Chatter
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Chatter, in the biblical context, often refers to idle talk or excessive speaking that lacks substance or purpose. The Bible addresses the concept of chatter in various passages, emphasizing the importance of thoughtful and meaningful speech.

Biblical References:

1. Proverbs 10:19 · "When words are many, sin is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise." This verse highlights the potential for sin in excessive talking. It suggests that wisdom is found in restraint and careful speech, contrasting with the folly of chatter.

2. Proverbs 18:2 · "A fool does not delight in understanding, but only in airing his opinions." Here, the Bible associates chatter with foolishness, as it often involves speaking without seeking understanding or wisdom. The verse warns against the tendency to speak merely to express one's own views without regard for truth or insight.

3. Ecclesiastes 5:3 · "As a dream comes through many cares, so the speech of a fool comes with many words." This passage draws a parallel between the multitude of words and foolishness, suggesting that excessive talking can be as meaningless as a dream born out of anxiety.

4. James 1:19 · "My beloved brothers, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger." The New Testament echoes the wisdom of the Old Testament by advising believers to prioritize listening over speaking. This instruction serves as a counter to idle chatter, promoting a disciplined and thoughtful approach to communication.

5. Proverbs 29:20 · "Do you see a man who speaks in haste? There is more hope for a fool than for him." This proverb warns against hasty speech, which is often a characteristic of chatter. It underscores the value of measured and deliberate communication.

Theological Implications:

Chatter is often seen as a reflection of a lack of self-control and wisdom. The Bible encourages believers to cultivate speech that is edifying, truthful, and reflective of a heart aligned with God's will. Idle talk can lead to misunderstandings, conflicts, and even sin, as it often lacks the intentionality and purpose that should characterize Christian communication.

Practical Application:

Believers are called to be mindful of their words, recognizing the power of speech to build up or tear down. By avoiding chatter, Christians can focus on speaking words that are beneficial, encouraging, and aligned with biblical truth. This involves being intentional about listening, seeking understanding, and speaking with grace and truth.

In summary, the biblical perspective on chatter emphasizes the importance of restraint, wisdom, and intentionality in speech. By adhering to these principles, believers can honor God with their words and foster healthy, constructive communication within the body of Christ and beyond.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (v. i.) To utter sounds which somewhat resemble language, but are inarticulate and indistinct.

2. (v. i.) To talk idly, carelessly, or with undue rapidity; to jabber; to prate.

3. (v. i.) To make a noise by rapid collisions.

4. (v. t.) To utter rapidly, idly, or indistinctly.

5. (n.) Sounds like those of a magpie or monkey; idle talk; rapid, thoughtless talk; jabber; prattle.

6. (n.) Noise made by collision of the teeth, as in shivering.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
CHATTER

chat'-er (tsaphaph): This word, which means to "peep," "twitter" or "chirp," as small birds do, is translated "chatter" only in Isaiah 38:14, "Like a swallow or a crane, so did I chatter."

See CHIRP.

Greek
945. battalogeo -- to stammer
... to stammer. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: battalogeo Phonetic Spelling:
(bat-tol-og-eh'-o) Short Definition: I chatter, utter empty words Definition: I ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/945.htm - 6k

2757. kenophonia -- empty talk
... worthless babble. Word Origin from kenos and phoneo Definition empty talk NASB
Word Usage empty chatter (2). chatter, empty talk. From a ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2757.htm - 6k

2980. laleo -- to talk
... to talk. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: laleo Phonetic Spelling:
(lal-eh'-o) Short Definition: I speak, say Definition: (I talk, chatter in classical ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2980.htm - 11k

Strong's Hebrew
6850. tsaphaph -- to chirp, peep
... chirp, chatter, peep, whisper. A primitive root; to coo or chirp (as a bird) --
chatter, peep, whisper. 6849, 6850. tsaphaph. 6851 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/6850.htm - 6k
Library

Chatter xviii. The Great Immigration.
... A HISTORY OF AMERICAN CHRISTIANITY. CHATTER XVIII. THE GREAT IMMIGRATION.
AT the taking of the first census of the United States ...
/.../a history of american christianity/chatter xviii the great immigration.htm

Meanwhile, Angela Sovrani was Detained in Her Studio by the ...
... XI. Meanwhile, Angela Sovrani was detained in her studio by the fascinating
company and bewildering chatter? Meanwhile, Angela ...
/.../corelli/the master-christian/xi meanwhile angela sovrani was.htm

Some of Your Learned Men Men, Too, who do not Chatter Merely ...
... Book III. 34 Some of your learned men " men, too, who do not chatter merely
because their? Some of your learned men [4021] "men ...
/.../the seven books of arnobius against the heathen/34 some of your learned.htm

A History of American Christianity
... CONFLICTS OF THE CHURCH WITH PUBLIC WRONGS. CHAPTER XVII. A DECADE OF CONTROVERSIES
AND SCHISMS. CHATTER XVIII. THE GREAT IMMIGRATION. CHAPTER XIX. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bacon/a history of american christianity/

