1) One who bears tales against his friend transgresses a negative commandment, viz. (Vayikra 19:16): "Do not go talebearing among your people." What is talebearing? "Loading oneself" with words and going from one to another, saying: "This is what ploni [so and so] said about you"; "This and this is what I heard ploni did to you." Although what he says may be true, it destroys the world. And there is a sin much greater than this — lashon hara, which is included in this negative commandment. And that is speaking disparagingly of one's friend, even if what is said is true. But one who speaks falsely [about his friend] is referred to as a "motzi shem ra" [one who spreads an evil report].
הַמְרַגֵּל (א) בַּחֲבֵרוֹ עוֹבֵר בְּלֹא תַעֲשֶׂה שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ויקרא י"ט ט"ז): "לֹא תֵלֵךְ רָכִיל בְּעַמֶךָ" אֵיזֶהוּ רָכִיל? זֶה שֶׁטוֹעֵן דְּבָרִים וְהוֹלֵךְ מִזֶּה לָזֶה וְאוֹמֵר: כָּךְ אָמַר פְּלוֹנִי עָלֶיךָ, כָּךְ וְכָךְ שָׁמַעְתִּי עַל פְּלוֹנִי שֶׁהוּא עָשָׂה לְךָ, אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהוּא אֱמֶת, הֲרֵי זֶה מַחֲרִיב אֶת הָעוֹלָם. וְיֵשׁ עָוֹן גָּדוֹל מִזֶּה עַד מְאֹד וְהוּא לָשׁוֹן הָרָע וְהוּא בִּכְלַל לָאו זֶה, וְהוּא הַמְסַפֵּר בִּגְנוּת חֲבֵרוֹ, אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאוֹמֵר אֱמֶת. אֲבָל הָאוֹמֵר שֶׁקֶר נִמְצָא מוֹצִיא שֵׁם רָע עַל חֲבֵרוֹ.
1) One who bears tales against his friend transgresses a negative commandment, viz. (Vayikra 19:16): "Do not go talebearing among your people." What is talebearing? "Loading oneself" with words and going from one to another, saying: "This is what ploni [so and so] said about you"; "This and this is what I heard ploni did to you." Although what he says may be true, it destroys the world. And there is a sin much greater than this — lashon hara, which is included in this negative commandment. And that is speaking disparagingly of one's friend, even if what is said is true. But one who speaks falsely [about his friend] is referred to as a "motzi shem ra" [one who spreads an evil report].