καταλαλεῖτε
katalaléō
speak against
To speak against someone, to slander or defame; in Koine Greek, refers specifically to speaking disparagingly about someone, often in their absence, with the intention of damaging their reputation or honor. The word may also encompass malicious gossip or critical speech intended to harm social standing. Its primary sense involves verbal disparagement or defamation.
James 4:11 · Word #2
Lexicon G2635
| Lemma | καταλαλέω |
| Transliteration | katalaléō |
| Strong's | G2635 |
| Definition | To speak against someone, to slander or defame; in Koine Greek, refers specifically to speaking disparagingly about someone, often in their absence, with the intention of damaging their reputation or honor. The word may also encompass malicious gossip or critical speech intended to harm social standing. Its primary sense involves verbal disparagement or defamation. |
Morphology V PRS ACT IMP 2P PL
All morphology codes
| Part of Speech | V — Verb — An action or state of being |
| Tense | PRS — Present — Ongoing or repeated action |
| Voice | ACT — Active — The subject performs the action |
| Mood | IMP — Imperative — A command or request |
| Person | 2P — 2nd person — The one spoken to ("you") |
| Number | PL — Plural — More than one |
Common Translation
| Phrase | speak against |
| Literal | speak-against |
Lexical Info
| Lemma | καταλαλέω |
| Strong's | G2635 |
SIBI-P1 Translation G2635-03
be slandering
| Morphological Notes | Verb; present tense (ongoing aspect), active voice, imperative mood, 2nd person plural — a command addressed to multiple people. |
| Rendering Rationale | The verb combines κατά (against) with λαλέω (to speak), meaning to speak against or defame. The present active imperative, second person plural, conveys an ongoing or customary command directed to multiple hearers, reflected in "be slandering." |
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