καταλαλιά

From the study of 1 Peter 2:1

Range of meaning

Speaking against, talking someone down, disparaging them. Usually this means talking about a person rather than to them, often behind their back. Whether the content is true or false is not part of the word's meaning.

Against the English

BSB, ESV, NIV and NASB have 'slander'. KJV, WEB and YLT have 'evil speaking(s)', and NLT 'unkind speech'. The older and looser renderings are actually closer to the Greek.

How it drifted

Modern 'slander' is shaped by its legal meaning: a false spoken statement that damages a reputation. Katalalia includes that but goes further. It covers true but belittling talk, running people down, and backbiting.

Used elsewhere in the period

The noun is rare before the NT (Wisdom 1:11: 'refrain the tongue from katalalia'; 2 Cor 12:20). The verb katalaleō appears in the Septuagint in Num 21:5 (Israel 'spoke against' God and Moses), Ps 50:20 LXX 49:20 ('you sat and spoke against your brother') and Ps 101:5 LXX 100:5 ('one who secretly speaks against his neighbor'). Jas 4:11: 'do not speak against one another.' Hermas, Mandate 2, treats it at length as a restless evil spirit. In 1 Pet 2:12 and 3:16 outsiders katalaleō believers 'as evildoers'.

From the study of 2 Corinthians 12:20

Range of meaning

καταλαλιά means speaking against someone, defamation, running down. ψιθυρισμός means whispering, secret talebearing, insinuation passed along quietly.

Against the English

'Slander, gossip' (BSB, ESV, NIV) is fine. KJV 'backbitings, whisperings' keeps the two pictures. English 'slander' has a legal ring (a false statement that harms a reputation), while καταλαλιά covers any disparaging talk, true or false.

Used elsewhere in the period

Paul pairs the two again in Rom 1:29–30 ('whisperers, slanderers'). In the Septuagint, ψιθυρισμός can mean a snake charmer's whispered spell (Eccl 10:11). καταλαλιά appears in 1 Pet 2:1.