7489. ra'a'

Strong's Lexicon

ra'a': To be evil, to do wickedly, to harm, to break, to be displeasing

Original Word: רָעַע
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: ra'a'
Pronunciation: rah-ah'
Phonetic Spelling: (raw-ah')
Definition: To be evil, to do wickedly, to harm, to break, to be displeasing
Meaning: to spoil, to make, good for, nothing, bad

Word Origin: A primitive root

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: - G2556 (κακός, kakos) - bad, evil

- G4190 (πονηρός, ponēros) - evil, wicked, malicious

Usage: The Hebrew verb רָעַע (ra'a') primarily conveys the idea of being evil or doing wickedly. It is used to describe actions, behaviors, or conditions that are morally wrong or harmful. The term can also imply causing harm or breaking something, whether physically or metaphorically. In the context of the Hebrew Bible, it often refers to actions that are contrary to God's will and commandments, leading to moral and spiritual corruption.

Cultural and Historical Background: In ancient Israelite culture, the concept of evil was closely tied to disobedience to God's laws and the covenant relationship between God and His people. The Israelites were called to live according to God's statutes, and deviation from this path was considered evil. The term ra'a' is used throughout the Old Testament to describe the actions of individuals, nations, and even the spiritual state of the people of Israel when they turned away from God. Understanding this term within its cultural and historical context highlights the importance of covenant faithfulness and the consequences of moral failure.

Brown-Driver-Briggs

[רָעַע]₉₈ verb denominative be evil, bad; —

Qal Perfect3masculine singular רַע Numbers 22:34 3t., רָ֑ע Numbers 11:10; 3feminine singular רָעָה Deuteronomy 15:9 (Exodus 21:8 see I. רַע); Imperfect3masculine singular יֵרַע (Ges^{§ 67p}) Genesis 21:12 +; 3 feminine singular תֵּרַע Deuteronomy 28:54,56; 3masculine plural יֵרְעוּ Nehemiah 2:3; —

1 be displeasing: רַע בְּעֵינֵי Numbers 11:10; Numbers 22:34 (J), Joshua 24:15 (E), Jeremiah 40:4; Proverbs 24:18 (with וְ consecutive) imperfect יֵרַע בְּעֵינֵי Genesis 21:11,12 (E), Genesis 48:17 (J), 1 Samuel 8:6; 1 Samuel 18:8; 2 Samuel 11:25; later, וַיֵּרַעאֶל Jonah 4:1 or וירעלְ Nehemiah 2:10 (intensified by רָעָה גְרוֺלֶה), וַיֵּרַעלִי מְאֹד Nehemiah 13:8.

2 be sad: ירע לבב Deuteronomy 15:10; 1 Samuel 1:8; יֵ˜רְעוּ פָנַי Nehemiah 2:3.

3 be injurious, evil: וַיִּרַע לְ Psalm 106:32 it went ill with Moses, person subject 2 Samuel 20:6; רָעָה עַיִן be grudging, with ב person, Deuteronomy 15:9; Deuteronomy 28:54,56.

4 be evil, wicked, ethically: ׳וַיֵּרַע בְּעֵינֵי י Genesis 38:10 (J) 2 Samuel 11:27; Isaiah 59:15; בְּעֵינֵי אֱלֹהַים 1 Chronicles 21:7.

Niph`al suffer hurt: Imperfect3masculine singular (רַע) יֵרוֺעַ Proverbs 11:15; Proverbs 13:20.

