לָשַׁן lâshan — properly, to lick
Translated in the KJV as accuse, slander.
a primitive root; properly, to lick; but used only as a denominative from H3956; to wag the tongue, i.e. to calumniate.
lâshan in each stem
Po'el
Intensive · active — the action intensified, repeated or brought about; the subject does it
Participle (active) 2
מלושני Ps 101:5 Participle (active), masculine singular
Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off: him that hath an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer.
Hiph'il
Causative · active — causing someone or something to do the action; the subject does it
Jussive 1
תַּלְשֵׁ֣ן Prov 30:10 Jussive, 2nd person masculine singular
Accuse not a servant unto his master, lest he curse thee, and thou be found guilty.
What the stems mean
A Hebrew verb is its root letters set into a pattern. The pattern — the binyan — is the grammar's way of saying three things at once: whether the action is simple, intensive or causative, and whether its subject is active, passive or reflexive. That is why one Hebrew word can need six English ones. All seven binyanim, explained ›