What Is Gossip?

Have you ever been accused of gossiping and left wondering if you actually did anything wrong? If so, you’re not alone. Between gossip columns in the media, gossip policies at work, and what we read in our Bibles, it can be difficult to know what gossip is and discern whether or not we’ve crossed a line.

Financial guru Dave Ramsey defines gossip as “when a negative is discussed by anyone who can’t solve the problem.” Don’t like the new copier in the office? Tell your boss, not your coworkers. Telling your coworkers, according to Ramsey’s definition, constitutes gossip. But is it really?

Getting a biblical perspective on gossip can be challenging. If we were to look up the word “gossip” in our Bible’s concordance or conduct an online search for occurrences of “gossip” in the Bible, we would get different results depending on the translation we used. In the New Living Translation, “gossip” appears 14 times compared to 8 in the New International Version and only 4 in the English Standard Version.

Plus, the Bible doesn’t give us a clear definition of gossip.

What Does The Bible Say?

When we read the word “gossip” in the Old Testament, chances are it’s a translation of one of two Hebrew words. In the first case, a gossip is someone who betrays confidence, shares secrets, and isn’t trustworthy with private information. Some translations use the word “slanderer” for this case hinting that the idea here is sharing information to tear someone down.

In the second case, a gossip is someone who grumbles and complains, particularly with the motivation to stir up dissension. Do you remember when the Israelites, after hearing a report about the Promised Land, got scared, started grumbling, and wanted to oust Moses and Aaron and return to Egypt? Both Deuteronomy 1:27 and Psalm 106 use this second Hebrew word translated as “gossip” to describe what they were doing—complaining to the point of wanting to overthrow their leaders.

In three of his letters, the Apostle Paul lists gossip among several other wicked behaviors. He distinguishes gossip from slander in his word choice, but it’s clear how they’re different. What are we to make of it all?

Scripture teaches that our words have weight. What we say matters just as much as why we say it. It counsels us to be wise with our words (Proverbs 18:6; James 3:1-12).

What Does That Look Like When It Comes to Gossip?

When we’re tempted to share information about another person, we need to ask ourselves some questions:

• Is it true?
• Is it private?
• Do I have permission?
• Why do I want to share it?

Sometimes we need to share information about other people for the sake of their well-being or ours. Some people, like mandatory reporters, are legally obligated to do so. Others need to come forward or advocate on behalf of others in the case of improper workplace behavior or bullying, for example. That’s not gossip.

Likewise, when we’re tempted to vent about something that annoys or frustrates us, we need to be thoughtful about our words. Are we trying to process and seek solidarity and support? Or are we explaining a situation to someone who can help make it better? That’s probably not gossip unless we’re trying to stir up dissension and get more people on our side.

Jesus told us, “The mouth speaks what the heart is full of” (Matthew 12:34). That makes me want to be more mindful of my motivation for what I say and the why behind my words.