Impressive Phrases
... B. bad, vicious, unwholesome, and distressing. babble, prate, chatter, and prattle.
barbarous, brutal, inhuman, and cruel. base, cowardly, abject, and hideous. ...
/.../kleiser/fifteen thousand useful phrases/section iv impressive phrases.htm

The Opinion of the Stoics Concerning God; of his Anger and ...
... excites such waves that it changes the condition of the mind, the eyes gleam, the
countenance trembles, the tongue stammers, the teeth chatter, the countenance ...
/.../chap v the opinion of the.htm

To the Philadelphians
... Lord Jesus Christ. I have been struck by his charming manner. ?^2 By being
silent he can do more than those who chatter. For he is ...
/.../richardson/early christian fathers/to the philadelphians.htm

Answered Prayer.
... If only the family altar were the meeting place between God and man, Atheists might
sneer and chatter, but they would never be able to cause our children to ...
//christianbookshelf.org/champness/broken bread/xxxiii answered prayer.htm

Letter xxvi. (Circa AD 1127) to the Same
... under the heaven; both a time to speak and a time to keep silence (Ecclesiastes
3:1-7). But when shall silence have its time, if our chatter shall occupy even ...
/.../some letters of saint bernard abbot of clairvaux/letter xxvi circa a d 1127.htm

The Judgment on the City
... and the unbaptised, while the men busied themselves with secular gossip, and the
women almost drowned the voice of the preacher with their chatter about their ...
/.../chapter vii the judgment on.htm

Thesaurus
Chatter (5 Occurrences)
... 6. (n.) Noise made by collision of the teeth, as in shivering. Int. Standard Bible
Encyclopedia. CHATTER. ... Multi-Version Concordance Chatter (5 Occurrences). ...
/c/chatter.htm - 8k

Godless (31 Occurrences)
... 1 Timothy 6:20 Timothy, guard that which is committed to you, turning away from
the empty chatter and oppositions of the knowledge which is falsely so called ...
/g/godless.htm - 16k

Crane (2 Occurrences)
... The crane is mentioned twice in the Bible: once on account of its voice (Isaiah
38:14: "Like a swallow or a crane, so did I chatter"); again because of the ...
/c/crane.htm - 12k

Clap (11 Occurrences)
... 8. (vi) To enter with alacrity and briskness; -- with to or into. 9. (vi) To talk
noisily; to chatter loudly. 10. ... 14. (n.) Noisy talk; chatter. 15. ...
/c/clap.htm - 11k

Swallow (38 Occurrences)
... crevices. The swallows utter constantly a rather sweet low note; the swifts
chatter harshly and incessantly at their nests. These ...
/s/swallow.htm - 24k

Empty (84 Occurrences)
... 1 Timothy 6:20 Timothy, guard that which is committed to you, turning away from
the empty chatter and oppositions of the knowledge which is falsely so called ...
/e/empty.htm - 35k

Chattering (2 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Chatter. 2. (n.) The act or
habit of talking idly or rapidly, or of making inarticulate ...
/c/chattering.htm - 7k

Ungodly (41 Occurrences)
... YLT NAS RSV NIV). 2 Timothy 2:16 But shun empty chatter, for they will proceed
further in ungodliness, (See NIV). Hebrews 12:16 lest ...
/u/ungodly.htm - 18k

Ungodliness (9 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV). 2 Timothy 2:16 But shun empty chatter, for they
will proceed further in ungodliness, (WEB KJV ASV WBS NAS RSV). ...
/u/ungodliness.htm - 9k

Opposition (22 Occurrences)
... 1 Timothy 6:20 Timothy, guard that which is committed to you, turning away from
the empty chatter and oppositions of the knowledge which is falsely so called ...
/o/opposition.htm - 13k

Resources
What does the Bible say about idleness/being idle? | GotQuestions.org

What does it mean to have reverence for God? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible say about talking too much / being talkative? | GotQuestions.org

Chatter: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Concordance
Chatter (5 Occurrences)

1 Corinthians 14:35
If they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home, for it is shameful for a woman to chatter in the assembly.
(WEB)

1 Timothy 6:20
Timothy, guard that which is committed to you, turning away from the empty chatter and oppositions of the knowledge which is falsely so called;
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

2 Timothy 2:16
But shun empty chatter, for they will proceed further in ungodliness,
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Isaiah 8:19
And when they say unto you, 'Seek unto those having familiar spirits, And unto wizards, who chatter and mutter, Doth not a people seek unto its God? -- For the living unto the dead!
(YLT)

Isaiah 38:14
I chattered like a swallow or a crane. I moaned like a dove. My eyes weaken looking upward. Lord, I am oppressed. Be my security."
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT)

Subtopics

Chatter

Related Terms

Chatter (5 Occurrences)

Weaken (5 Occurrences)

Moan (13 Occurrences)

Moaned (2 Occurrences)

Chatterer (1 Occurrence)

Crane (2 Occurrences)

Security (41 Occurrences)

Swallow (38 Occurrences)

Oppressed (81 Occurrences)

Upward (74 Occurrences)

Dove (27 Occurrences)

Weak (102 Occurrences)

Chastity: Want of, Excludes from Heaven
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