Psalms 101:5

"I will silence whoever secretly slanders his neighbor. I won’t tolerate one who is arrogant and conceited."

Key Reflection

In the first-century Jewish context, the act of secretly slander was a grave offense, as it undermined trust within the community. The psalmist declares his resolve to silence such individuals and expresses intolerance for arrogance and conceit. This reflects the cultural value placed on openness in communication and respect among peers, where backstabbing and boastfulness were seen as threats to communal harmony and integrity.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour -literally, “One who speaks concerning his neighbor in secret.” If a man has any good to say of another, he will be likely to say it openly; if he has any evil to say, it will be likely to be said in secret. Hence, to speak in secret of anyone comes to mean the same thing as to slander him. Him will I cut off -That is, I will cut him off from me; I will not employ him. He would not have one in his house, or in his service, who did injustice to the character of others; who stabbed their reputation in the dark. This was alike indicative of the personal character of the author of the psalm, and of his purpose as the head of a family.

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