Spreading Lashon Ha-Ra and The Seriousness of Motzi Shem Ra
"You shall not go around as a gossipmonger"—Leviticus.
"Evil gossip kills three: the one who says it, the one who listens, and the subject of the gossip"—
Talmud.
Most people in Messianic and Hebraic circles are familiar with the term lashon hara
(which means the evil tongue), which is considered a sin whether the information
involved is true or not. But a second (and even worse) category of evil speech is
motzi shem ra, literally, “propagating a bad name or bad reputation.” The reason
this is worse is that it involves slander and the spreading of lies and disinformation
which damages the name of the targeted person. In Judaism,
Hebraic Hate Speech
lashon hara is considered identical to the sin of sinat chinam (baseless hatred), and both lashon
hara and motzi shem ra are given the same weight as murder in Torah and Mishnah (oral Laws)
and these oral laws are quoted by Master Y’shua as in agreement, since they are considered an
assassination of another’s character and credibility.
Lashon Hara (or sometimes spelled Loshon Hara) means in Hebrew - evil language or
tongue. It is the Torah prohibition of telling gossip or truth if it serves to malign
character or to slant a person’s view of somebody for no reason. If, for instance,
you need to tell the truth about a murderer in your midst to prevent a murder then it is not considered lashon hara. However, those lines in Torah are very welldefined for us to protect people’s reputation and good name. Lashan hara differs
from defamation
in that its focus is on the use of true speech for a wrongful purpose, rather than
falsehood and harm arising. By contrast, Motzi Shem Ra ("spreading a bad name")
consists of untrue remarks, and is akin to slander or defamation.
Speech is considered to be lashon hara if it says something negative about a person
or party, is not previously known to the public, is not seriously intended to correct
or improve a negative situation, and most importantly, is true. Statements that fit
this description are considered to be lashon hara, regardless of the method of
communication that is used, whether it is through face-to-face conversation, a
written letter, telephone, or email.
According to the majority of Torah scholars, lashon hara is considered to be a
most serious sin. Therefore, the Sages proclaim, how much more serious is such a
statement that is false?
THE SEVERITY OF "MOTZI SHEM RA"
This is a direct quote from the Oral Law below. We do not use the Oral Traditions
as binding over us when it conflicts with the Tanakh, but in the case of Lachon HaRa and Motzi Shem Ra, master Y’Shua quoted this section of oral law several times
in agreement with the stricter of the Rabbi’s interpretation, so I am using this
Oral Law as an example for how serious evil speech about another truly is. This
section tells us that a person found guilty of slander is to pay double that a rapist
pays in the case of being found guilty.
b)
We find that the punishment for speech (Motzi Shem Ra) is greater than for
an act (a rapist pays only 50).”
The following portion shows that evil speech was what kept Israel (Benei Yisrael
means the congregation or gathering of Israel) from entering the land of promise
(Erezt Israel). It shows in the accounts (accounts in the wilderness is Ba-Midbar)
that 10 times they spread a false accusation against YHVH. We are told to look
back in history at Israel as an example so we not repeat the same error. I have
heard from an elder at a local church in our area that we (as Messianic Believers in
Yeshua Messiah) continually seem to look back into the Old Testament and that we
need to always look forward to the “new thing” G_d is doing. This sounds so
ethereal and hyper-spiritual on the surface but it is crafty counsel. The Almighty
tells us in His Word that we are to always look back to the patterns established as they were
written for our learning and examples. To tell us that it is incorrect theology to “look back and
not ahead” is severe error!
1 Corinthians 10:5-7 (New American Standard Bible)
5Nevertheless, with most of them God was not well-pleased; for (A)they were laid
low in the wilderness.
6Now these things happened as (B)examples for us, so that we would not crave evil
things as (C)they also craved.
7Do not be (D)idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written, "(E)THE PEOPLE
SAT DOWN TO EAT AND DRINK, AND STOOD UP TO (F)PLAY."
Here is the Mishna quote regarding not entering in that Rabbi Shaul quoted (Paul)
about the Israelites not entering in.
c)
Likewise, Benei Yisrael sinned 10 times in the Midbar, the decree that they
would not enter Eretz Yisrael was only on account of Lashon ha'Ra [of the
Meraglim, which Benei Yisrael heeded] - "va'Yenasu Osi Zeh Eser Pe'amim."
