לָשַׁן

From the study of Proverbs 30:10

Range of meaning

A verb formed from the noun לָשׁוֹן (lāšôn, 'tongue'). It means to use the tongue against someone: to slander, to denounce, to inform on. It occurs only twice in the Hebrew Bible: here, and in Psalm 101:5 ('whoever slanders his neighbour in secret I will destroy'). Both uses involve talk behind the victim's back that harms them with someone in power. Hebrew is not a 'he said, she said' language for nothing: the tongue is one of Proverbs' main subjects (e.g., 10:18; 18:8; 26:20–22).

Against the English

KJV and YLT have 'accuse'. BSB, WEB, ESV, NASB and NIV have 'slander'. In modern English 'slander' means saying something false that damages someone's reputation. The Hebrew focuses less on whether the words are false and more on the act of turning your tongue against someone to someone else. 'Accuse' catches the denouncing side but sounds like a law court.

How it drifted

'Slander' became a technical legal term (false spoken defamation). That narrows a Hebrew word about harmful, behind-the-back informing, which may or may not be false.

Used elsewhere in the period

Psalm 101:5 (the form there is written מלושני and read מְלָשְׁנִי, 'one who slanders'). Later Hebrew built on the root: rabbinic literature calls slander and gossip lāšôn hāraʿ, 'the evil tongue', and the related term malšîn means 'informer'. In medieval Jewish usage that was the word for someone who denounced fellow Jews to the authorities.

From the study of Psalm 101:5

Range of meaning

A verb made from the noun lashon, 'tongue'. Its basic sense is 'to use the tongue against someone': to slander, denounce, or inform on. It is extremely rare. Besides this verse, the only other occurrence is Proverbs 30:10: 'Do not slander (or: denounce) a servant to his master.'

Against the English

English 'slander' is close but narrower. In modern use it is almost a legal term: a false and damaging spoken statement. The Hebrew picture is the tongue as a weapon used covertly. It takes in false accusation, but also malicious informing, which may even be partly true, carried to someone with power over the victim.

How it drifted

No real drift in meaning. English simply loses the physical picture of the tongue, and the legal sense of 'slander' focuses on whether the statement is false rather than on the hidden, betraying act.

Used elsewhere in the period

Prov 30:10, where the setting (a servant denounced to his master) is the same as a court informer denouncing someone to the king. The noun lashon is used throughout the Psalms and Proverbs for speech as a weapon (Ps 52:2-4; 64:3; 140:3). Leviticus 19:16 forbids going about as a talebearer (rakhil) among one's people. The Septuagint renders it 'the one speaking against' (katalalounta).