Definition and Nature:
Gossip, in a biblical context, refers to the act of spreading rumors or engaging in idle talk about others, often involving details that are not confirmed as true. It is characterized by the sharing of information that is not one's own to share, often with the intent or effect of harming another's reputation or sowing discord. The Bible consistently portrays gossip as a destructive behavior that is contrary to the teachings of love, unity, and truth.

Biblical References:

1. Proverbs 11:13 · "A gossip reveals a secret, but a trustworthy person keeps a confidence." This verse highlights the contrast between a gossip and a person of integrity. The act of revealing secrets is seen as a breach of trust, while keeping confidences is a mark of reliability and faithfulness.

2. Proverbs 16:28 · "A perverse man spreads dissension, and a gossip separates close friends." Here, gossip is linked with causing division and strife. The destructive power of gossip is emphasized, as it can sever even the closest of relationships.

3. Proverbs 18:8 · "The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down into the inmost parts." This metaphor suggests that gossip is enticing and can be consumed eagerly, yet it penetrates deeply, affecting the heart and soul of both the speaker and the listener.

4. Proverbs 20:19 · "He who reveals secrets is a constant gossip; avoid the one who babbles with his lips." This verse advises believers to distance themselves from those who habitually engage in gossip, recognizing the potential harm in associating with such individuals.

5. Romans 1:29-30 · In a list of unrighteous behaviors, Paul includes gossip alongside envy, murder, deceit, and malice, indicating the severity with which it is viewed: "They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed, and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant, and boastful."

6. 2 Corinthians 12:20 · Paul expresses concern about finding gossip among the Corinthians: "For 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, rivalries, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorder."

7. 1 Timothy 5:13 · Paul warns against idleness leading to gossip: "At the same time, they also learn to be idle, going from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying what they should not."

Moral and Spiritual Implications:
Gossip is seen as a sin that undermines community and fellowship within the body of Christ. It is often associated with other sins such as slander, deceit, and malice. The Bible calls believers to speak truthfully and lovingly, to build one another up rather than tear down. Gossip is antithetical to the Christian call to love one's neighbor as oneself (Mark 12:31) and to live in harmony and peace with others (Romans 12:18).

Practical Guidance:
Believers are encouraged to guard their tongues and to speak only what is edifying and beneficial to others (Ephesians 4:29). The practice of self-control and discernment in speech is vital. James 1:26 warns, "If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not bridle his tongue, he deceives his heart and his religion is worthless." Christians are called to be peacemakers, promoting unity and understanding rather than division and discord.

Conclusion:
While the Bible does not provide a specific formula for dealing with gossip, it offers principles that guide believers in avoiding and addressing it. By focusing on love, truth, and integrity, Christians can resist the temptation to engage in gossip and instead foster a community that reflects the character of Christ.Proverbs 20:19
He that goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flatters with his lips.
Topicalbible.org

Leviticus 19:16
You shall not go up and down as a talebearer among your people: neither shall you stand against the blood of your neighbor; I am the LORD.
Topicalbible.org

Proverbs 16:28
A fraudulent man sows strife: and a whisperer separates chief friends.
Topicalbible.org

1 Timothy 5:13
And with 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.
Topicalbible.org

Proverbs 11:13
A talebearer reveals secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit conceals the matter.
Topicalbible.org

Luke 6:31
And as you would that men should do to you, do you also to them likewise.
Topicalbible.org

Proverbs 18:8
The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
Topicalbible.org

James 4:11
Speak not evil one of another, brothers. He that speaks evil of his brother, and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law, and judges the law: but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law, but a judge.
Topicalbible.org

Proverbs 26:20
Where no wood is, there the fire goes out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceases.
Topicalbible.org

Exodus 20:16
You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
Topicalbible.org

1. (n.) A sponsor; a godfather or a godmother.

2. (n.) A friend or comrade; a companion; a familiar and customary acquaintance.

3. (n.) One who runs house to house, tattling and telling news; an idle tattler.

4. (n.) The tattle of a gossip; groundless rumor.

5. (v. t.) To stand sponsor to.

6. (v. i.) To make merry.

7. (v. i.) To prate; to chat; to talk much.

8. (v. i.) To run about and tattle; to tell idle tales.

5396. phluareo -- to talk nonsense
... to talk nonsense. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: phluareo Phonetic Spelling:
(floo-ar-eh'-o) Short Definition: I gossip against Definition: I gossip ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5396.htm - 7k

5587. psithurismos -- a whispering
... Cor 12:20).]. Word Origin from psithurizo (to whisper) Definition a whispering
NASB Word Usage gossip (1). whispering. From a derivative ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5587.htm - 7k

4691. spermologos -- a seed picker, fig. one who picks up scraps ...
... babbler. From sperma and lego; a seed-picker (as the crow), ie (figuratively) a
sponger, loafer (specially, a gossip or trifler in talk) -- babbler. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4691.htm - 6k

5588. psithuristes -- a whisperer
... Cognate: 5588 -- properly, a whisperer; a sneaky gossip (a "back-stabber"); a backbiter,
quietly (secretly) destroying another person's character -- ie covertly ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5588.htm - 6k

1225. diaballo -- to bring charges (usually with hostile intent)
... 1225 -- properly, "to throw across (back and forth), "either with rocks or words
(with slander, gossip, used only in Lk 16:1). The word implies malice even if ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1225.htm - 7k

