When you think about the worst sins, does gossip make your list? I didn’t make my list either. Gossip is one of those acceptable sins that I tend to ignore, probably because it is a sin I struggled with for so long. Understanding gossip in the Bible helped me learn how to stop gossip as a sinful habit in my life.
What Is Gossip in the Bible?
Gossip is a sin I struggled with most of my early life and at times it rears its ugly head! It wasn’t until I began to understand gossip in the Bible that I was able to stop this ugly, relationship-destroying habit!
So, this article is part of how to stop gossip in your life and how to have peace in understanding what does God say about gossip in the Bible.
Gossip Steals Peace
First, let’s put this into the context of our bigger study on Philippians 4:8. We are told to think about certain types of things to keep the peace of God that passes all understanding.
“Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.” (Philippians 4:8 NASB)
This study is helping us deal with the anxiety that plagues most of us in the 21st century. Today our challenge is to think on whatever is of good repute or good report. What does that mean; What does gossiping mean?
What Does Good Repute mean?
Good repute in Greek means – kind or of a good report as a true friend.
The opposite of good repute would be gossip, not kind, and not reporting well like a true friend would report on something.
Can thoughts be considered gossip? Well to answer that let’s see the meaning of gossip in the Bible.
Define Gossip in the Bible
What is considered gossip in the Bible? There are several types of gossip in the Bible to consider. GotQuestions defines gossip in the Old Testament this way.
“One who reveals secrets, one who goes about as a talebearer or scandal-monger.”
Rather than seeing a clear definition of gossip in the Bible, Scripture talks about gossip in different categories.
- Gossip – sharing things about a person or situation that are not yours to share.
- Slander – sharing information to hurt others.
- Backbiting – using that information to argue pointlessly and hurt others.
- Taleberrer – someone who shares all the things for a good story.
- Scandal-monger – sharing information to hurt others by stirring up fear and hatred leading to group hurt or scandal.
As we see Bible verses about gossip and drama we will see each of these laid out.
What Does The Bible Say About Gossip and Backbiting?
How many time is gossip mentioned in the Bible? As we look at Bible verses about gossip, we will see words that seem interchangeable. Slander, backbiting, false report, etc. Just know they are all talking about ways to use information that is not originally yours.
What Does God Say About Slander and Gossip?
Where in the Bible does it say thou shalt not gossip?
Gossip and slander were so common in Biblical times that there are a myriad of verses about them!
Understanding gossip in the Bible helped me learn how to stop gossip as a sinful habit in my life. Click To TweetGossip in the Old Testament
“You shall not go about as a slanderer among your people; and you are not to jeopardize the life of your neighbor. I am the Lord.” (Leviticus 19:16 NAB)
“You sit and speak against your brother;
You slander your own mother’s son.” (Psalm 50:20 NASB)
“He who goes about as a slanderer reveals secrets,
Therefore do not associate with a gossip.” (Proverbs 20:19 NASB)
“One who goes about as a slanderer reveals secrets,
But one who is trustworthy conceals a matter.” (Proverbs 11:13 NASB)
“One who conceals hatred has lying lips (a lying tongue),
And one who spreads slander is a fool.” (Proverbs 10:18 NASB)
Thing’s God Hates
Tucked in the midst of all this Scripture about gossip is this one list of the things God hates. Gossip is in it.
“There are six things that the Lord hates,
Seven that are an abomination to Him:
Haughty eyes, a lying tongue,
And hands that shed innocent blood,
A heart that devises wicked plans,
Feet that run rapidly to evil,
A false witness who declares lies,
And one who spreads strife among brothers.“
(Proverbs 6:16-19 NASB)
In this list, and other similar lists, we see an arrogant heart, a haughty look, someone who, “speaketh evil of the law, and speaketh evil of his brother” (sorry, I learned that in the KJV).
These are all things that people will give an account of before the Ancient of Days on the day of judgment. On that day we want to be like the good man who lives from a good conscience with God’s help. This is not about conforming to man’s religion, but about pursuing a real relationship with Jesus!
Gossip in the New Testament
“people having been filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, and evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, and malice; they are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents,” (Romans 1:29-30 NASB)
“For I am afraid that perhaps when I come I may find you to be not what I wish, and may be found by you to be not what you wish; that perhaps there will be strife, jealousy, angry tempers, selfishness, slanders, gossip, arrogance, disturbances;” (2 Corinthians 12:20 NASB)
More On Slander and Gossip in the Bible
What I find fascinating is that gossip is not a new sin problem, but rather something we have always struggled to overcome! It is throughout the Scriptures.
Interestingly, what we see in Scripture when someone talks bad about you, is often it revealed prejudice or religious intolerance.
