Strong's Lexicon: H7451 רַע רָעָה

Definition / Gloss

Strong's Number:	H7451
Word:	רַע רָעָה
Part of Speech:	adjective
Etymology:	from H7489
Language:	Hebrew
Occurrences:	670
Transliteration:	ra
Phonetic Spelling/Pronunciation:	` (rah) adj.
Meaning:	1. bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral)
KJV Renderings:	adversity, affliction, bad, calamity, + displease(-ure), distress, evil((- favouredness), man, thing), + exceedingly, X great, grief(-vous), harm, heavy, hurt(-ful), ill (favoured), + mark, mischief(-vous), misery, naught(-ty), noisome, + not please, sad(-ly), sore, sorrow, trouble, vex, wicked(-ly, -ness, one), worse(-st), wretchedness, wrong. (Incl. feminine raaah; as adjective or noun.).

Use Strong's responsibly

Strong's is an index and starting point, not the final meaning of a word. Do not build doctrine from a gloss, root, or number. Test meaning by sentence, grammar, authorial usage, context, and the passage argument.

Read: Using Strong's Responsibly

Brown-Driver-Briggs Enhanced

BDB8032

I. רַע₂₂₆ adjective bad, evil (distinction from noun, and verb Perfect 3 masculine singular, is sometimes not easy, and opinions differ); — masculine singular רַע Gen 6:5 +; רָ֑ע Gen 31:24 +; plural רָעַים Gen 13:13 +; construct רָעֵי Ezek 7:24 (strike out Co); feminine singular רָעָה Gen 37:2 + 37 t. (this form usually noun), plural רָעוֺת Gen 28:8 + 14 t.; רָעֹת Gen 41:27 (18 t. noun); —

1. bad, disagreeable, malignant: of a woman, רָעָה בְּעֵינֵי Exod 21:8 ( E ; perhaps, with changed accent, verb 3 feminine singular רָ֫עָה) disagreeable, unpleasing in the eyes of, plural Gen 28:8 ( P ); of poisonous herb 2Kgs 4:41, malignant boils Deut 28:35; Job 2:7, diseases Deut 7:15; Deut 28:59; 2Chr 21:19; Eccl 6:2, deadly sword Ps 144:10, arrows Ezek 5:16, severe judgments Ezek 14:21, wonders Deut 6:22 מַלְאֲכֵי רָעִים Ps 78:49 = fierce messengers (of God; Ew^{§ 287 a} Ges^{«GKC:130e»§ 130e}), wild beasts Gen 37:20; Gen 37:33 ( J E ) Lev 26:6 ( H ) Ezek 5:17; Ezek 14:15; Ezek 14:21; Ezek 34:25 unclean thing Deut 23:10.

2. bad, unpleasant, giving pain, unhappiness, misery: ימים רעים evil days (of trial and hardship) Gen 47:9 ( P ) Prov 15:15 עִנְיָן רע Eccl 1:13; Eccl 5:13 עִנְיַן Eccl 4:8, compare Eccl 2:17; Eccl 9:3 הַמַּעֲשֶׂה הָרָע Eccl 4:3 הדבר הרע evil report Exod 33:4 ( J ), so דִּבָּה רָעָה Gen 37:2 ( J E ) Num 14:37 ( P ), שׁם רע Deut 22:14; Deut 22:19; Neh 6:13, שְׁמוּעָה רָעָה Jer 49:23; Ps 112:7 of things: painful discipline Prov 15:10, evil occurrence 1Kgs 5:18, evil (-bringing) net Eccl 9:12, instruments Isa 32:7 : כל הדבר הרע Josh 23:15 ( D ) all evil (injurious) things; רַע it is bad, harmful Isa 3:11; Jer 2:19 of speech, דבּר, רעאו טוב Gen 24:50 ( J ) in proverb, speak bad or good = anything at all, מטוב עד רע Gen 31:24; Gen 31:29 ( E ), לְמֵרָע ועד טוב 2Sam 13:22 , of the divine spirit as producing an ecstatic state of frenzy and violence 1Sam 16:14; 1Sam 16:15; 1Sam 16:16; 1Sam 16:23; 1Sam 18:10; 1Sam 19:9 (see רוּח 9).

3. evil, displeasing עָשָׂח רָ֔ע בְּעֵינֵי סַרְנֵי פְלשְׁתִּים 1Sam 29:7.

