Busybody
Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words [1]
lit., "to be working round about, instead of at one's own business" (peri, "around," ergon, "work"), signifies to take more pains than enough about a thing, to waste one's labor, to be meddling with, or bustling about, other people's matters. This is found in 2—Thessalonians 3:11 , where, following the verb ergazomai, "to work," it forms a paronomasia. This may be produced in a free rendering: "some who are not busied in their own business, but are overbusied in that of others."
akin to A, denoting "taken up with trifles," is used of magic arts in Acts 19:19; "busybodies" in 1—Timothy 5:13 , i.e., meddling in other persons' affairs. See Curious.
from allotrios, "belonging to another person," and episkopos, "an overseer," translated "busybody" in the AV of 1—Peter 4:15 , "meddler," RV, was a legal term for a charge brought against Christians as being hostile to civilized society, their purpose being to make Gentiles conform to Christian standards. Some explain it as a pryer into others' affairs. See Meddler.
Webster's Dictionary [2]
(n.) One who officiously concerns himself with the affairs of others; a meddling person.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia [3]
biz´i - bod - i ( περίεργος , perı́ergos , ἀλλοτριοεπίσκοπος , allotrioepı́skopos ): The word is found twice in Paulinic literature.: 1 Timothy 5:13 , "not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies," and 2 Thessalonians 3:11 , "work not at all, but are busybodies." It is also found in 1 Peter 4:15 the King James Version (the Revised Version (British and American) "meddler") "or as a busybody in other men's matters." If these passages be coupled with such others as James 3:2-10; James 4:11; Ephesians 4:29 , Ephesians 4:31; Titus 3:2 , it becomes evident that sins against the eighth commandment were as common in the apostolic church as they are today. To this day backbiting is a common trait of oriental peoples. And it is this sin which is so repeatedly warned against by the apostles, as in direct conflict with the ethics of Christianity, and in violation of that spirit of brotherly love and mutual trust which Christ has enjoined on His followers, and which is the very marrow of the outward revelation of the Christian faith ( 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 ).
