λοίδορος

From the study of 1 Corinthians 5:11

Range of meaning

An abusive, insulting person: one who heaps verbal abuse, reviles, rails at others, usually openly and to their face, with the aim of shaming them. Related to λοιδορέω, 'to revile', and λοιδορία, 'abuse'.

Against the English

WEB/NIV 'slanderer' suggests telling false stories behind someone's back, which is a different sin. KJV/YLT 'railer' and ESV 'reviler' are accurate but archaic. BSB 'verbal abuser' is the clearest modern equivalent.

How it drifted

'Slander' in modern English is a legal and moral term for false statements that damage reputation. λοίδορος need not involve falsehood. It is insult, contempt and verbal attack, a weapon in an honour-and-shame culture.

Used elsewhere in the period

LXX Prov 25:24; 26:21; 27:15 (the quarrelsome, abusive person). 1 Cor 4:12, 'being reviled (λοιδορούμενοι), we bless'; 1 Cor 6:10; 1 Pet 2:23 (Christ 'when reviled, did not revile in return'). Among the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Community Rule (1QS 6–7) excludes members from the community's pure meal for set periods for insulting and slandering fellow members.

From the study of 1 Corinthians 6:10

Range of meaning

An abusive, railing person: someone who heaps insults, verbal abuse and public ridicule on others. The related verb loidoreō means 'to revile, abuse with words'. The core idea is insult hurled at someone, often to their face and meant to shame. The core idea is not false reporting.

Against the English

'Revilers' (KJV, ESV, YLT) and 'verbal abusers' (BSB) are accurate. 'Slanderers' (WEB, NIV) narrows it to false statements about someone behind their back, which Greek usually expresses with other words (katalalos, diabolos).

How it drifted

'Revile' has become an uncommon word in English, so translators reach for 'slander'. That word now mainly means spreading damaging falsehoods, a related but different sin.

Used elsewhere in the period

LXX Prov 25:24 uses it for a quarrelsome, railing woman. Sirach 23:8 pairs the abusive person with the arrogant one. Opponents 'reviled' the healed man in John 9:28. Christ 'when reviled did not revile in return' (1 Pet 2:23). Paul says of himself and the apostles, 'when reviled, we bless' (1 Cor 4:12).