4. bad of its kind, land Num 13:19 ( J ), place Num 20:5 ( J E ), waters 2Kgs 2:19, figs Jer 24:2; Jer 24:3 (twice in verse); Jer 24:8, kine Gen 41:3; Gen 41:4; Gen 41:19; Gen 41:20; Gen 41:21; Gen 41:27 ( E ), מוּם רע Deut 15:21, compare Deut 17:1 .

5. bad, i.e. of low value Lev 27:10 (twice in verse); Lev 27:12; Lev 27:14; Lev 27:33 ( H ), compare Mal 1:8 (twice in verse); רַע רַע יאֹמַר מַקּוֺנֶה Prov 20:14 (twice in verse).

6. + מִן comparative, worse than, 2Sam 19:8 as superlative, רָעֵי גוֺיִם Ezek 7:24 worst of nations (strike out Co).

7. sad, unhappy: לֶברָֿע֑ sad heart (compare opposed to טוב, יטב) Prov 25:20 of face Gen 40:7 ( E ) Neh 2:2 רע לְפָנָיו Neh 2:1.

8. חָשַׁב מַחֲשֶׁבֶת(ה)רָעָה devise evil (hurtful) device Ezek 38:10; Esth 9:25.

9. bad, unkind, vicious in disposition or temper: וְלֵברָֿ֑ע when the mind is vicious, harmful Prov 26:23 רַע עָ֑יִן one evil of eye Prov 23:6; Prov 28:22 רוּחַ רָעָה Judg 9:23 bad temper.

10. ethically bad, evil, wicked:

a. in general, אם טוב ואם רע Eccl 12:14 whether good or bad.

b. of persons, אושׁ רע 1Sam 30:22 אדם רע Ps 140:2 המן הרע הזה Esth 7:6 this wicked Haman, so רָ֑ע = evil man Ps 10:15; Job 21:30; Prov 11:21 ; Prov 12:13 ; Prov 24:20 , רָעִים = evil men Gen 13:13 ( J ) Jer 6:29 ; Jer 15:21 ; Ezek 30:12 ; Job 35:12 ; Prov 4:14 ; Prov 12:12 ; Prov 14:19 ; Prov 15:8 רָעוֺת evil women Jer 2:33 שׁכנים רעים Jer 12:14 evil neighbours; of הַדּוֺר Deut 1:35, הָעָם Jer 13:10 הָעֵדָה Num 14:27; Num 14:35 ( P ), המשׁפחה Jer 8:3 ׳ רַע בְּעֵינֵי י wicked in the eyes of ׳ י Gen 38:7 ( J E ) = 1Chr 2:8 ׳ עָשָׂה הָרָע בְּעֵינֵי י Num 32:13 ( R ) Deut 4:25 ; Deut 9:18 ; Deut 17:2; Deut 31:29; Judg 2:11 + 48 t., + (with suffix of God) 2Kgs 21:15; Isa 65:12; Isa 66:4; Jer 7:30; Jer 32:30; Ps 51:6; 2Sam 12:9, probably also Jer 18:10 (read הָרָע for הָרָעָה).

c. of thoughts, יֵצֶר Gen 6:5; Gen 8:21 ( J ), הַלֵּב הָרָע Jer 3:17; Jer 7:24; Jer 11:8; Jer 16:12; Jer 18:12 words, רעות Prov 15:28 .

d. deeds, actions, עשׂה (כ)דבר הרע Deut 13:12 ; Deut 17:5; Deut 19:20 ; עשׂה הרעות Jer 3:5 דבר רע Ps 64:6; Ps 141:4 ; Eccl 8:3; Eccl 8:5 דברים 1Sam 2:23; 2Kgs 17:11 דֶּרֶךְ 1Kgs 13:33 ; Jer 18:11; Jer 23:22 + 11 t.; דרכים 2Kgs 17:13 ; 2Chr 7:14 ; Ezek 20:44; Ezek 33:11; Ezek 36:31; Zech 1:4 מעשׂינוּ Ezra 9:13 מעללים Zech 1:4; Neh 9:35 (compare רֹעַ 4); בֶּצַע רע Hab 2:9 מרוצתם Jer 23:10 (ה)תועבות (ה)רעות Ezek 6:11 ; Ezek 8:9 (strike out Co); כִּי רָעוֺת בִּמְגוּרָם Ps 55:16 for evil deeds are in their dwelling.

