Psalms 15:3

3 Whose tongue is not false, who does no evil to his friend, and does not take away the good name of his neighbour;

Psalms 15:3 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 15:3

[He that] backbiteth not with his tongue
Is not a slanderer, a defamer, a tale bearer; a backbiter is one who privately, secretly, behind a man's back speaks evil of him, devours and destroys his credit and reputation: the word here used comes from (lgr) , which signifies the "foot", and denotes such a person who goes about from house to house, speaking things he should not, ( 1 Timothy 5:13 ) ; and a word from this root signifies spies; and the phrase here may point at such persons who creep into houses, pry into the secrets of families, and divulge them, and oftentimes represent them in a false light. Such are ranked amongst the worst of men, and are very unfit to be in the society of the saints, or in a church of Christ; see ( Romans 1:30 ) ( 2 Corinthians 12:20 ) ;

nor doeth evil to his neighbour:
to any man whatever, good or bad, friend or foe, whether in a natural, civil, or spiritual relation, either by words or deeds, to his person, property, or good name;

nor taketh up, a reproach against his neighbour;
does not raise any scandalous report on him himself, nor will he bear to hear one from another, much less will he spread one; nor will he suffer one to lie upon his neighbour, but will do all he can to vindicate him, and clear his character.

Psalms 15:3 In-Context

1 Lord, who may have a resting-place in your tent, a living-place on your holy hill?

2 He who goes on his way uprightly, doing righteousness, and saying what is true in his heart;

3 Whose tongue is not false, who does no evil to his friend, and does not take away the good name of his neighbour;

4 Who gives honour to those who have the fear of the Lord, turning away from him who has not the Lord's approval. He who takes an oath against himself, and makes no change.

5 He who does not put out his money at interest, or for payment give false decisions against men who have done no wrong. He who does these things will never be moved.