8193. saphah -- lip, speech, edge
... from an unused word Definition lip, speech, edge NASB Word Usage babbling (2), bank
(10), binding (2), brim (9), edge (17), empty (2), gossip* (1), language (6 ...
/hebrew/8193.htm - 6k

6601a. pathah -- to be spacious, wide or open
... Word Origin a prim. root Definition to be spacious, wide or open NASB Word Usage
enlarge (1), gossip* (1). 6601, 6601a. pathah. 6601b . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/6601a.htm - 5k

Against Gossip
... ESSAYS iii Against Gossip. He that is hasty to trust is lightminded; and
he that sinneth shall offend against his own soul. He that ...
/.../various/select masterpieces of biblical literature/iii against gossip.htm

Of those who Gossip, and of Silence.
... LXXVI."Of Those Who Gossip, and of Silence. When a thing appears to anybody
of no consequence, and is not shunned, and it rushes ...
/.../commodianus/the instructions of commodianus/lxxvi of those who gossip and.htm

The Tenth Chapter: Avoiding Idle Talk
... SHUN the gossip of men as much as possible, for discussion of worldly affairs, even
though sincere, is a great distraction inasmuch as we are quickly ensnared ...
/.../kempis/the imitation of christ/the tenth chapter avoiding idle.htm

Testimonies from the Apostle Concerning the Spirit of Accidie.
... that ye take pains to be quiet;" ie, that you stop in your cells, and be not disturbed
by rumours, which generally spring from the wishes and gossip of idle ...
/.../cassian/the works of john cassian /chapter vii testimonies from the.htm

The Classes and the Masses
... horizon than thoughts concerning their husbands and children and jewels and curries,
and always their next-door neighbour's squabbles and the gossip of the ...
/.../wilson-carmichael/things as they are/chapter ix the classes and.htm

The Twentieth Chapter: the Love of Solitude and Silence
... If you withdraw yourself from unnecessary talking and idle running about, from
listening to gossip and rumors, you will find enough time that is suitable for ...
/.../kempis/the imitation of christ/the twentieth chapter the love.htm

Ephesians iv. 31
... "But what then," ye will say, "if she shall be a railer, or a gossip, or a drunkard?"
Yet, how many free women are such? ... If she be a gossip, silence her. ...
/.../homily xv ephesians iv 31.htm

The Lady Miriam
... The pair had spoken of all Memphis and its gossip; had given account of themselves
and had caught up with the present time in the succession of events. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/miller/the yoke/chapter vi the lady miriam.htm

The Tongue.
... busy-body; there was not a visit which they paid, not a foolish dress which they
adopted, but became the subject of bitter scrutiny and malevolent gossip. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/robertson/sermons preached at brighton/i the tongue.htm

Ninth Commandment
... Falserumor"exaggeration"misrepresentation "insinuation"gossip"equivocation"
holding back of the truth when it is due and right to tell it ...
//christianbookshelf.org/moody/weighed and wanting/ninth commandment.htm

Gossip (7 Occurrences)
... 3. (n.) One who runs house to house, tattling and telling news; an idle tattler.
4. (n.) The tattle of a gossip; groundless rumor. ...Gossip (7 Occurrences). ...
/g/gossip.htm - 9k

Tale (7 Occurrences)
... In talebearer the word has another meaning, namely, "slanderous talk or gossip."
The word occurs 5 times in Proverbs 11:13; Proverbs 18:8; Proverbs 20:19 ...
/t/tale.htm - 12k

Quiet (167 Occurrences)
... In the New Testament, it is the translation of hesuchazo, "to refrain from gossip
or meddlesomehess": "that ye study to be quiet": (1 Thessalonians 4:11), and ...
/q/quiet.htm - 37k

Gossipers (1 Occurrence)

/g/gossipers.htm - 6k

Gossamer (1 Occurrence)

/g/gossamer.htm - 7k

Idleness (4 Occurrences)
... argos, literally, "inactive," "useless" (Matthew 20:3, 6). In Luke 24:11 "idle talk"
corresponds to one Greek word which means "empty gossip" or "nonsensical ...
/i/idleness.htm - 9k

Innermost (22 Occurrences)
... (WEB JPS ASV). Proverbs 18:8 The words of a gossip are like dainty morsels: they
go down into a person's innermost parts. (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS). ...
/i/innermost.htm - 13k

Idle (33 Occurrences)
... argos, literally, "inactive," "useless" (Matthew 20:3, 6). In Luke 24:11 "idle talk"
corresponds to one Greek word which means "empty gossip" or "nonsensical ...
/i/idle.htm - 18k

Dainty (7 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS RSV). Proverbs 18:8 The words of a gossip are like dainty
morsels: they go down into a person's innermost parts. (WEB JPS ASV DBY NAS). ...
/d/dainty.htm - 10k

Mart (2 Occurrences)
... present at the time, eg Paul and Silas at Philippi (Acts 16:19); (6) a place for
religious and probably political or philosophical discussion (gossip also), a ...
/m/mart.htm - 11k

What is the danger in gossiping about your pastor and his family? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible say about gossip? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible say about backbiting? | GotQuestions.org

Gossip: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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