BDB8033

II. רַע₁₂₆ noun masculine^{Job 30:26} evil, distress, misery, injury, calamity; — absolute רַע Num 11:1 +, בְּרָע Exod 5:19 +, רָ֑ע Gen 48:16 +; —

1. evil, distress, adversity: יָרֵא רַע fear evil Ps 23:4; Zeph 3:15 בּוֺרֵא רָ֑ע Isa 45:7 (of God), הביא רע Isa 31:2 מתאננים רַע Num 11:1 ( J ) murmuring respecting distress (see Di ); אם טוב ואם רע Jer 42:6 whether prosperity or adversity; יוֺם רע Amos 6:3 day of calamity; יְמֵי רע Ps 49:6; Ps 94:13 כי טוב קויתי ויבא רע Job 30:26 בְּרָע in adversity Exod 5:19 ( E ) Ps 10:6 יִפֹּל בְּרָ֑ע Prov 13:17 אֶרְאֶה בָרָ֑ע Gen 44:34 ( J ); בכלרֿע Prov 5:14, מכל רע Gen 48:16 ( E ) Ps 121:7 see also Mic 1:12; Ps 140:12; Job 5:19; Job 31:29; Prov 12:21; Prov 19:23.

2. evil, injury, wrong: Hab 2:9; Job 2:10; Prov 21:10 עשׂה רע, + עִם person Gen 31:29 ( E ); ל person Jer 39:12 as object of חשּׁב Hos 7:15, חרשׁ Prov 6:14; Prov 12:20 ; Prov 14:22, השׁיב Ps 54:7, גמל Ps 7:5; Prov 31:12 , בקּשׁ Prov 17:11 , שׁלּם Prov 20:22 , אמר Ps 41:6, דבּר Ps 109:20 דבּר בְּרָע Ps 73:8 speak about injury; לֹא יִתְנַבֵּא טוֺב כִּי אִם רָ֑ע 1Kgs 22:8; 1Kgs 22:18 = 2 Chronicles (2Chr 18:7 לְרָעָמ), 2Chr 18:17 לְרָ֑ע; לרע for harm, injury Isa 59:7; Jer 7:6; Jer 25:7; Ps 56:6; Prov 1:16; Prov 21:12 ; Eccl 8:9 רַע יֵרוֺעַ Prov 11:15 (but read רֹעַ Gr SS, see Toy).

3. ethical evil, Deut 30:15; 2Sam 14:17; Isa 5:20; Amos 5:14; Mic 7:3 + 10 t.; עשׁה רע 2Kgs 21:9; 2Chr 12:14; 2Chr 33:9; Neh 9:28 + 8 t.; פֹּעֲלֵי רע Mic 2:1 אהד רע Mic 3:2 ( Qr ), Ps 52:5 שׂנא רע Amos 5:15; Ps 97:10; Prov 8:13 מאס רע Ps 36:5 מאס ברע Isa 7:15; Isa 7:16 בִּעֵר הרע מִן consume evil from Deut 13:6 + 8 t. Deuteronomy; לֹא רְגֻרְךָ רָ֑ע Ps 5:5 (adjective = evil man Hup De and others); ירע טוב ורע Gen 2:9; Gen 2:17; Gen 3:5; Gen 3:22 (all J ), Deut 1:39 סר מֵרָע Isa 59:15; Ps 34:15; Ps 37:27; Prov 3:7 + 8 t.; כי ברע הוא Exod 32:22 ( J ) he is set on evil; רע רשׁעים Ps 7:10, רע מעללים 1Sam 25:3, compare Mic 3:4 (see רֹעַ 3); דִּבְרֵי רָע deeds of evil Jer 5:28 תַּהְפֻּכוֺתרָ֑ע Prov 2:14 אֹרַחרע Ps 119:101 עֲצַת רע Exod 11:2 מַחְשְׁבוֺת רע Prov 15:26 אִישׁ רע Prov 29:6 אַנְשֵׁי רע Prov 28:5 אֵשֶׁת רע Prov 6:24 (but read רֵעַ Gr Bi Toy).

