Tale
The Word "Tale" in Biblical Context
Modern English speakers associate "tale" with a story or narrative, but in the King James Bible and other older translations, the word carried different meanings that reflect Elizabethan English usage. The two primary biblical senses are: (1) a number, count, or tally, and (2) idle or malicious talk. Recognizing these distinctions helps readers understand passages that might otherwise seem puzzling.
Tale as a Count or Number
The most common biblical use of "tale" means a specified number or full count. This usage appears most memorably in the Exodus narrative, when Pharaoh demanded that the Israelite slaves continue producing the full "tale" (quota) of bricks even after he withdrew the supply of straw: "You shall by no means reduce your daily tale of bricks" (Exodus 5:8, 18). The Hebrew word here conveys a fixed amount or reckoning.
This meaning also appears in 1 Samuel 18:27, where David delivered the full "tale" (count) of Philistine foreskins as the bride-price for Michal, and in 1 Chronicles 9:28, where certain Levites were responsible for counting temple vessels "by tale" (by number) when they were brought in and taken out.
Tale as Fleeting Speech
Psalm 90:9 contains a more poetic use: "We spend our years as a tale that is told." This rendering, found in the KJV, has been understood in various ways. The Hebrew word suggests something whispered, murmured, or sighed. Some scholars translate it as "like a sigh" or "like a murmur," capturing the brevity and insubstantiality of human life. The Septuagint and Vulgate render it as "like a spider's web," emphasizing fragility.
The same Hebrew root appears in Psalm 1:2, where the righteous person "meditates" (literally, whispers or murmurs) on God's law day and night. The connection between quiet, reflective speech and the swift passage of years creates a poignant image of life's fleeting nature.
Idle Tales and the Resurrection
In the New Testament, "tale" appears in Luke 24:11, where the women's report of Jesus' resurrection was dismissed by the disciples as "idle tales." The Greek word here means "nonsensical talk" or "delirious speech." The disciples initially refused to believe the women's testimony, considering their account of an empty tomb and angelic messengers too extraordinary to be true.
This reaction is significant theologically. Even Jesus' closest followers did not initially believe in the resurrection, which argues against the idea that the resurrection accounts were invented by eager, credulous disciples. Their skepticism had to be overcome by Jesus' personal appearances to them.
Talebearing and Slander
The related word "talebearer" appears several times in Scripture, referring to someone who spreads malicious gossip or slander. Proverbs addresses this destructive behavior repeatedly: "A talebearer reveals secrets, but he who is of a faithful spirit conceals a matter" (Proverbs 11:13). "The words of a talebearer are like dainty morsels; they go down into the innermost body" (Proverbs 18:8; 26:22).
Leviticus 19:16 commands, "You shall not go about as a talebearer among your people," placing the prohibition against gossip alongside other fundamental moral laws. The Hebrew word for talebearer comes from a root meaning to go about peddling, like a merchant going from house to house. Ezekiel 22:9 condemns "slanderous men" (literally, men who carry tales) among the sins of Jerusalem.
Biblical examples of harmful talebearing include Doeg the Edomite, who reported David's visit to the priest Ahimelech, resulting in the massacre of eighty-five priests (1 Samuel 22:9-19), and Ziba, who slandered his master Mephibosheth to King David (2 Samuel 16:3; 19:27).
Lessons About Speech
The various uses of "tale" in the Bible converge on a single theme: the power and responsibility of speech. Whether referring to accurate counting, fleeting words, idle dismissal of truth, or destructive gossip, these passages remind readers that words carry weight. James 3:5-6 captures this principle: "The tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire!"
Biblical Context
"Tale" appears in the Exodus brick-making narrative (Exodus 5:8, 18), in David's bride-price for Michal (1 Samuel 18:27), in temple vessel counting (1 Chronicles 9:28), in the meditation on life's brevity (Psalm 90:9), and in the disciples' reaction to the resurrection report (Luke 24:11). "Talebearer" appears in Leviticus 19:16, Proverbs 11:13; 18:8; 20:19; 26:20, 22, and Ezekiel 22:9.
Theological Significance
The biblical treatment of tales and talebearing underscores the moral weight of human speech. God commands truthful, careful, and restrained use of words. The disciples' dismissal of the resurrection as "idle tales" reminds readers that the most important truth in history was initially rejected as nonsense, demonstrating both the counter-intuitive nature of the gospel and the reliability of the resurrection accounts. The Proverbs' warnings against talebearing reflect God's concern for community, reputation, and justice.
Historical Background
The KJV's use of "tale" reflects 17th-century English usage, where the word commonly meant a count or reckoning (related to modern "tally"). Brick-making in ancient Egypt was a well-documented practice; tomb paintings from the 15th century BC at Thebes depict foreigners making bricks under Egyptian supervision, consistent with the Exodus narrative. The prohibition against talebearing in Leviticus 19:16 stands within the Holiness Code, a collection of laws governing ethical behavior in Israelite community life.