Lexical Summary lashan: To slander, to accuse, to use the tongue against someone Original Word: לָשַׁן Strong's Exhaustive Concordance accuse, slander A primitive root; properly, to lick; but used only as a denominative from lashown; to wag the tongue, i.e. To calumniate -- accuse, slander. see HEBREW lashown NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origindenominative verb from lashon Definition to use the tongue, slander NASB Translation slander (1), slanders (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [לָשַׁן] verb denominative use the tongue, only specifically, slander; — Po`el Participle מְלָו֯שְׁנִי בַּסֵּתֶד רֵעֵהוּ Psalm 101:5 (on form, compare Ges§ 90, 3 KöLgb. i. § 26). Hiph`il Imperfect2masculine singular jussive ׳אַלתַּֿלְשֵׁן עֶבֶד וגו Proverbs 30:10. Topical Lexicon Meaning and Scope לָשַׁן (Strong 3960) denotes the deliberate use of the tongue to harm another’s reputation—slander, defamation, backbiting. Although it appears only twice, its force is intensified by its legal and moral overtones: a malicious misuse of speech that violates covenant love and disrupts communal harmony. Occurrences in the Canon • Psalm 101:5 – “Whoever slanders his neighbor in secret I will silence”. Both references set the term within contexts of moral leadership and wisdom, showing that slander is intolerable in both royal administration and everyday social relations. The Sin of Slander in Biblical Theology Slander strikes at the heart of Israel’s covenant ethics. The ninth commandment (“You shall not bear false witness,” Exodus 20:16) establishes truthful speech as foundational to justice and neighbor-love. לָשַׁן is a concrete violation of that command, turning speech—which should bless (Proverbs 18:21)—into a weapon. In Psalm 101 David, pledging to model godly kingship, vows to eradicate slander from his court, affirming that righteous rule cannot tolerate hidden verbal injustice. Proverbs 30 extends the warning beyond the palace to household servants, demonstrating that status does not license defamation. Legal and Communal Dimensions Under Mosaic law, every matter had to be established “by two or three witnesses” (Deuteronomy 19:15). False testimony incurred the very penalty sought for the accused (Deuteronomy 19:18-19). לָשַׁן thus threatened the integrity of Israel’s judicial system and the security of the innocent. Rabbinic tradition later classified slander (lashon hara) among the gravest sins, equal to idolatry, sexual immorality, and bloodshed, reflecting its power to destroy lives without spilling blood. Wisdom Literature’s Emphasis Proverbs repeatedly contrasts the righteous tongue with the perverse (Proverbs 10:18; 16:28). לָשַׁן in Proverbs 30:10 highlights an often-overlooked target of slander: subordinates. The text warns that maligning the powerless invites divine and human retribution, anticipating Christ’s concern for “the least of these” (Matthew 25:40). Wisdom insists that integrity in speech extends to every social stratum. Christological and New Testament Parallels Jesus condemns defiling speech (Matthew 15:19) and warns that “everyone will give an account on the day of judgment for every careless word” (Matthew 12:36). The apostles echo this: “Rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander” (1 Peter 2:1). The church is commanded to “speak the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15) and to “keep a tight rein on the tongue” (James 1:26). These teachings enlarge לָשַׁן from an Old Testament prohibition into a comprehensive call for sanctified speech in Christ. Pastoral and Ministry Implications 1. Church Discipline: Persistent slander is grounds for corrective action (Titus 3:10-11) because it fractures unity and discredits witness. Practical Applications • Conduct regular “tongue audits,” asking whether speech builds or destroys. Summary לָשַׁן exposes the lethal power of the tongue when turned against a neighbor. Scripture treats slander not as a minor social flaw but as a covenant-breaking offense that demands decisive action from individuals, leaders, and the community of faith. Rooted in the holiness of God and fulfilled in the righteous speech of Christ, the biblical witness calls believers to guard their tongues, pursue reconciliation, and reflect the truth-telling character of their Redeemer. Forms and Transliterations מְלָשְׁנִ֬י מלשני תַּלְשֵׁ֣ן תלשן mə·lā·šə·nî məlāšənî melasheNi tal·šên talšên talShenLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Psalm 101:5 HEB: [מְלֹושְׁנִי כ] (מְלָשְׁנִ֬י ק) בַסֵּ֨תֶר ׀ NAS: Whoever secretly slanders his neighbor, KJV: Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, INT: accuse secretly his neighbor Proverbs 30:10 2 Occurrences |
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