One of the sins that G_d Himself will remove people from the camp for (if the
person sinning is not Scripturally dealt with by leadership) is Mozti Shem Ra. The
oral law that Y’Shua quoted from often, states that G_d Himself sees the
attacking of a person’s character akin to murder. Several Sages talk about killing a
person’s character to be equal to the sum of the three terrible sins worthy of the
death penalty - murder, idolatry and adultery. The Almighty states that if the
people are unrepentant of this sin and not separated from the congregation that
He, Himself will remove them from the congregation so they may be ashamed and
come to repentance. He also protects the innocent when they cry out to Him by removing the
evil speakers. As much as it goes against our theology, G_d, Himself will do this to a repeated
sinner with this deeply in-grained evil of the tongue by death if He must. We have seen every
person in the last congregation who has spread Mozti Shem Ra against us (and
refused to sit and be honest with us so they could be walked through repentance)
to be removed; one by one in circumstances that have not proved prosperous to
them as they continue unrepentant on their paths. Some left the congregation we
were in feeling that “YHVH was leading them” and have not been able to prosper
since that time and have suffered in difficult circumstances, including the loss of a
marriage and ministry.
If the innocent cry out to Yaweh, G_d Himself acts in the case of the instance where church
leadership is acting wrongly and will not act in protection of the innocent in this matter. Of
course, then G_d enters into HIS legal judgement against the congregational leadership for not
acting in accordance with His Word. We may never raise up our voice against the
congregational leadership in slander / gossip in retaliation but, rest assured, G_d’s
legal judgments and decisions cannot be altered as they are laid out in His Word.
We sat for years under a certain pastor who would tell one person one thing and
another person something quite different. By doing walking in this practice he and
his wife would effectively disseminate information in a “controlled manner.”
According to the whole counsel of the Bible we are forbidden from gossiping.
The source of this commandment is G‑ d's statement (exalted be He),1 "Do not go
around as a gossiper among your people."
Hebrew Sages explained, "Do not speak softly to one and harshly to another.
Another explanation: Do not act like a traveling salesman by traveling around
carrying words."3 We are forbidden from saying one thing to one person and
shading it to another to “control the outcome.”
It was lying spirit that continually wreaked havoc in the Body of Yeshua through
this man! He thought he was quite slick in his manner of operation but people spoke
of his character in the community very lowly. He was self-deceived, in thinking he
was “getting away with this” but it was actually his punishment from G_d.
Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and
bring to an end by the appearance of His coming; 9that is, the one whose coming is in accord
with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, 10and with all the
deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth
so as to be saved. 11For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they
will believe what is false, 12in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth,
but took pleasure in wickedness.
For what reason are people given over to strong delusion? For loving not the truth
that will save and rescue them from their wickedness. If you take pleasure in
wickedness (as in mozti shem ra or lashon hara and lying - which is sin) you will be
given over to strong (not a little) delusion. Why are we given over by G_d, Himself
to STRONG deluson? So you can remain unclean and go to perdition and
punishment.
When we left his congregation, in order and without malice, there was yet another
effort to what we called, doing damage control” by quietly telling people little bits
of untruth here and there. One day a person came to me and explained what was
said behind our backs (which we knew was entirely consistent with this pastors
past behavior). So we set about praying rather than acting in retaliation. No less
than 3 people came to us from other congregations with the word that The Father
would enact Psalm 109 on our behalf! Little did these people know that we had
were in prayer together when the Father put Psalm 109 upon our hearts - we had
not remembered the words to it, so we read it together that night.
<< Psalm 109 >>
New American Standard Bible
Vengeance Invoked upon Adversaries.
For the choir director. A Psalm of David.
1O God of my praise,
Do not be silent!
2For they have opened the wicked and deceitful mouth against me;
They have spoken against me with a lying tongue.
3They have also surrounded me with words of hatred,
And fought against me without cause.
4In return for my love they act as my accusers;
But I am in prayer.
5Thus they have repaid me evil for good
And hatred for my love.
6Appoint a wicked man over him,
And let an accuser stand at his right hand.
7When he is judged, let him come forth guilty,
And let his prayer become sin.
8Let his days be few;
Let another take his office.
9Let his children be fatherless
And his wife a widow.
10Let his children wander about and beg;
And let them seek sustenance far from their ruined homes.
11Let the creditor seize all that he has,
And let strangers plunder the product of his labor.
12Let there be none to extend lovingkindness to him,
Nor any to be gracious to his fatherless children.
13Let his posterity be cut off;
In a following generation let their name be blotted out.
14Let the iniquity of his fathers be remembered before the LORD,
And do not let the sin of his mother be blotted out.
15Let them be before the LORD continually,
That He may cut off their memory from the earth;
16Because he did not remember to show lovingkindness,
But persecuted the afflicted and needy man,
And the despondent in heart, to put them to death.
17He also loved cursing, so it came to him;
And he did not delight in blessing, so it was far from him.
