76. Tale-Bearing

Deios 7:1

One who spreads gossip about another person violates the prohibition of “Do not go about as a tale-bearer among your people” (Leviticus 19:16). Even though this transgression is not liable to the penalty of lashes, it is still a very severe sin that can cause the loss of innocent lives. This is why the Torah juxtaposes the prohibition of “Do not stand idly over your neighbor's blood” (ibid.). For an example of gossip costing lives, see the slander spread by Doeg the Edomite as related in I Samuel chapter 22.

Deios 7:2

A tale-bearer is one who gathers information, then goes from person to person telling everyone, “Person A said this…,” “Here’s what I heard about Person B,” etc. Even if such statements are true, they nevertheless ruin the world.

An even greater sin that is included in this prohibition is lashon hara (literally “evil speech”). Lashon hara means to spread disparaging information about another person, even though the information is true. If one lies, it’s called motzi shem ra (spreading a bad name, or slander). Lashon hara is simply relating, “This is what Person C did,” “His parents were such-and-such,” “Here’s what I heard about him,” etc., saying negative things. Regarding this sin, Psalms 12:4 says, “May God cut off all deceitful lips, the tongues that speak proud things....”