| A “whisperer” is one who in stealthy and secretive ways spreads unkind rumors about the character or the actions of another. Today we call it “gossip,” but God’s Word calls a “gossip” a “talebearer.” Such a person goes about as a scandal-monger and “separateth chief friends” and, like certain widows spoken of by Paul, become “tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.” God warns His children to flee from such conduct, from “debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults,” for “the words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.” So “thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people,” for “a talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.” The Lord says that He hates “a false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.” “He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.” “Let none of you suffer … as a busybody in other men’s matters.” “Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.” |
