Gossip in the Bible

• Do not go about spreading slander among your peopleLev 19:16
  The verses

  Lev 19:16You must not go about spreading slander among your people. You must not endanger the life of your neighbor. I am the LORD.
• Who may dwell with God? One with no slander on his tonguePs 15:3
  The verses

  Ps 15:3who has no slander on his tongue, who does no harm to his neighbor, who casts no scorn on his friend,
• A gossip reveals a secret; a trustworthy person keeps a confidenceProv 11:13, Prov 20:19
  The verses

  Prov 11:13A gossip reveals a secret, but a trustworthy person keeps a confidence.

  Prov 20:19He who reveals secrets is a constant gossip; avoid the one who babbles with his lips.
• A gossip divides close friendsProv 16:28, Prov 17:9
  The verses

  Prov 16:28A perverse man spreads dissension, and a gossip divides close friends.

  Prov 17:9Whoever conceals an offense promotes love, but he who brings it up separates friends.
• The words of a gossip are like choice morselsProv 18:8, Prov 26:22
  The verses

  Prov 18:8The words of a gossip are like choice morsels that go down into the inmost being.

  Prov 26:22The words of a gossip are like choice morsels that go down into the inmost being.
• Without wood, a fire goes out; without gossip, a conflict ceasesProv 26:20–21
  The verses

  Prov 26:20–21Without wood, a fire goes out; without gossip, a conflict ceases. Like charcoal for embers and wood for fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.
• A backbiting tongue brings angry looksProv 25:23
  The verses

  Prov 25:23As the north wind brings forth rain, so a backbiting tongue brings angry looks.
• Jeremiah hears whispering: “Report him!”Jer 20:10
  The verses

  Jer 20:10For I have heard the whispering of many: “Terror is on every side! Report him; let us report him!” All my trusted friends watch for my fall: “Perhaps he will be deceived so that we may prevail against him and take our vengeance upon him.”
• Idle young widows become gossips and busybodies1 Tim 5:13
  The verses

  1 Tim 5:13At the same time they will also learn to be idle, going from house to house and being not only idle, but also gossips and busybodies, discussing things they should not mention.
• Paul fears slander and gossip at Corinth2 Cor 12:20
  The verses

  2 Cor 12:20For I am afraid that when I come, I may not find you as I wish, and you may not find me as you wish. I fear that there may be quarreling, jealousy, rage, rivalry, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorder.
• Do not slander one anotherJas 4:11
  The verses

  Jas 4:11Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. And if you judge the law, you are not a practitioner of the law, but a judge of it.

Examples

• Joseph brings his father a bad report about his brothersGen 37:2
  The verses

  Gen 37:2This is the account of Jacob. When Joseph was seventeen years old, he was tending the flock with his brothers, the sons of his father’s wives Bilhah and Zilpah, and he brought their father a bad report about them.
• The spies spread a bad report about the landNum 13:32, Num 14:36
  The verses

  Num 13:32So they gave the Israelites a bad report about the land that they had spied out: “The land we explored devours its inhabitants, and all the people we saw there are great in stature.

  Num 14:36So the men Moses had sent to spy out the land, who had returned and made the whole congregation grumble against him by bringing out a bad report about the land—
• Doeg the Edomite tells Saul that Ahimelech helped David1 Sam 22:9–10
  The verses

  1 Sam 22:9–10But Doeg the Edomite, who had stationed himself with Saul’s servants, answered: “I saw the son of Jesse come to Ahimelech son of Ahitub at Nob. Ahimelech inquired of the LORD for him and gave him provisions. He also gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.”
• Joab is told that Abner came and left in peace2 Sam 3:23
  The verses

  2 Sam 3:23When Joab and all his troops arrived, he was informed, “Abner son of Ner came to see the king, who sent him on his way in peace.”
• Ziba claims Mephibosheth hopes to regain the kingdom2 Sam 16:3
  The verses

  2 Sam 16:3“Where is your master’s grandson?” asked the king. And Ziba answered, “Indeed, he is staying in Jerusalem, for he has said, ‘Today, the house of Israel will restore to me the kingdom of my grandfather.’”
• Sanballat’s rumor that the Jews plan to revoltNeh 6:6–9
  The verses

  Neh 6:6–9that read: “It is reported among the nations—and Geshem agrees—that you and the Jews are plotting to revolt, and this is why you are building the wall. According to these reports, you are to become their king, and you have even appointed prophets in Jerusalem to proclaim on your behalf: ‘There is a king in Judah.’ Soon these rumors will reach the ears of the king. So come, let us confer together.” Then I sent him this reply: “There is nothing to these rumors you are spreading; you are inventing them in your own mind.” For they were all trying to frighten us, saying, “Their hands will be weakened in the work, and it will never be finished.” But now, my God, strengthen my hands.
• Nobles of Judah carry reports between Tobiah and NehemiahNeh 6:17–19
  The verses

  Neh 6:17–19Also in those days, the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah, and Tobiah’s letters came back to them. For many in Judah were bound by oath to him, since he was a son-in-law of Shecaniah son of Arah, and his son Jehohanan had married the daughter of Meshullam son of Berechiah. Moreover, these nobles kept reporting to me Tobiah’s good deeds, and they relayed my words to him. And Tobiah sent letters to intimidate me.
• Men are prompted to say Stephen spoke against MosesActs 6:11
  The verses

  Acts 6:11Then they prompted some men to say, “We heard Stephen speak words of blasphemy against Moses and against God.”
• Diotrephes’ malicious slander against John3 John 1:9–10
  The verses

  3 John 1:9–10I have written to the church about this, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will not accept our instruction. So if I come, I will call attention to his malicious slander against us. And unsatisfied with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers and forbids those who want to do so, even putting them out of the church.