Decoding the TorahSample

Do Not Slander

“You shall not go about as a slanderer among your people, and you are not to act against the life of your neighbor; I am the Lord [Yahweh].” —Leviticus 19:16

Honor and integrity in our dealings with others—particularly with regard to our spoken words—matter a great deal to God, as this commandment reveals. It prohibits the spreading of false information or malicious rumors that damage the reputation or well-being of another. Slander, defined as the intentional dissemination of harmful and perhaps misleading information, undermines trust, creates division, and inflicts emotional pain on individuals and communities. By prohibiting slander, this law aims to uphold the dignity of all people, affirming their intrinsic worth as God’s creations. The inclusion of “I am the Lord” in this mitzvah emphasizes just how much slander and talebearing run counter to Yahweh’s character, which is marked by love, sympathy, empathy, and compassion.

This commandment echoes the teachings of Rabbi Yeshua, who spoke about the power of words, warning us in Matthew 5:22 that whoever calls his brother a “‘good-for-nothing,’ shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell.”

Back in the 1980s, I led a small congregation that held a talent show on the last day of every month. Anyone could get up and sing a song or play an instrument, and it was always such a beautiful time of fellowship. One night, I was driving home from one of the talent shows, basking in the presence of the Lord, and then I spoke a negative word about one of the participants. As soon as I did, the peace and sense of God’s presence I had been feeling completely left me. That’s what speaking negatively will do. Not only will it harm others, but it will also break our fellowship with God.

This command against going about as a slanderer or talebearer (Lev. 19:16) extends beyond spoken words to include what we say in emails, on social media, and in any other form of communication. In an age of instant connectivity, there are always ready temptations to spread rumors and harm people’s character. However, as followers of Yeshua, we must exercise restraint in our interactions, taking time to weigh our words and only release ones that carry the love and grace of God. We do well to seek understanding, recognize our own fallibility, and guard the integrity of our communication.