Matthew Poole and continuators on Psalms 15:3

3. He that back-biteth not with his tongue , nor doeth evil to his neighbour , nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.

He doth not take away or diminish his Neighbours good name either by denying him his due praises, or by laying any thing to his Charge falsely or without sufficient cause and Evidence.

(i. e.) Any hurt or injury.

(i. e.) To any man; as is evident, 1. from the Nature of this precept which reacheth to all, it being plain and certain, that both by Laws of Nature and of Moses, it was not lawful to do evil to any man, except where God the Soveraign commanded it, as he did to the Canaanites and Amalekites. 2. From the Scripture usage of this word Neighbour, which frequently signifies every man, though a stranger or an heathen, as appears from Gen. 29. 4. Exod. 20. 16, 17. Levit. 18. 20. and 19. 15, &c. Prov. 25. 8, 9. Luk. 10. 29, &c. Mat. 5. 43, 44. And he useth this word, Neighbour, because he who is strictly so is most within our reach, and most liable to the injuries which one man doth to another.

To wit into his Lips or Mouth, which is understood here, as also Exod. 20. 7. Iob 4. 2. and fully expressed: Psal. 16. 4. and 50. 16. (i. e.) Doth not raise it, though that may seem to be included in the first Clause, that Back-biteth not: Or, doth not spread and propagate it; which men are too prone and ready to do; and which makes that a publick, which before was but a private injury and mischief. Or, nor taketh or receiveth, (i. e.) Entertaineth it cheerfully and greedily, as men usually do such things, and easily believeth it without sufficient reason. See Exod. 23. 1. Levit. 19. 1[illegible: 1+ letters]. Or, nor beareth or endureth, as this phrase signifies, Psal. 69. 7. Ezek. 36. 15. He doth not suffer another to defame him without some rebuke or signification of his dislike, Prov. 25. 23.

Marginal references: Or, receiveth, Or, endureth, Exod. 23. 1.