Lashon hara

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Lashon Hara

Lashon hara is said to mean in Hebrew something like an "evil tongue" or any form of "evil speech", and any form of slander or gossip, as a talebearer or false witness. The phrase "lashon hara" is a rabbinic legal concept built[1] upon several foundational verses that prohibit gossip, talebearing, and malicious speech.

The song of David

Numerous verses are the source of this doctrine:

Psalms 34:13 "Keep thy tongue(ləšōwnḵā לְשׁוֹנְךָ֣)[2] from evil(mêrā‘ מֵרָ֑ע)[3], and thy lips from speaking guile."[4]

All the admonitions in Psalms, including chapter 34, is about guiding man away from evil toward righteousness which continues in verse 14.

Psalms 34:14 "Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it."[5]

Talebearer

In presentation of a Jewish legal foundation we can see the prohibition of lashon hara as a negative commandment forbidding tale bearing.

The Hebrew word for talebearer is the term rachil (רכיל)[6] seen in Leviticus 19:16. The word we see there shares a root with the word for a trafficker. Rabbi often establish that this gossip "traffics" in secrets and questionable information or storytelling from house to house, destroying reputations.

Today we have the internet and social media that destroys reputations with misinformation to cancel and destroy people:

  • Leviticus 19:16 "Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer(רָכִיל֙ rā·ḵîl[6]) among thy people: neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbour: I am the LORD."

This of coarse has been recognized as the central biblical prohibition against sharing gossip and any negative speech. since Exodus 23:7 is interpreted to prohibit engaging in or listening to all modern media. Most all publisher of news or even reading their often fallacious and false narratives and not merely the gossip of tabloids.

  • Exodus 23:6 "Thou shalt not wrest the judgment[7] of thy poor in his cause. 7 Keep thee far from a false(šeqer שֶׁ֖קֶר)[8] matter(mid·də·ḇar מִדְּבַר־)[9]; and the innocent and righteous slay thou not: for I will not justify the wicked."

Rechilut (Talebearing)[6] is the passing of any information or rhetoric about what others have supposedly said or done which might create hatred or jealousy, even if it is not inherently negative.

Not libel

So, the act of Lashon hara applies even if what is said or published is true which is unlike secular statutes concerning libel which regularly require a statement to be known as false.

In Rabbinic doctrines the sharing harmful truths about someone is still forbidden but in truth this depends upon the intent of the speech. To share harmful truths about someone is not forbidden in itself because they may be a protection from abuse and injury.

Intent

It is forbidden to speak or spread Lashon hara, it is also prohibited to listen to or believe it in a way the confirms ill intent. The prohibition is meant to protect people from malice, but it also applies to careless gossip that causes embarrassment (ona'at devarim). Root seem to be jealousy, envy, and pride.

Warning to Miriam

We are reminded in Deuteronomy 24:9 that God's power and wrath is drawn to those who engage in Lashon hara with leprosy for speaking negatively about her brother, Moses:

Miriam and Aaron (Numbers 12): Miriam spoke against Moses regarding his wife, resulting in a temporary skin disease (tzara'at).

Lashon hara or Evil Speech can be true, negative speech that causes damage to someone's reputation, emotions, or finances. Lashon hara was the original triggering hate speech. We should forgive and leave judgement to God, for that judgement is righteous.

Just as we saw in the Song of David in Psalms 34 and should see and hear in the Song of Moses and the Song of the Lamb we see the same warning in 1 Peter 3:

"10 For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: 11 Let him eschew[10] evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. 12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil."


Not only slander

Motzi Shem Ra (False Slander) which is the spreading of lies or completely fabricating negative information about a person qualifies as Lashon hara but is not limited to it.

Discouraging speech

The Spies (Numbers 13-14): The spies gave a discouraging and negative report about the Land of Israel, which is categorized as a high form of Lashon hara.

Exceptions

Lashon hara is permitted only in specific, constructive scenarios, such as preventing someone from being harmed, but it must adhere to strict guidelines (e.g., it must be for a constructive purpose and not out of malicious intent


Evil Speech

Deuteronomy 22:14 "And give occasions of speech[11] against her, and bring up an evil[3] name[12] upon her, and say, I took this woman, and when I came to her, I found her not a maid:"[13]

Backbiteth

Psalms 15:3 "[He that] backbiteth[14] not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour."

Psalms 15 begins with "LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?"

Those who see the spiritual revelation of scripture know there is the ancient tabernacle made of wood, wool, and woven ropes constructed by the hands of men recently freed by the wisdom and will of God from the bondage of Egypt to pursue the kingdom of God. There is also the tabernacle made of flesh, blood, and bones by the hand of God.

Both need the spirit of God

Summary

Lashon hara can include almost any negative, derogatory, or harmful words spoken about another person. It may be considered distinct from lying or slander because it may be counted as Lashon hara even if what is said is true. It is often about the intent of damaging others or their reputation in the minds of people through the speech itself. Any defamatory speech about whole groups of people because of race, creed, culture, or political choices could be labeled Lashon hara and therefore would be forbidden.