18But he clothed himself with cursing as with his garment,
And it entered into his body like water
And like oil into his bones.
19Let it be to him as a garment with which he covers himself,
And for a belt with which he constantly girds himself.
20Let this be the reward of my accusers from the LORD,
And of those who speak evil against my soul.
21But You, O GOD, the Lord, deal kindly with me for Your name’s sake;
Because Your lovingkindness is good, deliver me;
22For I am afflicted and needy,
And my heart is wounded within me.
23I am passing like a shadow when it lengthens;
I am shaken off like the locust.
24My knees are weak from fasting,
And my flesh has grown lean, without fatness.
25I also have become a reproach to them;
When they see me, they wag their head.
26Help me, O LORD my God;
Save me according to Your lovingkindness.
27And let them know that this is Your hand;
You, LORD, have done it.
28Let them curse, but You bless;
When they arise, they shall be ashamed,
But Your servant shall be glad.
29Let my accusers be clothed with dishonor,
And let them cover themselves with their own shame as with a robe.
30With my mouth I will give thanks abundantly to the LORD;
And in the midst of many I will praise Him.
31For He stands at the right hand of the needy,
To save him from those who judge his soul.
To have this powerful word confirmed to us that G_d, Himself would act powerfully on our
behalf took all pressure off of us to have to defend what G_d had called us to do or our character.
Later that week a woman, whom I have not seen in three years, showed up at my home with the
encouraging words that G_d said He would indeed defend us. When lashan hara and motzi she
ra are enacted against us and it is coming from or allowed by a person in leadership - never
retaliate - G_d’s hand will defend us in every minute point! G_d will act, and in the case of
leadership who allow this behavior to go on unpunished, or who participate in it themselves - the
punishment is swift and severe! G-d will begin to remove from their midst the staff of support
first, then according to God’s Word the punishment will grow in intensity until public repentance
is had. This judgment will occur against us whether we are sincere in heart and not
understanding G_d’s Word on this matter or not! “My people perish for their lack of
knowledge.”
Hosea 4:1-6 is explicit on not knowing and loving and obeying G_d’s truth.
Hosea 4
1Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel: for the LORD hath a
controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy,
nor knowledge of God in the land.
2By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they
break out, and blood toucheth blood.
3Therefore shall the land mourn, and every one that dwelleth therein shall
languish, with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven; yea, the fishes
of the sea also shall be taken away.
4Yet let no man strive, nor reprove another: for thy people are as they that strive
with the priest.
5Therefore shalt thou fall in the day, and the prophet also shall fall with thee in
the night, and I will destroy thy mother.
6My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will
also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God,
I will also forget thy children.
The main prohibition against lashon hara is derived from Leviticus 19:16: "Thou
shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people; neither shalt thou stand
idly by the blood of thy neighbour: I am the LORD."
New American Standard Bible (©1995)
'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.
GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
Never gossip. Never endanger your neighbor's life. I am the LORD.
King James Bible
Thou shalt not go up and down [as] a talebearer among thy people: neither shalt
thou stand against the blood of thy neighbour: I [am] the LORD.
Tzaraath
The Talmud (tractate Erchin 15b) lists lashon hara as one of the causes of the
Biblical malady of tzaraath which is loosely defined as leprosy in English
translation, but that is not altogether accurate. In Sotah 42a, the Talmud states
that habitual speakers of lashon hara are not tolerated in God's presence. Similar
strong denouncements can be found in various places in Jewish literature.
Tzaraath is defined more literally as a disfigurative condition in chapters 13-14 of
Leviticus. Tzaraath affects both animate and inanimate objects; the Torah
discusses tzaraath that afflicts humans, clothing and houses. As there are no
terms synonymous with tzaraath in other languages the Septuagint, gave a
translation of “lepra” and has been consequently translated “leprosy” by most
Christian Bibles. This connection between what we know as actual leprosy and
tzaraath is somewhat loose. The root actually means “smiting” in Hebrew, in
reference to a Talmudic interpretation as an affliction caused directly by the sin
of evil tongues as punishment from The Almighty Himself! It is more literally a
smiting from God in the form of a skin disfigurative condition. This also refers to
any skin condition causing eventually open sores or eruptions. It also appears to be
contagious from inanimate objects as the punishment progresses.
In Numbers chapter 12, Miriam gossips, or commits lashon hara, with her brother
Aaron. She questions why Moses is so much more qualified to lead the people than
anyone else. God hears and strikes her down with tzara’as. Miriam must stay
outside of the camp for a week due to the tzara’as. During this time, all of Israel
waits for her. So we can deduce that the people of the covenant will cease from
forward progression as well as a whole due to lashon hara in congregational
leadership.
