Our series towards a biblical definition of gossip continues through the phenomenon in the Old Testament we call "gossip" even when a technical term is not used. Today's post is about the third of four important and related concepts, along with exposition of key texts.
Leave the Passing Cur Alone
Meddling In Others’ Business. Proverbs 26:17 says, “Like one who seizes a dog by the ears is a passer-by who meddles in a quarrel not his own.” The image in the first part of the proverb almost grabs the reader like the fool it describes! The point of the proverb is to motivate its readers to mind their own business and not meddle in others’. Waltke explains, “The dispute, which itself entails getting hurt (see 17:14), is likened to a semiwild dog. . . . Grabbing it by its sensitive ears connotes the inevitability of getting hurt in the needless dispute. . . . The senseless busybody should leave the passing cur alone, and the disciple should walk away from a dispute in which he has no interest.”48 We will see that the theme of minding one’s own business will be amplified in the New Testament (1 Thess 4:11, 2 Thess 3:11, 1 Tim 5:13).
Notes
[48] Bruce K. Waltke, The Book of Proverbs: Chapters 15-31, NICOT (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2005), 359.
Previous Posts in "Toward a Definition of Gossip"
New Blog Series: Toward a Definition of Gossip
Gossip in the Old Testament
Hebrew Words for Gossip: "Rakil"
Hebrew Words for Gossip: "Nirgan"
Hebrew Words for Gossip: "Lashon Seter"
Hebrew Words for Gossip: "Libo Yiqebbats Aven Lo Yetse Lahuts Yedabber"
Evil Listening
Evil Reports
Gossip in the Old Testament
Hebrew Words for Gossip: "Rakil"
Hebrew Words for Gossip: "Nirgan"
Hebrew Words for Gossip: "Lashon Seter"
Hebrew Words for Gossip: "Libo Yiqebbats Aven Lo Yetse Lahuts Yedabber"
Evil Listening
Evil Reports
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