Topic
Busybody
12 passages cited, from 2 classic reference works.
These works date from 1896–1915 and are in the public domain. They reflect the Protestant scholarship of their time: their history, archaeology and dates can be out of date, and where they interpret, other traditions read the text differently. The verses are shown in the King James Version, the wording these works were written against.
The verses
The passages the works cite, those cited by more of them first.
- 2 Thessalonians 3:11ISBE · Nave General scriptures concerning
For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.
- 1 Timothy 5:13ISBE · Nave General scriptures concerning
And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.
- 1 Peter 4:15ISBE · Nave General scriptures concerning
But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters.
- Leviticus 19:16Nave General scriptures concerning
¶ Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people: neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbour: I am the LORD.
- Proverbs 20:3Nave General scriptures concerning
It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.
- 1 Corinthians 13:1–13ISBE
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I…
- Ephesians 4:29ISBE
Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
- Ephesians 4:31ISBE
Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
- 2 Thessalonians 3:12Nave General scriptures concerning
Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.
- Titus 3:2ISBE
To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.
- James 3:2–10ISBE
For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. Behold also the ships,…
- James 4:11ISBE
Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.
In the reference works
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1915) · 9 references
biz'-i-bod-i (periergos, allotrioepiskopos): The word is found twice in Paulinic literature.: 1Ti 5:13, "not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies," and 2Th 3:11, "work not at all, but are busybodies." It is also found in 1Pe 4:15 the King James Version (the Revised Version (British and American) "meddler") "or as a busybody in other men's matters." If these passages be coupled with such others as Jas 3:2-10; 4:11; Eph 4:29,31; Tit 3:2, it becomes evident that sins against the eighth commandment were as common in the apostolic church as they are today. To this day backbiting is a common trait of oriental peoples. And it is this sin which is so repeatedly warned against by the apostles, as in direct conflict with the ethics of Christianity, and in violation of that spirit of brotherly love and mutual trust which Christ has enjoined on His followers, and which is the very marrow of the outward revelation of the Christian faith (1Co 13).
Henry E. Dosker
In the topical indexes
Texts: International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1915); Nave's Topical Bible (1896), from the CrossWire SWORD modules (public domain). Verse references were parsed from the works' own markup and checked against the KJV verse list.