BDB8034

רָעָה₃₁₀ noun feminine evil, misery, distress, injury; — absolute ׳ ר Gen 26:29 +; construct רָעַת Gen 6:5 +; suffix רָֽעָתִי Ps 35:4 +; רָעָֽתְךָ 1Kgs 2:44 +; רָֽעָתֵכִי Jer 11:15 (text dubious); רָֽעַתְכֶם 1Sam 12:17, etc.; plural רָעוֺת Deut 31:17 +; רָעֹת Jer 44:9; Exod 23:2 suffix רָעוֺתֵיכֶם 1Sam 10:19 +, etc.; —

1. evil, misery, distress: פַּחַד רָעָה Prov 1:33, באה (ה)רעה Ezek 7:5 (twice in verse); with עַל Isa 47:11 (read באה for בא), Jer 5:12 + 5 t.; with אֶל Jer 2:3; Jer 51:60 הביא רעה Jer 4:6; 1Kgs 21:29 + אֶל 2Sam 17:14 + 8 t. in Kings Jeremiah; + עַל 1Kgs 9:9 = 2Chr 7:22; Jer 19:3 + 6 t. Jeremiah + 8 t.; + אֶל and לְ Jer 19:15; Jer 36:31 יוֺם רעה Jer 17:17; Jer 17:18 + 5 t.; יְמֵי העה Eccl 12:1 (i.e., spring days, fatal to old people, Wetzst in De^{Koh. 447}); רָעוֺת evils Deut 31:17 (twice in verse); Deut 31:21 ( J E ), Deut 32:23 (poem), Ps 34:20; Ps 40:13; Ps 88:4 עֵת רָעָה Amos 5:13; Jer 2:27; Jer 2:28 + 5 t.; ראה ברעה Num 11:15 ( J E ) Obad 1:13; Esth 8:6 ראה רעה Jer 44:17; Ps 90:15; Prov 22:3 = Prov 27:12 יפול ברעה Prov 17:20 ; Prov 28:14 בְּרָעָה Gen 44:29 ( J ) Prov 14:32; Prov 24:16; Neh 1:3; 1Chr 7:23; Ps 107:26 ברעותיכם Ps 141:5 נִחַם עַל רָעָה Exod 32:12; Exod 32:14 ( J ) Jer 8:6 + 6 t.; with אֶל 2Sam 24:16 ; Jer 26:3 ; Jer 26:13; Jer 26:19; Jer 42:10.

2. evil, injury, wrong: עשׂה רעה 2Sam 12:18 ; Jer 26:19; Jer 41:11 with עִם Gen 26:29 ( J ) Judg 15:3 ; 2Sam 13:16 with את Judg 11:27 with ל 1Sam 6:9; 1Kgs 2:44 + 4 t.; with אֶל Jer 44:7 object of verbs השׁב Gen 50:20 ( E ) Jer 36:3 ; Jer 48:2 + 7 t.; חרשׁ 1Sam 23:9; Prov 3:29 הֵשִׁיב Gen 50:15 ( E ) Judg 9:56 ; Judg 9:57 + 4 t.; גמל Gen 50:17 ( E ) 1Sam 24:18 (17) Isa 3:9; Prov 3:30 בקשׁ Num 35:23 ( P ) 1Sam 24:10 (9) 1Sam 25:26 + 4 t.; שׁלּם Gen 44:4 ( J ) Jer 18:20; Jer 51:24; Ps 35:12; Ps 38:21 לְרָעָה for harm Gen 31:52; Exod 23:2 ( E ) Deut 29:20; Judg 2:15; 2Sam 18:32; Jer 21:10 + 8 t. Jeremiah; Amos 9:4; Zech 1:15; Prov 6:18; Eccl 5:12 בְּרָעָתֶ֑ךָ 2Sam 16:8 in thy mischief; בְּרָעָה Exod 32:12 ( J ) for mischief; רָעָה רַבָּה Eccl 2:21 רָעָה חוֺלָה Eccl 5:12; Eccl 5:15.

3. ethical evil, 1Sam 12:17; 1Sam 12:19; 1Sam 24:12; 1Sam 26:18; + 13 t. Jeremiah, + 18 t., + following: עָשָׂה (הָ)רָעָה Gen 39:9; Deut 31:18 ( J ) + 5 t. + Jer 18:10 ( Kt , but Qr רע); מַעֲשֵׂה רעה Eccl 8:11 אהב רעה Mic 3:2 ( Kt ); שׁוּב מרעה Jer 18:8; Jer 23:14; Jer 44:5 ׳ בִּעֵר רעה מ Judg 20:13 (see II. רַע 3); מִפְּנֵי רָעָה Jer 7:12; Jer 44:3 מפגי רָעַתרעתכם Hos 10:15 ׳ בגלל ר Jer 11:17 ׳ על כל ר Jer 1:16; Jer 32:32; Jer 33:5 ׳ מֵר Ps 107:34; Jer 12:4 אַנְשֵׁי רָעָה Prov 24:1.