Hiph`il₇₀ Perfect3masculine singular הֵרַע Exodus 5:23 +; 2 masculine singular הֲרֵעוֺתָ 1 Kings 17:20, etc.; Imperfect3masculine singular יָרֵעַ Zephaniah 1:12, וַיָּרַע 1 Kings 16:25; 2masculine singular תָּרַע Psalm 44:3 +, etc.; Infinitive absolute הָרֵעַ 1 Samuel 12:25; 1 Chronicles 21:17; construct הָרַע Genesis 31:7 8t., הָרֵעַ֑ Isaiah 1:16 4t.; Participle מֵרַע Isaiah 9:16; Proverbs 17:4; plural מְרֵעִים Isaiah 1:4 +; —

1 do an injury, hurt: absolute Genesis 44:5 (J), Isaiah 11:9 = Isaiah 65:25, Jeremiah 31:28; Proverbs 4:16; Proverbs 24:8; opposed to היטיב Isaiah 41:23; Jeremiah 10:5; Zephaniah 1:12 (all in prov. Phr. = do anything at all, compare רָע

2); הרע ל Genesis 19:9; Genesis 43:6; Exodus 5:22,23; Numbers 11:11 (J) Numbers 20:15; Joshua 24:20 (E) + 5 t.; with accusative of person Numbers 16:15 (J) + 4t.; with בְּ, 1 Chronicles 16:22 = Psalm 105:15 (with ל), Jeremiah 25:29; Psalm 74:3; with עִמָּדִי Genesis 31:7 (E); with על 1 Kings 17:20 bring evil upon; swear לְהָרַע, = to one's hurt, Psalm 15:4; Leviticus 5:4 (P); Participle = substantive לְבָכָם לְמֵרָ֔ע Daniel 11:27 (shall be) for mischief.

2 do evil, wickedly: absolute Genesis 19:7 (J) 1 Samuel 12:25 (twice in verse) + 6 t.; opposed to היטיב Jeremiah 4:22; Jeremiah 13:23; with מִן compare, 1 Kings 14:9; 1 Kings 16:25; 2 Kings 21:11; Jeremiah 7:26; Jeremiah 16:12; with accusative הֵרֵעוּ מַעַלְלֵיהֶם Micah 3:4, compare 1 Samuel 25:3; Participle מֵרַע evil doer, Isaiah 9:16; Proverbs 17:4; plural Jeremiah 20:13; Jeremiah 23:14; Psalm 27:2 7t.; ׳וֶרַע מ Isaiah 1:4; Isaiah 14:20; ׳בית מ Isaiah 31:2; ׳עֲרַתמ Psalm 22:17; ׳קִחַל מ Psalm 26:5; ׳סוֺר מ Psalm 64:3.

II. [רָעַע] verb break (Aramaic loan-word = Hebrew רָצַץ q. v.); —

Qal Perfect3plural רָעוּ Jeremiah 11:16; Imperfect3masculine singular יָרֹעַ Jeremiah 15:12; Job 34:24, 2masculine singular suffix תְּרֹעֵם Psalm 2:9 (but see below); Infinitive absolute רֹ֫עָה Isaiah 24:19 (strike out ה as dittograph and read רֹעַ, see

Hithpo`el); Participle feminine רֹעָה (? for רֹעֲעָה) Proverbs 25:19: —

1 transitive הֲיָרֹע בַּרְזֶל ׳בַּרְזֶל וגו Jeremiah 15:12 can one break iron, iron out of the north? compare יָרֹעַ כַּבִּירִים Job 34:24; תְּרֹעֵם בְּשֵֹׁבֶט בַּרְזֶל Psalm 2:9 (but read תִּרְעֵם, see I. רהְ, ᵐ5 ᵑ6 ᵑ9 Hup-Now and others).

2 intransitive break = be broken, of branches Jeremiah 11:16 (in figurative; Gf Or and others; > Hi Gie are in a sad state, √ I. רעע); שֵׁן רֹעָה Proverbs 25:19 a broken tooth (׳ר = רֹעֲעָה?; Frankenb

Niph`al Participle נְרָעָה, compare Toy, but Niph`al not elsewhere; Vrss רָעָה bad). — רֹ֫עוּ Isaiah 8:9 read דְּעוּ (ᵐ5 Lo Che and others, "" הַאֲזִינוּ).

