Bible Strands
Proverbs 11:13
A gossip reveals a secret, but a trustworthy person keeps a confidence.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The wisdom teacher addresses the community of Israel within a structured collection of proverbial sayings that contrast righteous and foolish conduct.
The words — רָכִיל (Ra.khil) denotes a slanderer who goes about, while דָבָר (da.Var) refers to a matter or confidence entrusted to another.
The thread — This theme of guarding entrusted matters appears in Proverbs 25:9, which instructs arguing a case without betraying another’s confidence, and Leviticus 19:16, which forbids spreading slander among one’s people.
Why it lands — The text demands deliberate restraint in speech, requiring the reader to verify trustworthiness before sharing information and to guard entrusted matters rather than disseminate them.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.
Cross-references
- Proverbs 20:19 He who reveals secrets is a constant gossip; avoid the one who babbles with his lips.
- Leviticus 19:16 You must not go about spreading slander among your people. You must not endanger the life of your neighbor. I am the LORD.
- Proverbs 25:9 Argue your case with your neighbor without betraying another’s confidence,
- 1 Timothy 5:13 At the same time they will also learn to be idle, going from house to house and being not only idle, but also gossips and busybodies, discussing things they should not mention.
- Proverbs 26:20 Without wood, a fire goes out; without gossip, a conflict ceases.
- Joshua 2:14 “Our lives for your lives!” the men agreed. “If you do not report our mission, we will show you kindness and faithfulness when the LORD gives us the land.”
- Joshua 2:20 And if you report our mission, we will be released from the oath you made us swear.”
- Proverbs 14:5 An honest witness does not deceive, but a dishonest witness pours forth lies.
- Jeremiah 38:27 When all the officials came to Jeremiah and questioned him, he relayed to them the exact words the king had commanded him to say. So they said no more to him, for no one had overheard the conversation.
- Nehemiah 6:17 Also in those days, the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah, and Tobiah’s letters kept coming to them.