EVIL-SPEAKING

e-v'-l-spek'-ing:

Occurs twice in English Versions:

(1) 1 Peter 2:1 it is the translation of katalalia, "a speaking against," rendered "backbiting" in 2 Corinthians 12:20; compare katalalos, "backbiter" (Romans 1:30); the verb katalaleo is rendered to "speak against" (1 Peter 2:12 James 4:11 1 Peter 3:16);

(2) of blasphemia, "what is hurtful to the good name of anyone," "detraction," "slander" (Ephesians 4:31 the Revised Version (British and American), "railing"; compare 1 Timothy 6:4 Jude 1:9; Colossians 3:8); the verb blasphemeo is rendered to "speak evil of" (Romans 14:16 1 Corinthians 10:30 Titus 3:2, etc.); to "speak evil" occurs in Mark 9:39 as the translation of kakologeo, "lightly (the Revised Version (British and American) "quickly") speak evil of me"; Acts 19:9 the King James Version "spake evil of that way." In Psalm 140:11, we have "evil-speaker" as the translation of 'ish lashon, "a man of tongue"; so the Revised Version (British and American). The wrong thing condemned as evil-speaking seems to be essentially detraction, what is hurtful to the reputation, and it is often too lightly regarded even among Christians.

See BLASPHEMY; RAILING; SLANDER.

W. L. Walker

Is expressly forbidden (Titus 3:2; James 4:11), and severe punishments are denounced against it (1 Corinthians 5:11; 6:10). It is spoken of also with abhorrence (Psalm 15:3; Proverbs 18:6, 7), and is foreign to the whole Christian character and the example of Christ.