Hithpo`el Perfect3feminine singular +

Qal Infinitive absolute (see above) צרץ[הָ] רֹעַ הִתְרֹעֲעָה Isaiah 24:19 the earth is broken asunder ("" מּוֺר תִתְמּוֺרְרָה, מוֺט הִתְמוֺטְטָה); also Infinitive construct לְהִתְרוֺעֵעַ Proverbs 18:24 will be broken in pieces (Ges^{§ 114i}), ruined, De and others, but < read לְהִתְרָעוֺת Vrss Toy and others, see רעה Hithpa`el (see, however, Dr^{Expos. Times xi (1899-1900), 230f.}).

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

afflict

A primitive root; properly, to spoil (literally, by breaking to pieces); figuratively, to make (or be) good for nothing, i.e. Bad (physically, socially or morally) -- afflict, associate selves (by mistake for ra'ah), break (down, in pieces), + displease, (be, bring, do) evil (doer, entreat, man), show self friendly (by mistake for ra'ah), do harm, (do) hurt, (behave self, deal) ill, X indeed, do mischief, punish, still, vex, (do) wicked (doer, -ly), be (deal, do) worse.

see HEBREW ra'ah

see HEBREW ra'ah

Forms and Transliterations

אָרַ֖ע אָרַ֤ע ארע בַּמְּרֵעִ֑ים במרעים הֲיָרֹ֨עַ הֲרֵע֔וֹתִי הֲרֵע֖וֹתָ הֲרֵעֹ֖תִי הֲרֵעֹ֙תָ֙ הֲרֵעֹ֙תָה֙ הֲרֵעֹֽתִי׃ הֲרֵעֹתֶ֖ם הֲרֵעֹתֶ֥ם הִֽתְרֹעֲעָ֖ה הֵ֥רַֽע הֵרֵ֖עוּ הֵרֵ֜עוּ הֵרַ֕ע הֵרַ֖ע הָרֵ֖עַ הָרֵֽעַ׃ הירע הרע הרע׃ הרעו הרעות הרעותי הרעת הרעתה הרעתי הרעתי׃ הרעתם התרעעה וְהֵרַ֤ע וְהָרֵ֣עַ וְרַ֣ע וְרָע֖וּ וְרָע֞וּ וְרָעָ֣ה וְתָרֵ֔עוּ וַיֵּ֙רַע֙ וַיֵּ֛רַע וַיֵּ֣רַע וַיֵּ֤רַע וַיֵּ֥רַֽע וַיֵּ֥רַע וַיֵּ֧רַע וַיָּ֕רַע וַיָּרֵ֥עוּ וַיָּרֵ֧עוּ וַתָּ֣רַע וּלְהָרֵ֑עַ וּמֵרַ֔ע והרע וירע וירעו ולהרע ומרע ורע ורעה ורעו ותרע ותרעו יֵ֭רוֹעַ יֵרְע֣וּ יֵרַ֤ע יֵרַ֥ע יָרֵ֑עוּ יָרֵ֔עוּ יָרֵ֥עוּ יָרֵ֧עוּ יָרֵֽעַ׃ יָרֹ֣עַ ירוע ירע ירע׃ ירעו לְ֝הָרַ֗ע לְהִתְרֹעֵ֑עַ לְהָרֵ֑עַ לְהָרֵֽעַ׃ לְהָרַ֔ע לְהָרַ֖ע לְהָרַ֣ע לְהָרַ֣ע ׀ להרע להרע׃ להתרעע מְ֭רֵעִים מְרֵעִ֑ים מְרֵעִ֔ים מְרֵעִ֗ים מְרֵעִֽים׃ מְרֵעִים֮ מֵ֭רַע מֵהָרַ֖ע מהרע מרע מרעים מרעים׃ נָרַ֥ע נרע רַ֧ע רֹ֤עוּ רֹ֥עָה רע רעה רעו תְּ֭רֹעֵם תֵּרַ֤ע תֵּרַ֨ע תָּרֵ֑עוּ תָּרֵ֣עוּ תָּרֵֽעוּ׃ תָּרַ֥ע תרע תרעו תרעו׃ תרעם ’ā·ra‘ ’āra‘ aRa bam·mə·rê·‘îm bammərê‘îm bammereIm hă·rê·‘ō·ṯā hă·rê·‘ō·ṯāh hă·rê·‘ō·ṯem hă·rê·‘ō·ṯî hă·rê·‘ō·w·ṯā hă·rê·‘ō·w·ṯî hā·rê·a‘ hă·yā·rō·a‘ hărê‘ōṯā hărê‘ōṯāh hărê‘ōṯem hărê‘ōṯî hărê‘ōwṯā hărê‘ōwṯî haRea hārêa‘ hareOta hareOtah hareoTem hareOti hayaRoa hăyārōa‘ hê·ra‘ hê·rê·‘ū heRa hêra‘ hêrê‘ū heReu hiṯ·rō·‘ă·‘āh hiṯrō‘ă‘āh hitroaAh lə·hā·ra‘ lə·hā·rê·a‘ lə·hiṯ·rō·‘ê·a‘ lehaRa ləhāra‘ lehaRea ləhārêa‘ ləhiṯrō‘êa‘ lehitroEa mê·hā·ra‘ mê·ra‘ mə·rê·‘îm mehaRa mêhāra‘ Mera mêra‘ mərê‘îm mereIm nā·ra‘ naRa nāra‘ ra ra‘ rō‘āh rō‘ū rō·‘āh rō·‘ū Roah Rou tā·ra‘ tā·rê·‘ū taRa tāra‘ tārê‘ū taReu tê·ra‘ tə·rō·‘êm teRa têra‘ tərō‘êm Teroem ū·lə·hā·rê·a‘ ū·mê·ra‘ ulehaRea ūləhārêa‘ umeRa ūmêra‘ vaiYara vaiyaReu vaiYera vatTara vehaRea veheRa veRa veraAh veraU vetaReu wat·tā·ra‘ wattāra‘ way·yā·ra‘ way·yā·rê·‘ū way·yê·ra‘ wayyāra‘ wayyārê‘ū wayyêra‘ wə·hā·rê·a‘ wə·hê·ra‘ wə·ra‘ wə·rā·‘āh wə·rā·‘ū wə·ṯā·rê·‘ū wəhārêa‘ wəhêra‘ wəra‘ wərā‘āh wərā‘ū wəṯārê‘ū yā·rê·‘ū yā·rê·a‘ yā·rō·a‘ yārê‘ū yaRea yārêa‘ yaReu yaRoa yārōa‘ yê·ra‘ yê·rə·‘ū yê·rō·w·a‘ yeRa yêra‘ yêrə‘ū yereU Yeroa yêrōwa‘