When Miriam spoke negatively about her brother, Moses, she was rebuked by G‑ d
and afflicted with the skin disease of tzara'at as a punishment. Due to Moses'
prayers, she was cured soon after but still needed to remain outside of the camp
for seven days.1 Aaron, who had listened to the negative speech without
protesting, was also punished, but not as severely.2
Unfortunately, the spies who were sent soon afterwards to Israel did not take a
lesson from this story, and they, too, spoke negatively—about the land of Israel.
The result was that the Israelites of that generation all died in the desert.
The idolatrous armies of King Ahab were successful in their battles, because they
did not have the sin of lashon hara. In fact, we find that lashon hara, slanderous
talk, is a sin that has caused numerous tragedies for the Jewish people, and indeed
the world, since the very beginning of history.
Some examples of this are:
The Midrash tells us that the snake slandered G‑ d to Eve when convincing her to
eat of the Tree of Knowledge.
Joseph spoke negatively to his father, Jacob, about his brothers, causing them to
hate him. This led to their selling him, and ultimately caused the Egyptian exile.
At first Moses wondered why the Jews deserved their difficult slavery in Egypt.
When he heard that there were tale bearers amongst them, he said that he then
understood why they deserved this fate.
The slander of Doeg, King Saul's chief shepherd and the head of the Sanhedrin,
caused the massacre of nearly an entire city of kohanim! In fact, the armies of
King Saul lost their battles with the Philistines as a result of the slander that
people spoke against (then-future) King David.
(On the other hand, the armies of the notorious King Ahab were successful in their
battles, despite the fact that they were idolatrous, because they did not have the
sin of lashon hara.)
According to the Talmud, it was the slander of Jews by Jews that actually brought
about the destruction of the Second Temple.
The laws of lashon hara are too lengthy to include in one article. In fact, Rabbi
Israel Meir Hakohen of Radin wrote an entire book about these laws. The book is
called Chafetz Chaim (which caused the author to be known as the Chafetz Chaim
too).
Nevertheless, here is a brief overview of some of the laws, mostly gleaned from
the Chafetz Chaim:
Lashon hara literally means bad talk. This means that it is forbidden to speak
negatively about someone else, even if it's true. 10
It is also forbidden to repeat anything about another, even if it is not a negative
thing. This is called rechilut. 11
It is also forbidden to listen to lashon hara. One should either reprimand the
speaker, or, if that's not possible, one should extricate oneself from that
situation. 12
Even if one has already heard the lashon hara, it is forbidden to believe it. On the
contrary, one should always judge one's fellow favorably. 13
If one has already heard the lashon hara, he is forbidden to believe
itNevertheless, one may suspect that the lashon hara is true and take the
necessary precautions to protect oneself.14
It is forbidden to even make a motion that is derogatory towards someone.15
One may not even retell a negative event without using names if the listeners might
be able to figure out who is being spoken of. 16
In certain circumstances, e.g., to protect someone from harm, it is permissible or even obligatory
to share negative information. As there are many details to this law, one should consult a
competent rabbi (n this case a Torah observant Shepherd) to learn what may be shared in any
particular situation. 17
As congregational leaders in a Messianic Congregation - we have seen much debate
in these past 5 years. We see one ministry after another “outing” another
“ministry” for “supposedly” teaching false doctrine. We have watched as our own
dear brethren who serve faithfully on our advisory board and as our own elders
have suffered public slander. We refuse to give credibility or credence to any
person or articles who will not walk through the proper protocol in addressing what
they see as supposed “error.” Unless you actually have credible, eye-witnesses to a
sin and unless you have gone to these people in private to ascertain with the heart
to reconcile the facts regarding their teaching, their doctrinal statements, their
lives - we will not give witch-hunt “ministries” one inch of credibility! We also will
not weigh in on the latest controversies floating around the Body of Messiah
fueled by lone-rangers who are some self-appointed Messianic Guru! Anybody can
(and sadly we see much of it) call themselves fore-runners, itinerary Torah
Teachers, a Conference speaker and put up a webs-site. It is a blatant and serious
sin to partially quote people, publish what you THINK others are teaching and then
slander a good reputation! If you are quite unwilling to follow the whole Bible to
lovingly confront and correct - we have no time to listen and read your slanderous,
conspiracy theories. We are too busy doing what we believe is a command of
Scripture in caring for the poor, needy and teaching those needing the Words of
Yeshua the Messiah to weigh in on such ridiculous matters!
Let us be prayerful prior to sharing any information that may taint another’s reputation for sake
of the greater good of the true and Biblical unity of the Body of Messiah.