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Bible Notes - Tabernacle Commentaries
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Proverbs 18:8
Comments
The proverb describes the reception given to the words of the whisperer or talebearer, and how attractive they are to the hearer. The word gossip is not used because, although the whisperer is no doubt a gossip, he must be discerned in the first instance by his approach. He comes subtly, confidentially, slyly, and divulges privately what he does not share with anyone else, or so he makes out. In fact, it is his business to spread evil reports as far as he can. He may cover his malice with a few token compliments, making some trivial concessions towards the object of his attack, before plunging in the knife. His hearers, if deceived, believe that they have received rare treasures, secrets which others do not know, and using the analogy of eating, Solomon says these are like tasty morsels, delicacies, which are eagerly swallowed and go down into the stomach. The language suggests that the hearer is like a seagull that snatches away some piece it has got hold of and gulps it down before another bird spots it and snatches it away. This piece of evil information that has been heard is taken up quickly, unguardedly, and received not in the stomach but in the heart, where it will be mulled over and reflected upon, to consider the various angles it presents. It will become the cause of newly generated perverse attitudes towards the victim, as it is unfairly exaggerated and wilfully enlarged in the mind.This behaviour is a cause of great shame both to the purveyor and the receiver of gossip. It is shameful because of its hypocrisy, both parties omitting to examine themselves, and acting as judges of others for sins less than their own. It is so far from the true help that should be given to one who has been overtaken in a fault and needs to be helped by those who first consider themselves lest they also be tempted. The gossip whispers not because he is being discrete about his neighbour’s failing, but because he wants to make his tittle-tattle more attractive. The hearer receives it so eagerly because he has a taste for other people’s sins, since they help him in his game of comparative righteousness.This proverb is repeated verbatim in Proverbs 26:22, where there are a number of proverbs about causing strife, and deceitfulness.
Application
On detecting a gossip, rather than receiving his words secretly, we ought to drag him out into the open and ask him to write them down and act the part of a true witness. He must allow his words to be tested by the truth or else be told to remain silent. If in fact he has not tested the truth of what he says before passing it on to others, then he should be warned that he is in danger of the same disrepute which he sought to bring down on others.
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