It is the damage factor that is core to the meaning of of Lashon hara, whether the information could cause someone physical, emotional, or financial harm and because God is judge, the intent.

  1. ↑ "Who is the man who desires life, and loves many days, that he may see good? Keep your tongue from evil (ləšōwnḵā mêrā‘; לְשׁוֹנְךָ֣ מֵרָ֑ע), and your lips from speaking deceit." See also Chafetz Chaimby Rabbi Yisrael Meir Kagan(1873).
  2. ↑ 03956 לָשׁוֹן‎ LamedShinVavNun lashown [law-shone’] or לשׁן‎ lashon [law-shone’] also (in plural) feminine לשׁנה‎ lëshonah [lesh-o-naw’] from 03960 LamedShinNun slander; n m/n f; [BDB-546a] [{See TWOT on 1131 @@ "1131a" }] AV-tongue 98, language 10, bay 3, wedge 2, babbler 1, flame 1, speaker + 0376 1, talkers 1; 117
    1) tongue
    1a) tongue (of men)
    1a1) tongue (literal)
    1a2) tongue (organ of speech)
    1b) language
    1c) tongue (of animals)
    1d) tongue (of fire)
    1e) wedge, bay of sea (tongue-shaped)
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 07451 ^ער^ ra‘ ReishAyin \@rah\@ or fem. ^הער^ ra‘ah from 07489 the verb 07490 (Aramic)ReishAyinAyin evil (to crush); AV-evil 442, wickedness 59, wicked 25, mischief 21, hurt 20, bad 13, trouble 10, sore 9, affliction 6, ill 5, adversity 4, favoured 3, harm 3, naught 3, noisome 2, grievous 2, sad 2, misc 34; 663
    adj
    1) bad, evil
    1a) bad, disagreeable, malignant
    1b) bad, unpleasant, evil (giving pain, unhappiness, misery)
    1c) evil, displeasing
    1d) bad (of its kind-land, water, etc)
    1e) bad (of value)
    1f) worse than, worst (comparison)
    1g) sad, unhappy
    1h) evil (hurtful)
    1i) bad, unkind (vicious in disposition)
    1j) bad, evil, wicked (ethically)
    1j1) in general, of persons, of thoughts
    1j2) deeds, actions
    n m
    2) evil, distress, misery, injury, calamity
    2a) evil, distress, adversity
    2b) evil, injury, wrong
    2c) evil (ethical)
    n f
    3) evil, misery, distress, injury
    3a) evil, misery, distress
    3b) evil, injury, wrong
    3c) evil (ethical)
    • ר Reish Process of Clarification The "head" or "beginning". Life's revelation. [Head... Person head highest] (Numeric value: 200).
    • ע Ayin also U. Divine Providence "eye" or "fountain" of five states of kindness or severity. AlefYodNun or nothingness as opposed to AlefShin something [eye, watch] (Numeric value: 70)
  4. ↑ Psalms 34:13 "Keep <05341> thy tongue <03956> from evil <07451>, and thy lips <08193> from speaking <01696> guile <04820>.
  5. ↑ Psalms 34:14 Depart <05493> from evil <07451>, and do <06213> good <02896>; seek <01245> peace <07965>, and pursue <07291> it.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 07400 רָכִיל‎ rakiyl raw-keel’ from 07402 רָכַל‎ rakal doubiously a scandal-monger (as travelling about) associated with a trafficker; n m; [BDB-940b] {See TWOT on 2165 @@ "2165b" } AV-slander 2, talebearer 2, talebearer + 01980 1, carry tales 1; 6
    1) slander, slanderer, tale bearer, informer
  7. ↑ 04941 ^טפשׁמ^ MemShinPeiTet mishpat \@mish-pawt’\@ מִשְׁפָּט has 50 different variations and appears some 420 times and is from the three letter Hebrew word 08199 טפשׁ; n m; {See TWOT on 2443 @@ "2443c"} AV-judgment 296, manner 38, right 18, cause 12, ordinance 11, lawful 7, order 5, worthy 3, fashion 3, custom 2, discretion 2, law 2, measure 2, sentence 2, misc 18; 421
    1) judgment, justice, ordinance
    1a) judgment
    1a1) act of deciding a case
    1a2) place, court, seat of judgment
    1a3) process, procedure, litigation (before judges)
    1a4) case, cause (presented for judgment)
    1a5) sentence, decision (of judgment)
    1a6) execution (of judgment)
    1a7) time (of judgment)
    1b) justice, right, rectitude (attributes of God or man)
    1c) ordinance
    1d) decision (in law)
    1e) right, privilege, due (legal)
    1f) proper, fitting, measure, fitness, custom, manner, plan
    See Deuteronomy 25
    • מ ם Mem Fountain of water, a flow, a fountain of the Divine Wisdom [massive, overpower chaos] (Numeric value: 40)
    • ש Shin Eternal Flame of Spiritual Revelation, bound to the coal of righteousness, the Divine Essence. [sun... teeth... consume destroy] (Numeric value: 300)
