2-4; 109:1-4; 120:2; 140:1-3). The priests of Nob were destroyed by Doeg’s talebearing (1 Sa. 22:9-19). Absalom tried to steal the hearts of the people from David by lies (2 Sa. 15:1-6). Anarchists and revolutionaries practice slander to tear down the “old order.” Slander has resulted in the death of a multitude of Jews. One of these was the “blood libel” which claimed that Jews murdered Gentile children in order to put their blood in unleavened bread. Slander has harmed ministries. I think of a ministry to troubled girls and young women which was shut down by slander.

The judgment of the talebearer

Though the talebearer hides his hatred with lying lips and puts on a show of piety, God sees his sin and he “shall not be unpunished” and “shall not escape” (Pr. 19:5).

The talebearer will be exposed (“his wickedness shall be shewed before the whole congregation,” Pr. 26:26).

He will fall into his own pit, and the stone that he rolls will return upon him (Pr. 26:27).

How to deal with the talebearer

1. Do not believe his flattery. “He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips” (Pr. 20:19). He will try to wrangle his way into your life through flattery and fair words. Do not believe him. “If a man fawn upon you, compliment and commend you, suspect him to have some design upon you, and stand upon your guard” (Matthew Henry).

2. Do not tell him any secrets. “He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets,” (Pr. 20:19). If someone tells you the secrets of others, he or she will readily tell others your secrets, and those secrets will be twisted out of shape in the telling!

3. Show him an angry countenance. “The north wind driveth away rain: so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue” (Pr. 25:23). Don’t put up with his slanders. If he tries to tell you something about someone and you suspect it to be slander, don’t pretend to be interested; don’t act like nothing is wrong. Take a firm stand against talebearing and backbiting. The only way to stop the slanderer in his tracks is to make it very clear that you do not agree with his sin and will not participate in it. Jesus looked upon the Jews with anger to show His displeasure at their hardness of heart (Mr. 3:5).

4. Do not meddle with him. “He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips” (Pr. 20:19). The best thing to do with the talebearer is to stay completely away from him and avoid any association with him. Do not listen to him. Do not hang around with him. Do not join his clique or movement. Do not read his literature. Do not spend time on his social media.

If God’s people would do these things, many evils would be thwarted.

Talebearing in the Age of Social Media

Social media is filled with talebearing and lies. It sows confusion and discord everywhere. Talebearers speak against their friends, their relatives, their churches, and their governments. Before internet, the typical talebearer could only speak to a few people. Today he can speak to many via Facebook and Instagram and X (Twitter) and TikTok. Google enables anyone to find your talebearing in an instant. I think of a Christian reform ministry that was largely destroyed by online talebearing. I think of a pastor who has been harmed by a talebearing daughter. I think of families torn apart by social media talebearing. Stay away from all lies, slandering, and talebearing! It is of the devil, and it will be judged of God.