19:16Leviticus 19:16

The command forbids carrying damaging talk from person to person and taking any stand that endangers a neighbor's life or well-being.Ms 56, 1898, par. 18–20+2 It belongs to God's call to holiness expressed in practical love, fairness, justice, and care for others, summed up in loving one's neighbor as oneself.Ms 56, 1898, par. 18–20+2 Talebearing covers gossip, whispering, tattling, spreading reports and suspicions, unkind criticism, and turning careless words into false or twisted accusations that injure character.Ms 47, 1902, par. 18–19+2 Alongside this prohibition stands the duty not to hate a brother in the heart but to correct a neighbor openly rather than leave that person in sin.Ms 56, 1898, par. 18–20+1 Evil-speaking is a double curse that falls heaviest on the speaker, bringing misery, spiritual harm, and deadly fruit in the soul, and such speech is a great sin that will be brought into judgment.5T 176.2+2 Yet the prohibition against injuring others by talebearing does not forbid speaking the truth as one understands it, including answering a direct question truthfully.Ms 71, 1907

The command forbids going up and down among the people as a talebearer spreading tales, and forbids standing against the blood or life of a neighbor by acting against that life.Ms 56, 1898, par. 18–20+4
It belongs to the Lord's instructions for holiness lived out as practical love, fairness, justice, and care in how people treat one another, including loving one's neighbor as oneself, with holy living bound to responsibility toward fellow human beings and with holiness because God is holy shown in just dealing that forbids oppression of brethren in any way.Ms 56, 1898, par. 18–20+4
The chapter containing it sets the same high standard as Jesus' teachings in the New Testament, and was given as Jesus' teaching and as a lesson for future generations.Lt 42, 1894, par. 16–19
That commandment was not taught or practiced by Jewish religious leaders in Christ's time.Ms 56, 1898, par. 18–20

Obeying this explicit direction for how people are to treat one another helps prevent misrepresenting God's character.Ms 86, 1905, par. 9–14
Neglecting such commands through hurtful words and actions harms fellow believers and dishonors the truth professed.Ms 34, 1900, par. 11–14
Talebearing includes gossip, whispering, tattling, spreading reports, accusations, suspected evil, unrighteous suspicions or judgments, thoughtless unkind words, and criticism meant to injure character.8T 83.2–3+2
It especially includes turning unguarded words into damaging reports and using false or distorted accusations, and it includes repeating wrongs in ways that spread harm.Ms 47, 1902, par. 18–19+1

False and unkind words, suspicions, and reports grow through repetition into false reports that cause serious injustice, injury, and discord in the church.8T 83.2–3+1
The verse is paired with the duty not to hate a brother but to reprove or correct a neighbor rather than leave that person in sin.Ms 56, 1898, par. 18–20+1
Failing to seek the neighbor's rescue from sin can make one implicated in the neighbor's guilt.Ms 47, 1902, par. 18–19

Evil speaking is a twofold curse that falls more heavily on the speaker than on the hearer.5T 176.2+1 Whoever scatters seeds of dissension and strife reaps deadly fruits in his own soul.5T 176.2 The talebearer and surmiser of evil harms his own spiritual experience and remains miserable and a stranger to true happiness.5T 176.2+1 False and unkind words grow through repetition into causes of serious injustice, injury, and discord in the church.8T 83.2–3+1 Such talebearing, including the repeating of thoughtless unkind words and unrighteous suspicions or judgments, is a great sin that neglects the work God has given, and with every thought, word, and action it will be brought into judgment.8T 83.2–3+1

Listening to gossip and talebearing and letting it affect deportment makes a man weak and worthless anywhere.Lt 37, 1879, par. 5–6 Gossips are found everywhere, but leaning upon God and drawing strength and nourishment from Him keeps a person's course from being changed by them.Lt 37, 1879, par. 5–6 Harboring envy and jealousy brings only trouble, and they must be emptied out to give place to meekness, gentleness, patience, kindness, and love.Lt 37, 1879, par. 5–6

The prohibition is against going about as a talebearer among neighbors to injure people.Ms 71, 1907 It does not forbid speaking the truth with a neighbor as one understands it.Ms 71, 1907 Answering a direct question truthfully to the best of one's ability is not talebearing.Ms 71, 1907 Refusing to call a wrongdoer right, refusing to excuse wrong that is not confessed as wrong and stopped, and withholding forgiveness until wrong is confessed and stopped is not hypocrisy and does not violate the command.Ms 71, 1907