Topics

Slander

Slander is bearing false witness against others through malicious speech, which Scripture explicitly condemns as sin. God's Word calls believers to guard their tongues and pursue truthfulness in all communication.

Overview

Slander—spreading false reports or malicious lies about others—violates God's character and damages His kingdom. The Bible consistently identifies slander among the gravest sins, listing it alongside murder and hatred. As followers of Christ, believers are called to speak truth in love and refuse to participate in false accusations.

Key Scriptures

"And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, 'Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down' (Revelation 12:10, NASB).

"There are six things which the Lord hates...a false witness who utters lies, and one who spreads strife among brothers" (Proverbs 6:16, 19, NASB).

"You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor" (Exodus 20:16, ESV).

"Blessed is the one...who does not slander with his tongue" (Psalms 15:1, 3, ESV).

Application

Guard your speech carefully by refusing to repeat unverified accusations and actively defending the reputations of those being slandered.

Scripture References 40

Revelation 12:10 Proverbs 6:16 Proverbs 6:19 Ecclesiastes 10:11 Romans 1:30 2 Corinthians 12:20 Exodus 20:16 Deuteronomy 5:20 Luke 3:14 Matthew 5:11 Proverbs 25:23 Psalms 15:1 Psalms 15:3 1 Kings 21:13 Psalms 35:11 Matthew 26:60 Matthew 15:19 Luke 6:45 Psalms 31:13 Proverbs 18:8 Proverbs 26:22 Jeremiah 20:10 1 Corinthians 4:13 Proverbs 6:19 1 Samuel 22:9 1 Samuel 22:10 1 Samuel 22:11 Ecclesiastes 10:13 Acts 17:7 Acts 6:11 Ezra 4:7 Ezra 4:8 Ezra 4:9 Ezra 4:10 Ezra 4:11 Ezra 4:12 Ezra 4:13 Ezra 4:14 Ezra 4:15 Ezra 4:16

Full Topical Reference List 148 total — Nave's Topical Bible

A characteristic of the devil

Revelation 12:10

An abomination to God

Proverbs 6:16 Proverbs 6:19

Babbling

Ecclesiastes 10:11

Backbiting

2 Corinthians 12:20 Romans 1:30

Bearing false witness

Deuteronomy 5:20 Exodus 20:16 Luke 3:14

Blessed in enduring

Matthew 5:11

Causes anger

Characterised as avoiding

Psalms 15:1 Psalms 15:3

Children of Belial

1 Kings 21:13

Christ was exposed to

Matthew 26:60 Psalms 35:11

Comes from the evil heart

Luke 6:45 Matthew 15:19

David's enemies

Psalms 31:13

Deadly wounds

Proverbs 18:8 Proverbs 26:22

Defaming

1 Corinthians 4:13 Jeremiah 20:10

Discord among brethren

Proverbs 6:19

Doeg

1 Samuel 22:9 1 Samuel 22:10 1 Samuel 22:11

End of, is mischievous madness

Ecclesiastes 10:13

Enemies of Paul

Acts 17:7

Enemies of Stephen

Acts 6:11

Enemies of the Jews

Ezra 4:7 Ezra 4:8 Ezra 4:9 Ezra 4:10 Ezra 4:11 Ezra 4:12 Ezra 4:13 Ezra 4:14 Ezra 4:15 Ezra 4:16

Evil speaking

Psalms 41:5 Psalms 109:20

Evil surmising

1 Timothy 6:4

Forbidden

Ephesians 4:31 Exodus 23:1 James 4:11

Gashmu

Nehemiah 6:6

Haman

Esther 3:8

Hypocrites addicted to

Proverbs 11:9

Idleness leads to

Illustrated

Proverbs 12:18 Proverbs 25:18

Is a deceitful work

Psalms 52:2

Is destructive

Proverbs 11:9

Is venomous

Ecclesiastes 10:11 Psalms 140:3

Jeremiah's enemies

Jeremiah 38:4

Jews

Matthew 11:18 Matthew 11:19

Judging charitably

James 4:11 James 4:12

Laban's Sons

Genesis 31:1

Men shall give account for

James 1:26 Matthew 12:36

Ministers exposed to

2 Corinthians 6:8 Romans 3:8

Minister's wives should avoid

Ministers' wives should avoid

Murder

Ezekiel 22:9 Psalms 31:13

Often arises from hatred

Psalms 41:7 Psalms 109:3

Priests

Mark 15:3

Princes of Ammon

2 Samuel 10:3

Punishment for

Deuteronomy 19:16 Deuteronomy 19:17 Deuteronomy 19:18 Deuteronomy 19:19 Deuteronomy 19:20 Deuteronomy 19:21 Psalms 101:5

Raising false reports

Exodus 23:1

Repeating matters

Proverbs 17:9

Rulers exposed to

2 Peter 2:10 Jude 1:8

Saints exposed to

1 Peter 4:4 Psalms 38:12 Psalms 109:2

Separating friends

Proverbs 16:28 Proverbs 17:9

Should be discountenanced with anger

Should be warned against

Titus 3:1 Titus 3:2

Should give no occasion for

1 Peter 2:12 1 Peter 3:16

Should keep their tongue from

1 Peter 3:10 Psalms 34:13

Should lay aside

1 Peter 2:1 Ephesians 4:31

Should not be listened to

1 Samuel 24:9

Should return good for

1 Corinthians 4:13

Strife

Tale-bearing

Leviticus 19:16

Tattling

Tertullus

Acts 24:2 Acts 24:5

The nearest relations exposed to

Psalms 50:20

The tongue of, is a scourge

Job 5:21

The wicked addicted to

Jeremiah 6:28 Jeremiah 9:4 Psalms 50:20

The wicked love

Psalms 52:4

They who indulge in, are fools

They who indulge in, not to be trusted

Jeremiah 9:4

Unclassified scriptures relating to

1 Corinthians 4:13 1 Corinthians 6:10 1 Peter 2:1 2 Corinthians 12:20 2 Peter 2:10 Deuteronomy 22:13 Deuteronomy 22:14 Deuteronomy 22:15 Deuteronomy 22:16 Deuteronomy 22:17 Deuteronomy 22:18 Deuteronomy 22:19 Exodus 23:1 James 4:11 Jeremiah 6:28 Jeremiah 9:4 Job 5:21 Proverbs 10:18 Proverbs 25:23 Psalms 41:6 Psalms 41:7 Psalms 41:8 Psalms 41:9 Psalms 50:20 Psalms 101:5 Romans 1:29 Romans 1:30

Whispering

2 Corinthians 12:20 Romans 1:29

Witnesses against Christ

Matthew 26:59 Matthew 26:60 Matthew 26:61

Women warned against

Titus 2:3

Ziba

2 Samuel 16:3

Build a Study Print Back to Topics