Greek word · G2635

καταλαλέω

katalaleō

to slander

Built from kata ('down, against') and laleō ('talk'). It means speaking against someone: disparaging, running down, maligning, speaking ill of. It is about the hostile aim of the talk, not whether it is true.

Appears 5 times in 3 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

κατα-λαλέω, -ῶ

[in LXX chiefly for דָבַר ni., pi. ;]

to speak evil of, rail at: in cl., with accusative; in LXX,

(a) with genitive,

(b) before κατά, with genitive; in NT, with genitive (M, Pr., 65): James 4:11, 1 Peter 2:12; pass., 1 Peter 3:16,†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of James 4:11

Range of meaning

Built from kata ('down, against') and laleō ('talk'). It means speaking against someone: disparaging, running down, maligning, speaking ill of. It is about the hostile aim of the talk, not whether it is true. The related noun katalalia ('evil-speaking, backbiting') and the person-noun katalalos ('slanderer, backbiter') belong to the same family (BDAG).

Against the English

BSB and NIV say 'slander.' KJV and ESV say 'speak evil (against).' NASB and WEB say 'speak against.' In modern English 'slander' tends to mean a false, damaging statement (it is a legal term). The Greek is wider: true but belittling talk is just as much katalalia.

How it drifted

'Slander' was once a looser word for evil report, but modern legal usage has narrowed it to falsehood. 'Speak evil' (KJV) is closer, though it sounds archaic.

Used elsewhere in the period

In the Greek Old Testament (the Septuagint, LXX) Israel 'spoke against God and against Moses' (Num 21:5; compare Miriam and Aaron in Num 12:8). Ps 50:20 (LXX 49:20) has 'you sat and spoke against your brother', and Ps 101:5 (LXX 100:5) 'the one who secretly speaks against his neighbour, him I destroyed.' Wisdom 1:11 warns against katalalia. In the New Testament: Rom 1:30, 2 Cor 12:20, 1 Pet 2:1, 2:12, 3:16. The early Christian Shepherd of Hermas (Mandate 2) calls katalalia a 'restless demon.' The Dead Sea Scrolls' Community Rule (1QS VII 15–17) excludes from the community meal for a year anyone who 'goes about slandering his fellow,' and expels anyone who slanders the community as a whole.

From the study of 1 Peter 3:16

Range of meaning

'To speak down against': to defame, malign, slander, run someone down verbally, usually behind their back or in public opinion rather than in a formal lawsuit.

Against the English

Translations divide between 'slander' (BSB, ESV, NIV-type), 'speak evil of' (KJV) and 'speak against' (WEB, YLT). 'Slander' implies the charges are false, which the context supports. 'Speak against' is more literal.

Used elsewhere in the period

In the Septuagint it is used of speaking against God and Moses (Num 21:5–7) and of slandering a neighbor (Ps 50:20 [LXX 49:20]; Ps 101:5 [LXX 100:5]). In 1 Peter, compare 2:1 (put away katalalia) and 2:12, the close parallel 'in what they speak against you as evildoers'. James 4:11 also uses it.

Similar words

Where it appears

James · 3

  1. James 4:11 καταλαλεῖτε καταλαλῶν καταλαλεῖ do speak against, speaking against, speaks against

    Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. And if you judge the law, you are not a practitioner of the law, but a judge of it.

    Here: Literally 'talk down against.' It means hostile, belittling talk about someone. The talk can be true or false, and it usually happens behind the person's back. The present tense suggests James is naming something already going on in the quarrelling community of 4:1–2.

1 Peter · 2

  1. 1 Peter 2:12 καταλαλοῦσιν they speak against

    Conduct yourselves with such honor among the Gentiles that, though they slander you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us.

    Here: To talk someone down: malicious talk and damaging accusation. The present tense shows it is already happening and still going on.

  2. 1 Peter 3:16 καταλαλεῖσθε you are spoken against

    keeping a clear conscience, so that those who slander you may be put to shame by your good behavior in Christ.

    Here: Present passive: 'you are being spoken against'. It describes slander that is going on now, the ordinary social hostility the readers already face.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.