Evil-Speaking:

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

Occurs twice in English Versions:

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

(2) of blasphemia, "what is hurtful to the good name of anyone," "detraction," "slander" (Eph 4:31 the Revised Version (British and American), "railing"; compare 1Ti 6:4; Jude 1:9; Col 3:8); the verb blasphemeo is rendered to "speak evil of" (Ro 14:16; 1Co 10:30; Tit 3:2, etc.); to "speak evil" occurs in Mr 9:39 as the translation of kakologeo, "lightly (the Revised Version (British and American) "quickly") speak evil of me"; Ac 19:9 the King James Version "spake evil of that way." In Ps 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.

Written by W. L. Walker

See BLASPHEMY

See RAILING

See SLANDER