What does it mean to have a double tongue?
Answered from the commentary of A. J. Pollock, F. B. Hole, G. V. Wigram and 3 others
To have a double tongue is to say one thing to a person’s face and another behind their back, or to say one thing to one person and another to someone else. It is deceit in speech: a lack of single-hearted honesty that misleads others. The warning applies especially where trust is needed, since such speech destroys confidence and can cause strife and harm.
Verses: 1 Timothy 3:8, James 3:9, James 3:10, Proverbs 12:22, Proverbs 26:24, Proverbs 26:25, Proverbs 26:26, Psalms 12:2, Psalms 12:3, Matthew 5:37, Ephesians 4:25, Colossians 3:9
The above is AI generated summary based on the writers below.
What the commentators say
The passages the answer is drawn from, the most direct first, with the words that bear on the question marked.
We must remember that bishops and deacons were to possess this sterling Christian character inasmuch as they were to set an example to the mass of believers who looked up to them. Hence all of us reading this chapter today must accept these verses as delineating the character which God desires to see in us. Can we read them without feeling rebuked? How about that greed of money, or the slander, or even the being double-tongued — the saying of one thing in one direction and quite another thing in another direction? Pretty searching considerations, these!
And seeing the deacons attended to secular affairs in connection with the assembly they had need of circumspection, they had not to be double-tongued, one thing to a person’s face, another thing behind his back.
Verses
- 1 Timothy 3:8Ministers, in like manner, grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not seeking gain by base means,
- James 3:9–109Therewith bless we the Lord and Father, and therewith curse we men made after [the] likeness of God. 10Out of the same mouth goes forth blessing and cursing. It is not right, my brethren, that these things should be thus.
- Proverbs 12:22Lying lips are an abomination to Jehovah; but they that deal truly are his delight.
- Proverbs 26:24–2624He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, but he layeth up deceit within him 25when his voice is gracious, believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart. 26Though [his] hatred is covered by dissimulation, his wickedness shall be made manifest in the congregation.
- Psalms 12:2–32They speak falsehood every one with his neighbour [with] flattering lip, with a double heart, do they speak. 3Jehovah will cut off all flattering lips, the tongue that speaketh proud things,