“Whoever secretly slanders his neighbor, him I will destroy;” (Psalm 101:5 NASB)
“A perverse person spreads strife,
And a slanderer separates close friends.” (Proverbs 16:28 NASB)
Related Post: Religious Intolerance in the Bible and What to Do About It
Gossip As A False Testimony
“…For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, acts of adultery, other immoral sexual acts, thefts, false testimonies, and slanderous statements.” (Matthew 15:16-19 NASB)
“You shall not give a false report; do not join your hand with a wicked person to be a malicious witness (a false witness).” (Exodus 23:1 NASB)
“You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.” (Exodus 20:16 NASB)
What Does the Bible Say About a Gossiping Woman
“At the same time they also learn to be idle, as they go around from house to house; and not merely idle, but also they become gossips and busybodies, talking about things not proper to mention.” (1 Timothy 5:13 NASB)
I can testify that it is more tempting to gossip when I am bored or idle. Now, I can’t agree that it is primarily a woman’s issue. Honestly, the worst gossips I know are men. But having said that, I can see why the text singles out women.
At the time, it was more common for women to lack information. Uneducated and undervalued, it was easiest to gather information from what other women had heard or overheard. Not to justify the sin, but I can see why it would become a habit.
Related Post: Learning How To Cope with Autism and Family Stress God’s Way
Bible Verses About Gossiping Friends
“The words of a gossiper are like dainty morsels,
And they go down into the innermost parts of the body.” (Proverbs 18:8 NASB)
“One who conceals an offense seeks love,
But one who repeats a matter separates close friends.” (Proverbs 17:9 NASB)
“Argue your case with your neighbor,
And do not reveal the secret of another,
Or one who hears it will put you to shame,
And the evil report about you will not pass away.” (Proverbs 25:9-10 NASB)
Biblical Consequences of Gossip
Do you ever wonder why God hates gossip? Gossip is a sin.
What type of gossip is a sin that the Lord hates? All gossip.
It all has drastic consequences that destroy relationships. Here are some consequences from the quotes about gossip in the Bible we just read:
- Reveal another’s secrets leading to shame that never dies.
- Separates close friends
- Quarreling
- Improper speech and idleness
- Wickedness and malice (hatred)
- Destruction from God?*
- Foolishness
- Broken trust
- Shame on your mother
- Jeopardize life
God Will Judge Sin
“But I tell you that for every careless word that people speak, they will give an account of it on the day of judgment.” (Matthew 12:35-37 NASB)
God’s word clearly cares about our words. Careless words here refer to; idle talk (an idle word), the words of a talebearer, unwholesome talk, corrupt communication (corrupting talk), and any other thing that is said without care for the hearer. The power of the tongue can either be a good thing used to lead the lost to the Lord God or it can be a tool for the enemy.
And God will judge the proud heart of those who carelessly speak words of gossip. The words of a gossip wound. Gossip separates; it creates division in the church. Such things should not be normal in the Body of Christ.
Examples of Gossip in the Bible
One of the best examples of gossip in the Bible is found in the Book of Nehemiah.
“Then Sanballat sent his servant to me in the same way a fifth time with an open letter in his hand. In it was written:
“It is reported among the nations, and Gashmu says, that you and the Jews intend to rebel; for that reason you are rebuilding the wall. And you are to be their king, according to these reports…” (Nehemiah 6:5-9 NASB)
Nehemiah chose to seek the Lord and keep doing what He knew the Lord told Him to do rather than panic over the gossip. He chose to not react to the instigators but instead to keep working on rebuilding the wall.
I highly recommend reading the book of Nehemiah if you have time to see how to handle gossip BIblically!
Related Post: This is a good walkthrough of Nehemiah and Gossip with Practical Applications!
How To Stop Gossip: What The Bible Says About Gossip
Circling back… Can a thought be gossip?
The truth is some days I wallow in negative, complaining, anxious thinking. When I let my thoughts run wild, they will come out of my mouth and hurt the people I love in some way. Can you relate?
So, yes, when we think on things that are gossip, slander, or backbiting they can lead to sin. They can hurt others. That is why we are told to think on things that are of good repute – NOT GOSSIP.
When I let the temptation to gossip spin in my head, I can begin to justify sin. I can justify why others need to hear this information even when they are not based on facts or worse they are a spin-off of something shared by a 3rd party.
Ask: What is the Root of Gossiping?
“Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth;
Keep watch over the door of my lips.” (Psalm 141:3 NASB)
For years, I wrestled with the temptation to gossip, to share information that was not mine or about me. When I understood what the Bible said about gossip, I then began to ask what is at the root of this sin struggle.
How do you shut down gossip Biblically?
