He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.
Parallel translations
- WEB He who doesn’t slander with his tongue, nor does evil to his friend, nor casts slurs against his fellow man;
- BSB who has no slander on his tongue, who does no harm to his neighbor, who casts no scorn on his friend,
- NKJV He who does not backbite with his tongue, Nor does evil to his neighbor, Nor does he take up a reproach against his friend;
- NASB He does not slander with his tongue, Nor do evil to his neighbor, Nor bring shame on his friend;
- NLT Those who refuse to gossip or harm their neighbors or speak evil of their friends.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The godly person does no harm with the tongue and does not slander or wrong his neighbor. It matters because how we treat others reveals whether we truly belong to God.
Overview
The character of one fit for God's presence includes restraint of the tongue, refusing to slander, harm a friend, or reproach a neighbor. Loving one's neighbor in word and deed is integral to genuine godliness. This echoes the second great commandment that Jesus affirmed and embodied.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 16
- Rom 13:10Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
- Ps 101:5–8Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off: him that hath an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer.
- Matt 7:12Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
- Jas 4:11Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.
- Lev 19:16Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people: neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbour: I am the LORD.
- 3 Jn 1:11Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.
- Jer 9:4–9Take ye heed every one of his neighbour, and trust ye not in any brother: for every brother will utterly supplant, and every neighbour will walk with slanders.
- Exod 23:1–33Thou shalt not raise a false report: put not thine hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness.
- 1 Pet 2:1–2Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,
- Isa 56:2Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth hold on it; that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil.
- Prov 25:3The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unsearchable.
- Prov 22:10Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease.
- Rom 1:30Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
- Titus 3:2To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.
- 1 Sam 24:11Moreover, my father, see, yea, see the skirt of thy robe in my hand: for in that I cut off the skirt of thy robe, and killed thee not, know thou and see that there is neither evil nor transgression in mine hand, and I have not sinned against thee; yet thou huntest my soul to take it.
- Rom 12:17Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
The Psalms are Christ's own prayer book and a gallery of his portraits — the suffering one of Psalm 22, the risen Lord of Psalm 16, the priest-king of Psalm 110, the Son to whom the nations are given.
How Psalms 15:3 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.