    • פ ף Pei Communication; follows Ayin to suggest that seeing and understanding must preceed: The Oral Torah The mouth, blow, edge. [Mouth speak open word] (Numeric value: 80)
    • ט Tet Introversion - The Concealed power of good or paradoxically evil [to twist a snake... wheel To surround (gestation)] (Numeric value: 9)
  8. ↑ 08267 שֶׁקֶר‎ sheqer [sheh’-ker] from 08266; n m; [BDB-1055a] [{See TWOT on 2461 @@ "2461a" }] AV-lie 28, lying 21, false 20, falsehood 13, falsely 13, vain 5, wrongfully 4, deceitful 2, deceit 1, liar 1, misc 5; 113
    1) lie, deception, disappointment, falsehood
    1a) deception (what deceives or disappoints or betrays one)
    1b) deceit, fraud, wrong
    1b1) fraudulently, wrongfully (as adverb)
    1c) falsehood (injurious in testimony)
    1c1) testify falsehood, false oath, swear falsely
    1d) falsity (of false or self-deceived prophets)
    1e) lie, falsehood (in general)
    1e1) false tongue
    1f) in vain
  9. ↑ 01697 ^רבד^ DaletBeitReish dabar \@daw-baw’\@ DaletBeitReish from 01696 meaning speak as in declare a pattern; The same letters may represent a pasture (01699) n m; AV-word 807, thing 231, matter 63, acts 51, chronicles 38, saying 25, commandment 20, misc 204; 1439
    1) speech, word, speaking, thing
    1a) speech
    1b) saying, utterance
    1c) word, words
    1d) business, occupation, acts, matter, case, something, manner (by extension)
    • ד Dalet Selflessness – Charity, back and forth or through a door or pathway, to enter like a fish (Numeric value: 4)
    • ב Beit Purpose: God's Dwelling Place Below - a house or God's house here. [household, in, into] (Numeric value: 2)
    • ר Reish Process of Clarification The "head" or "beginning". Life's revelation. [Head... Person head highest] (Numeric value: 200).
  10. ↑ 1578 ~ἐκκλίνω~ ekklino \@ek-klee’-no\@ from 1537 and 2827; ; v AV-eschew 1, avoid 1, go out of the way 1; 3
    1) to turn aside, deviate (from the right way and course)
    2) to turn (one’s self) away, to turn away from, keep aloof from one’s society
    3) to shun one
  11. ↑ 01697 ^רבד^ DaletBeitReish dabar \@daw-baw’\@ DaletBeitReish from 01696 meaning speak as in declare a pattern; The same letters may represent a pasture (01699) n m; AV-word 807, thing 231, matter 63, acts 51, chronicles 38, saying 25, commandment 20, misc 204; 1439
    1) speech, word, speaking, thing
    1a) speech
    1b) saying, utterance
    1c) word, words
    1d) business, occupation, acts, matter, case, something, manner (by extension)
    • ד Dalet Selflessness – Charity, back and forth or through a door or pathway, to enter like a fish (Numeric value: 4)
    • ב Beit Purpose: God's Dwelling Place Below - a house or God's house here. [household, in, into] (Numeric value: 2)
    • ר Reish Process of Clarification The "head" or "beginning". Life's revelation. [Head... Person head highest] (Numeric value: 200).
  12. ↑ 08034 שֵׁם‎ shem [shame] a primitive word [perhaps rather from 07760 שׂוּם‎ to put, place, set, appoint, make, through the idea of definite and conspicuous position; n m; [BDB-1027b] [{See TWOT on 2405 }] AV-name 832, renown 7, fame 4, famous 3, named 3, named + 07121 2, famous + 07121 1, infamous + 02931 1, report 1, misc 10; 864
    1) name
    1a) name
    1b) reputation, fame, glory
    1c) the Name (as designation of God)
    1d) memorial, monument
  13. ↑ Deuteronomy 22:14 And give <07760> (8804) occasions <05949> of speech <01697> against her, and bring up <03318> (8689) an evil <07451> name <08034> upon her, and say <0559> (8804), I took <03947> (8804) this woman <0802>, and when I came <07126> (8799) to her, I found <04672> (8804) her not a maid <01331>:
  14. ↑ 07270 רָגַל‎ ragal [raw-gal’] a primitive root; v; [BDB-920a] [{See TWOT on 2113 }] AV-spy 12, spy out 8, view 2, backbiteth 1, espy out 1, slandered 1; 25
    1) to go on foot, spy out, foot it, go about, walk along, move the feet
    1a) (Qal) to be a tale-bearer, slander, go about
    1b) (Piel)
    1b1) to slander
    1b2) to go about as explorer, spy
    1c) (Tiphel) to teach to walk
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