Psalms 15:3

“[He that] backbiteth not with his tongue, etc.] 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, (<540513>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…”

“He neither slanders nor spreads slander.”

“He that backbiteth not with his tongue - The word “backbite” means to censure; slander; reproach; speak evil of. The Hebrew word - רגל râgal - a verb formed from the word foot, means properly “to foot it,” and then “to go about.” Then it means to go about as a tale-bearer or slanderer; to circulate reports unfavorable to others. It is not improperly rendered here “backbite;” and the idea is, that it is essential to true piety that one should “not” be a slanderer, or should “not” circulate evil reports in regard to others. On the use of the “tongue,” see the note at James 3:2-11. Nor doeth evil to his neighbor - That does his neighbor no harm. This refers to injury in any way, whether by…”

“He - He that doth not speak evil of his neighbour. Neighbour - That is, any man. Nor taketh - Into his mouth, doth not raise it, neither spread or propagate it; or believe it without sufficient reason. Psalms 15:4”

“backbiteth: Psa 101:5-8; Exod. 23:1-33; Lev 19:16; Jer 9:4-9; Rom 1:30; Tit 3:2; Jam 4:11; Pe1 2:1, Pe1 2:2 doeth: Sa1 24:11; Isa 56:2; Mat 7:12; Rom 12:17, Rom 13:10; Jo3 1:11 taketh up: or, receiveth or, endureth, Pro 22:10, Pro 25:3 Psalms 15:4”

“The distich which contains the question and that containing the general answer are now followed by three tristichs, which work the answer out in detail. The description is continued in independent clauses, which, however, have logically the value of relative clauses. The perff. have the signification of abstract presents, for they are the expression of tried qualities, of the habitual mode of action, of that which the man, who is the subject of the question, never did and what consequently it is not his wont to do. רגל means to go about, whether in order to spie out (which is its usual meaning), or to gossip and slander (here, and the Piel in Sa2 19:28; cf. רכל, רכיל). Instead בּלשׁנו we…”