📖 Biblical Definition
One who speaks abusively, attacks character, and dishonors with the tongue. Greek loidoros, listed alongside the catalogues of those whose habitual sin disqualifies them from kingdom inheritance: 1 Corinthians 6:10 (nor revilers... shall inherit the kingdom of God); 1 Corinthians 5:11 (the church is not to keep company with such a professing brother, not even to eat with him). Christ Himself bore reviling without returning it: 1 Peter 2:23: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously. The reviler's sin is not occasional sharp words (everyone says things in heat they later regret); it is the settled habit of tongue-violence against others. Biblical correction of the reviler proceeds through church discipline (Matt 18:15-17), then exclusion if no repentance follows. The category overlaps with railer; both share the same Greek word in some passages.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
An abusive verbal attacker.
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One who attacks character and reputation with abusive speech; another rendering of Greek loidoros — alongside railer; named in Paul's lists of those who shall not inherit the kingdom and those a so-called brother must not be.
📖 Key Scripture
1 Corinthians 6:10 — "Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God."
1 Peter 2:23 — "Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously."
1 Timothy 5:14 — "I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Treated as venting or 'speaking truth'; Scripture knows abusive speech for what it is and bars it.
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Christ was reviled and did not revile back (1 Pet 2:23) — the deepest answer to a reviler is silence and trust in God's judgment. Vengeance with the tongue is still vengeance. The Christ-pattern is to entrust the matter to the Judge.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Greek loidoreō — to revile.
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['Greek', 'G3058', 'loidoreō', 'to revile']
['Greek', 'G3060', 'loidoros', 'reviler']
Usage
"Christ was reviled and did not revile back."
"Entrust verbal harm to the Judge."