To stop gossip I have to use what the Bible says about gossip to help me take every thought captive. Then I take every conversation and ask two questions.
- Would it hurt a friendship?
- Is it selfish?
Thought Check # 1: Would This Hurt A Friend?
If this thought left my mouth, would it hurt a friendship?
Gossip ruins friendships. I have to be sure that if someone tells me something in confidence, I can be trusted with it.
“One who goes about as a slanderer reveals secrets,
But one who is trustworthy conceals a matter.” (Proverbs 11:13 NASB)
If it would hurt them or make them think twice before confiding in me again, it is not of good repute. So, when it crosses my mind to bring it up with someone else I need to capture that thought.
When the thought fails this check I have to take hold of it.
Now, I can think about the issue and pray about the issue, but I can not share the issue. So I have to be careful with my thoughts so that it will not eventually come out of my mouth and wound a friendship.
Thought Check # 2: Is This Selfish?
There are times we find ourselves in possession of information that is tempting to share…
I don’t know about you, but I have the kind of face and quiet nature that draws people to share delicate things with me. They ask me to pray over things and at times that means I know stuff in advance. There was a time in my life when the enemy tempted me hard with that knowledge.
I need to capture any thoughts that are for these reasons – the root of most gossip:
- Sharing this 3rd party information could impress others.
- If others know that I know this it would make me look important.
- This information would prove a point at someone else’s expense.
- If others knew about this they would sympathize with me or feel sorry for me.
Don’t Hurt Others While Climbing Ladders
“Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.” (Philippians 2:3-4 NASB)
This verse could easily read, “Don’t try to get ahead by hurting someone else.”
I have messed up on this one; I hurt people to climb the ladder, and used others while trying to impress a boss. Yes, I was even that person sharing gossip as prayer requests. (Yes, it is still gossip if it was shared confidentially or you know it would hurt them if word got back!)
Gossip seems good at the time (harmless even) but the long-term results are not worth it!
When life gets hard, a gossip will no longer be trusted; not by the person they betrayed nor by the people who heard the gossip.
Related Post: How to Create a Highly Effective Prayer Life
How To Stop The Gossip Before it Has a Chance to Start!
Okay, let’s get practical. Let’s say you have been trusted with something in confidence. How do you actively work to NEVER gossip about that thing?
When You Feel Tempted to Gossip
- Pray
- Pray for them in that moment.
- Pray for them in your quiet time and whenever they come back to mind (Matthew 18: 19-20).
- Encouragement
- Call or text them to encourage them in the issue.
- This will help remind you that there is a real person on the other side of this information (1 Thessalonians 5:11).
- Call or text them to encourage them in the issue.
- Be Safe
- If they are in danger or this is too big, be honest with them that another person needs to be brought into the conversation.
- Walk Away
- Do not share even a hint of the situation unless they ask me to.
- Just walk away from any conversation where you feel tempted.
Related Post: How to Read The Bible Daily in 4 Steps
When You Feel Sucked Into A Gossipy Conversation
Do you get sucked into gossip before you realized it was happening? Me too! Wham just like that we are speculating about the situation or person when it is none of our business.
How do you get out of the conversations?
These are some phrases I use to exit the conversation (but be warned people will act differently toward you for a while)
- “This sounds like gossip and I don’t want to talk about it.”
- “I’m not a part of that situation so I can’t say what is happening, let’s go talk to ‘so and so’ about it”
- “Have you asked ‘so and so’ directly, they would be the ones to know?”
They work like a charm and the people involved will think twice before including you in those conversations again.
At first, it feels weird, but then it becomes freeing. Sin avoided. Integrity and trustworthiness still in place! This technique has the added bonus of helping others recognize sin in their lives without being “That Christian”.
Gossipping On Social Media
In
What Will Understanding Gossip in the Bible Change in You?
When we take our thoughts captive and work to avoid gossip we will have peace of mind. Period. The promise is real and yours to claim.
What will you do now that you understand gossip in the Bible?
It is amazing to me how quickly peace comes when I am intentional in thinking thoughts that are of good repute! You can have it too.
in HIM,
Tiffany of Hope Joy in Christ inspires Christian Women to grow in faith, live out Biblical Marriage Principles and raise Godly Children. Join the Wives Only Facebook Group here or keep up with her through Pinterest.
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I use several free online Bible Commentaries. I love Matthew Henry’s Commentary – I use https://www.biblegateway.com/ to access it. I also love https://www.blueletterbible.org/. I can dig into the original meaning of words there and see where they are used in other places in scripture. You can also hear how the Greek and Hebrew would sound if it were read… which is so much fun (I tend to be a word geek that way). Both are free and easy to use. I love how the internet makes digging into the word of God so much easier!
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in HIM,
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