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slan´dẽr (substantive, דּבּה, dibbaÌ„h, “slanderâ€; διαÌβολος, diaÌbolos, “slandererâ€; verb רגל, raÌ„ghal, “to slink about†as a talebearer, לש×ן, laÌ„shan, “to use the tongue,†“to slanderâ€; διαβαÌλλω, diabaÌlloÌ„, “to calumniate,†“to slanderâ€; and other words): Slander (etymologically a doublet of “scandal,†from OFr. esclandre, Latin scandalum, “stumblingblockâ€) is an accusation maliciously uttered, with the purpose or effect of damaging the reputation of another. As a rule it is a false charge (compare ); but it may be a truth circulated insidiously and with a hostile purpose (e.g. , “brought accusation against,†where Septuagint has diaballoÌ„, “slanderâ€; , the same Greek word). Warnings, condemnations and complaints in reference to this sin are very frequent, both in the Old Testament and New Testament. Mischievous “tale-bearing†or “whispering†is condemned (; ). There are repeated warnings against evil-speaking (as in ; ; ; ; ; ), which is the cause of so much strife between man and man (-30), and which recoils on the speaker himself to his destruction (; ). Especially is false witness, which is “slander carried into a court of justice,†to be condemned and punished (; -21; compare ; , ; ; ; ). Special cases of slander more than usually mean are when a wife's chastity is falsely impeached by her husband (-19), and when one slanders a servant to his master (). Even a land may be slandered as well as persons (). Slanderers and backbiters are mentioned in some of Paul's darkest catalogues of evildoers (, ; ; ). To refrain from slander is an important qualification for citizenship in theocracy (, ; , ) and for a place in the Christian church (; ). Jesus Himself was the victim of slanders () and of false testimony (). The apostles, too, came in for a full share of it (e.g. f; ; ). In the case of Paul, even his central doctrine of justification was “slanderously reported†as if it encouraged immorality (). The devil (= “the calumniatorâ€) is represented as the great accuser of God's people (), the slanderer par excellence (compare -11; ). See also CRIMES; PUNISHMENTS.