[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.