Proverbs 11:13

“A talebearer revealeth secrets, etc.] The Arabic version adds, in the congregation, openly and publicly; that goes about with tales from place to place, who is like a walking merchant or peddler, as the wordf300 signifies; who takes up his wares at one place, and exposes them to sale, and vends them at another; so a talebearer, he goes from house to house, and picks up tales at one place and carries them to another and tells them; and as by his going about he gets into the secrets of persons and families, or is intrusted with them, his character not being known, he reveals them to others, and so breaks the trust committed to him (see <540513>1 Timothy 5:13). The Targum and Syriac version…”

“tale-bearer--(Compare Margin), one trading as a peddler in scandal, whose propensity to talk leads him to betray confidence.”

“The man who comes to us with tales about others will reveal our secrets also. Faithfulness is shown, not only in doing what a man has been commissioned to do, but in doing it quietly and without garrulity. return to 'Top of Page'”

“Secrets - Such things as were committed to his trust with a charge of secrecy. Proverbs 11:16”

“11:13 This perspective on a gossip is repeated in 20:19.”

“A tale bearer, Heb. He that walketh being a talebearer, Pro 20:19; Lev 19:16 revealeth: Pro 25:9, Pro 26:20-22; Neh 6:17-19 he: Pro 14:5; Jos 2:14, Jos 2:20; Jer 38:27 Proverbs 11:14”

“13 He who goeth about tattling revealeth secrets; But he who is of a faithful spirit concealeth a matter. The tattler is called רכיל (intensive form of רכל), from his going hither and thither. אנשׁי רכיל, Eze 22:9, are men given to tattling, backbiters; הולך רכיל (cf. Lev 19:16), one of the tattlers or backbiters goes, a divulger of the matter, a tell-tale. It is of such an one that the proverb speaks, that he reveals the secret (סוד, properly the being close together for the purpose of private intercourse, then that intercourse itself, vid., at Psa 25:14); one has thus to be on his guard against confiding in him. On the contrary, a נאמן־רוּח, firmus (fidus) spiritu, properly one who is…”