Lashon HaRa
In Revelation 12:10 we read:
"…the accuser of our brothers… who accused them
day and night before our Eloah."
(Rev. 12:10)
The strategy of accusation includes both "slander" and "lashon hara". "Lashon HaRa" (the evil tongue) is the sin of harming another person with words, even when they are true. Those who would never harm a person with a stick, but would not hesitate to harm them with words.
The Torah tells us:
You shall not go up and down as a talebearer
among your people; neither shall you stand idly
by the blood of your neighbor: I am YHWH.
You shall not hate your brother in your heart.
You shall in no way rebuke your neighbor,
nor bring sin upon him,
You shall not avenge nor bear any grudge
against the children of your people,
but you shall love your neighbor as yourself.
I am YHWH.
(Lev. 19:16-18)
From these verses we learn not to be a “talebearer” and we learn that we are not to run around rebuking others. We are not to run around saying “did you know that Fred….?” even if the information with which we have to rebuke Fred is true.
The tongue is a weapon that can destroy:
Be not called a detractor;
Use not your tongue for calumny
(Sira 5:16)
13: Curse the whisperer and doubletongued: for such have destroyed many that were at peace.
14: A backbiting tongue hath disquieted many, and driven them from nation to nation: strong cities hath it pulled down, and overthrown the houses of great men.
15: A backbiting tongue hath cast out virtuous women, and deprived them of their labours.
16: Whoso hearkeneth unto it shall never find rest, and never dwell quietly.
17: The stroke of the whip maketh marks in the flesh: but the stroke of the tongue breaketh the bones.
18: Many have fallen by the edge of the sword: but not so many as have fallen by the tongue.
19: Well is he that is defended through the venom thereof; who hath not drawn the yoke thereof, nor hath been bound in her bands.
20: For the yoke thereof is a yoke of iron, and the bands thereof are bands of brass.
21: The death thereof is an evil death, the grave were better than it.
22: It shall not have rule over them that fear Elohim, neither shall they be burned with the flame thereof.
23: Such as forsake YHWH shall fall into it; and it shall burn in them, and not be quenched; it shall be sent upon them as a lion, and devour them as a leopard.
24: Look that thou hedge thy possession about with thorns, and bind up thy silver and gold,
25: And weigh thy words in a balance, and make a door and bar for thy mouth.
26: Beware thou slide not by it, lest thou fall before him that lieth in wait.
(Sira 28:12-26)
Ya’akov HaTzadik writes at length about how dangerous the tongue is (James 3:3-12).
While most men would not think of attacking another with a physical weapon, many will not think twice before harming another with Lashon HaRa.
When HaSatan comes before the throne of Elohim with accusation, there can be little doubt that the accusations are true (why would he even try to lie to the All-Knowing One). The Torah requires two witnesses for a case to brought. Thus HaSatan is always on the look out for a collaborating witness. When we engage in Lashon HaRa we place ourselves in the position of becoming HaSatan's collaborating witness.
"…the accuser of our brothers… who accused them
day and night before our Eloah."
(Rev. 12:10)
The strategy of accusation includes both "slander" and "lashon hara". "Lashon HaRa" (the evil tongue) is the sin of harming another person with words, even when they are true. Those who would never harm a person with a stick, but would not hesitate to harm them with words.
The Torah tells us:
You shall not go up and down as a talebearer
among your people; neither shall you stand idly
by the blood of your neighbor: I am YHWH.
You shall not hate your brother in your heart.
You shall in no way rebuke your neighbor,
nor bring sin upon him,
You shall not avenge nor bear any grudge
against the children of your people,
but you shall love your neighbor as yourself.
I am YHWH.
(Lev. 19:16-18)
From these verses we learn not to be a “talebearer” and we learn that we are not to run around rebuking others. We are not to run around saying “did you know that Fred….?” even if the information with which we have to rebuke Fred is true.
The tongue is a weapon that can destroy:
Be not called a detractor;
Use not your tongue for calumny
(Sira 5:16)
13: Curse the whisperer and doubletongued: for such have destroyed many that were at peace.
14: A backbiting tongue hath disquieted many, and driven them from nation to nation: strong cities hath it pulled down, and overthrown the houses of great men.
15: A backbiting tongue hath cast out virtuous women, and deprived them of their labours.
16: Whoso hearkeneth unto it shall never find rest, and never dwell quietly.
17: The stroke of the whip maketh marks in the flesh: but the stroke of the tongue breaketh the bones.
18: Many have fallen by the edge of the sword: but not so many as have fallen by the tongue.
19: Well is he that is defended through the venom thereof; who hath not drawn the yoke thereof, nor hath been bound in her bands.
20: For the yoke thereof is a yoke of iron, and the bands thereof are bands of brass.
21: The death thereof is an evil death, the grave were better than it.
22: It shall not have rule over them that fear Elohim, neither shall they be burned with the flame thereof.
23: Such as forsake YHWH shall fall into it; and it shall burn in them, and not be quenched; it shall be sent upon them as a lion, and devour them as a leopard.
24: Look that thou hedge thy possession about with thorns, and bind up thy silver and gold,
25: And weigh thy words in a balance, and make a door and bar for thy mouth.
26: Beware thou slide not by it, lest thou fall before him that lieth in wait.
(Sira 28:12-26)
Ya’akov HaTzadik writes at length about how dangerous the tongue is (James 3:3-12).
While most men would not think of attacking another with a physical weapon, many will not think twice before harming another with Lashon HaRa.
When HaSatan comes before the throne of Elohim with accusation, there can be little doubt that the accusations are true (why would he even try to lie to the All-Knowing One). The Torah requires two witnesses for a case to brought. Thus HaSatan is always on the look out for a collaborating witness. When we engage in Lashon HaRa we place ourselves in the position of becoming HaSatan's collaborating witness.
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