Englishman's Concordance

Genesis 19:7
HEB: נָ֥א אַחַ֖י תָּרֵֽעוּ׃
NAS: my brothers, do not act wickedly.
KJV: I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly.
INT: Please my brothers act

Genesis 19:9
HEB: שָׁפ֔וֹט עַתָּ֕ה נָרַ֥ע לְךָ֖ מֵהֶ֑ם
NAS: now we will treat you worse than
KJV: be a judge: now will we deal worse with thee, than with them. And they pressed
INT: is acting now will treat they pressed

Genesis 21:11
HEB: וַיֵּ֧רַע הַדָּבָ֛ר מְאֹ֖ד
NAS: The matter distressed Abraham greatly
INT: distressed the matter greatly

Genesis 21:12
HEB: אַבְרָהָ֗ם אַל־ יֵרַ֤ע בְּעֵינֶ֙יךָ֙ עַל־
NAS: to Abraham, Do not be distressed because
INT: Abraham not be distressed sight because

Genesis 31:7
HEB: נְתָנ֣וֹ אֱלֹהִ֔ים לְהָרַ֖ע עִמָּדִֽי׃
NAS: did not allow him to hurt me.
KJV: but God suffered him not to hurt me.
INT: allow God to hurt me

Genesis 38:10
HEB: וַיֵּ֛רַע בְּעֵינֵ֥י יְהוָ֖ה
NAS: he did was displeasing in the sight
INT: was displeasing the sight of the LORD

