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καταλαλία

katalalía

G2636 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

The act of speaking against someone, slander, or making derogatory remarks about another; specifically, hostile or malicious speech intended to damage someone's reputation. Used to denote backbiting, defamation, or disparagement, often in a setting where such words are spoken in the absence of the target. The primary meaning is verbal denigration of others, with a typical focus on deliberate and harmful intent.

Semantic Range

slander, defamation, backbiting, malicious or hostile speech, evil-speaking, verbal disparagement

Root / Etymology

From the compound κατα- (down, against) and λαλία (speech, talk), thus 'speech against'. Closely related to the verb καταλαλέω ('to speak against, slander').

Historical & Contextual Notes

In both secular and Jewish Greek literature, καταλαλία is used to describe malicious or slanderous talk, especially when performed behind another's back (i.e., backbiting). Its earliest attestations are found in Hellenistic and later Koine Greek, with a focus on social or communal discord caused by speech. In the New Testament (e.g., 2 Corinthians 12:20, 1 Peter 2:1), καταλαλία signifies a vice harmful to the cohesion and ethical integrity of a community, paired alongside other disruptive behaviors like envy or deceit. In the Septuagint, related forms (primarily the verb) are used to translate Hebrew words associated with slander or talebearing. Traditional English renderings such as 'backbiting' or 'evil speaking' capture some but not all aspects, as these do not always convey the specifically social and destructive dimension present in Greek usage.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from κατάλαλος; defamation:--backbiting, evil speaking.

Root Family

καταλαλία (katalalia) — speech against, slander, defamation, malicious talk

Root λαλ- to speak, to talk

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G2636-02 καταλαλιάς katalalias N ACC F PL evil speakings acts of slander slanders 1
G2636-01 καταλαλιαί katalaliai N NOM F PL slander malicious slanders malicious slanders 1

Occurrences in Scripture

2 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G2636-01 2 Corinthians 12:20 καταλαλιαί katalaliai N NOM F PL slander malicious slanders malicious slanders
G2636-02 1 Peter 2:1 καταλαλιάς katalalias N ACC F PL evil speakings acts of slander slanders
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