Genesis 43:6
HEB: יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל לָמָ֥ה הֲרֵעֹתֶ֖ם לִ֑י לְהַגִּ֣יד
NAS: Why did you treat me so badly by telling
KJV: said, Wherefore dealt ye [so] ill with me, [as] to tell
INT: Israel Why treat telling the man

Genesis 44:5
HEB: יְנַחֵ֖שׁ בּ֑וֹ הֲרֵעֹתֶ֖ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר עֲשִׂיתֶֽם׃
NAS: uses for divination? You have done wrong in doing
KJV: he divineth? ye have done evil in so doing.
INT: indeed uses wrong which doing

Genesis 48:17
HEB: רֹ֥אשׁ אֶפְרַ֖יִם וַיֵּ֣רַע בְּעֵינָ֑יו וַיִּתְמֹ֣ךְ
NAS: head, it displeased him; and he grasped
INT: head Ephraim's displeased affliction grasped

Exodus 5:22
HEB: אֲדֹנָ֗י לָמָ֤ה הֲרֵעֹ֙תָה֙ לָעָ֣ם הַזֶּ֔ה
NAS: why have You brought harm to this
KJV: Lord, wherefore hast thou [so] evil entreated this people?
INT: Lord why brought folk to this

Exodus 5:23
HEB: לְדַבֵּ֣ר בִּשְׁמֶ֔ךָ הֵרַ֖ע לָעָ֣ם הַזֶּ֑ה
NAS: in Your name, he has done harm to this
KJV: in thy name, he hath done evil to this people;
INT: to speak your name has done people to this

Leviticus 5:4
HEB: לְבַטֵּ֨א בִשְׂפָתַ֜יִם לְהָרַ֣ע ׀ א֣וֹ לְהֵיטִ֗יב
NAS: with his lips to do evil or
KJV: with [his] lips to do evil, or to do good,
INT: thoughtlessly his lips to do or to do

Numbers 11:11
HEB: יְהוָ֗ה לָמָ֤ה הֲרֵעֹ֙תָ֙ לְעַבְדֶּ֔ךָ וְלָ֛מָּה
NAS: Why have You been so hard on Your servant?
KJV: unto the LORD, Wherefore hast thou afflicted thy servant?
INT: the LORD Why hard bondage Why

Numbers 16:15
HEB: נָשָׂ֔אתִי וְלֹ֥א הֲרֵעֹ֖תִי אֶת־ אַחַ֥ד
NAS: from them, nor have I done harm to any
KJV: ass from them, neither have I hurt one
INT: taken nor done to any like

Numbers 20:15
HEB: יָמִ֣ים רַבִּ֑ים וַיָּרֵ֥עוּ לָ֛נוּ מִצְרַ֖יִם
NAS: and the Egyptians treated us and our fathers
KJV: and the Egyptians vexed us, and our fathers:
INT: time A long treated Egyptian and our fathers

Deuteronomy 15:9
HEB: שְׁנַ֣ת הַשְּׁמִטָּה֒ וְרָעָ֣ה עֵֽינְךָ֗ בְּאָחִ֙יךָ֙
NAS: and your eye is hostile toward your poor
KJV: and thine eye be evil against thy poor
INT: the year of remission is hostile eye brother

Deuteronomy 15:10
HEB: ל֔וֹ וְלֹא־ יֵרַ֥ע לְבָבְךָ֖ בְּתִתְּךָ֣
NAS: to him, and your heart shall not be grieved when you give
INT: give not shall not be grieved and your heart give

Deuteronomy 26:6
HEB: וַיָּרֵ֧עוּ אֹתָ֛נוּ הַמִּצְרִ֖ים
NAS: And the Egyptians treated us harshly and afflicted
KJV: And the Egyptians evil entreated us, and afflicted
INT: treated for and the Egyptians

Deuteronomy 28:54
HEB: וְהֶעָנֹ֖ג מְאֹ֑ד תֵּרַ֨ע עֵינ֤וֹ בְאָחִיו֙
NAS: delicate among you shall be hostile toward his brother
INT: delicate and very shall be hostile his eye his brother

Deuteronomy 28:56
HEB: מֵהִתְעַנֵּ֖ג וּמֵרֹ֑ךְ תֵּרַ֤ע עֵינָהּ֙ בְּאִ֣ישׁ
NAS: and refinement, shall be hostile toward the husband
INT: delicateness and refinement shall be hostile her eye the husband

Joshua 24:20
HEB: נֵכָ֑ר וְשָׁ֨ב וְהֵרַ֤ע לָכֶם֙ וְכִלָּ֣ה
NAS: then He will turn and do you harm and consume
KJV: then he will turn and do you hurt, and consume
INT: foreign will turn and do and consume after

Judges 19:23
HEB: אַחַ֖י אַל־ תָּרֵ֣עוּ נָ֑א אַ֠חֲרֵי
NAS: please do not act so wickedly; since
KJV: my brethren, [nay], I pray you, do not [so] wickedly; seeing
INT: my fellows No act please seeing

Ruth 1:21
HEB: בִ֔י וְשַׁדַּ֖י הֵ֥רַֽע לִֽי׃
NAS: against me and the Almighty has afflicted me?
KJV: against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me?
INT: has witnessed and the Almighty has afflicted

1 Samuel 8:6
HEB: וַיֵּ֤רַע הַדָּבָר֙ בְּעֵינֵ֣י
NAS: But the thing was displeasing in the sight
INT: was displeasing the thing the sight

1 Samuel 12:25
HEB: וְאִם־ הָרֵ֖עַ תָּרֵ֑עוּ גַּם־
NAS: But if you still do wickedly, both
KJV: But if ye shall still do wickedly,
INT: if still do both

98 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 7489
98 Occurrences

’ā·ra‘ — 2 Occ.
bam·mə·rê·‘îm — 2 Occ.
hā·rê·a‘ — 3 Occ.
hă·rê·‘ō·ṯā — 2 Occ.
hă·rê·‘ō·ṯāh — 1 Occ.
hă·rê·‘ō·ṯem — 3 Occ.
hă·rê·‘ō·ṯî — 3 Occ.
hă·yā·rō·a‘ — 1 Occ.
hê·ra‘ — 4 Occ.
hê·rê·‘ū — 3 Occ.
hiṯ·rō·‘ă·‘āh — 1 Occ.
lə·hā·ra‘ — 6 Occ.
lə·hā·rê·a‘ — 2 Occ.
lə·hiṯ·rō·‘ê·a‘ — 1 Occ.
mê·hā·ra‘ — 1 Occ.
mê·ra‘ — 1 Occ.
mə·rê·‘îm — 14 Occ.
nā·ra‘ — 1 Occ.
ra‘ — 1 Occ.
rō·‘āh — 1 Occ.
rō·‘ū — 1 Occ.
tā·ra‘ — 1 Occ.
tā·rê·‘ū — 5 Occ.
tê·ra‘ — 2 Occ.
tə·rō·‘êm — 1 Occ.
ū·lə·hā·rê·a‘ — 1 Occ.
ū·mê·ra‘ — 1 Occ.
way·yā·ra‘ — 1 Occ.
way·yā·rê·‘ū — 2 Occ.
way·yê·ra‘ — 11 Occ.
wat·tā·ra‘ — 1 Occ.
wə·hā·rê·a‘ — 1 Occ.
wə·hê·ra‘ — 1 Occ.
wə·ra‘ — 1 Occ.
wə·rā·‘āh — 1 Occ.
wə·rā·‘ū — 2 Occ.
wə·ṯā·rê·‘ū — 1 Occ.
yā·rê·a‘ — 1 Occ.
yā·rê·‘ū — 4 Occ.
yā·rō·a‘ — 1 Occ.
yê·ra‘ — 3 Occ.
yê·rə·‘ū — 1 Occ.
yê·rō·w·a‘ — 1 Occ.