רַע
evil
‘evil’ is one of 3 main senses fuller range ↓
Full lexicon entry — Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)
From Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)
Where this word appears
See every Absolute-state word in the Hebrew Bible →
Grammar key — what these labels mean
Part of speech
- Adjective
- A word that describes or qualifies a noun.
- Noun
- A naming word — a person, place, thing, or idea.
- Verb
- An action or state-of-being word.
Noun type
- Common
- A common noun — a general class of person, place, or thing (“king,” “city,” “water”), not a specific name.
Stem
- Qal
- The basic, simple active stem — the plain form of the verb (“he wrote”). Here: ‘trans.’
Form
- Perfect
- A completed action or state — Hebrew marks aspect (completeness) more than strict tense (“he wrote”).
State
- Absolute
- The independent form of a noun, not bound to a following word.
- Construct
- A noun bound to a following noun in a possessive / “of” relationship (the construct chain).
Person
- 3rd Person
- The one spoken about (“he / she / it / they”).
Gender
- Masculine
- Grammatically masculine.
- Feminine
- Grammatically feminine.
Number
- Singular
- One.
- Plural
- More than one (in Hebrew, generally three or more).
Every verse where H7451 appears in the Book of Proverbs — 64 distinct verses. Click any verse to open its interlinear word-by-word view. Verse text shown in the World English Bible for context — . Each verse’s Hebrew form is shown with its reference; the English is not keyword-highlighted, since the data carries no word-level English alignment. Use “Compare translations” on any verse to read it across multiple English versions. This concordance covers the Hebrew Bible; Septuagint (Greek Old Testament) occurrences are not indexed here.
Proverbs
- Proverbs 1:16 לָ/רַ֣ע prep det + n c ms For their feet run to evil. They hurry to shed blood.
- Proverbs 1:33 רָעָֽה n c fs But whoever listens to me will dwell securely, And will be at ease, without fear of harm."
- Proverbs 2:12 רָ֑ע adj Adjective ms To deliver you from the way of evil, From the men who speak perverse things;
- Proverbs 2:14 רָ֑ע רָֽע adj Adjective ms adj Adjective ms Who rejoice to do evil, And delight in the perverseness of evil;
- Proverbs 3:7 מֵ/רָֽע prep + Adjective Adjective ms Don't be wise in your own eyes. Fear Yahweh, and depart from evil.
- Proverbs 3:29 רָעָ֑ה n c fs Don't devise evil against your neighbor, Seeing he dwells securely by you.
- Proverbs 3:30 רָעָֽה n c fs Don't strive with a man without cause, If he has done you no harm.
- Proverbs 4:14 רָעִֽים adj Adjective mp Don't enter into the path of the wicked. Don't walk in the way of evil men.
- Proverbs 4:27 מֵ/רָֽע prep + Adjective Adjective ms Don't turn to the right hand nor to the left. Remove your foot from evil.
- Proverbs 5:14 רָ֑ע adj Adjective ms I have come to the brink of utter ruin, In the midst of the gathered assembly."
- Proverbs 6:14 רָ֣ע adj Adjective ms In whose heart is perverseness, Who devises evil continually, Who always sows discord.
- Proverbs 6:18 לָֽ/רָעָה prep det + n c fs A heart that devises wicked schemes, Feet that are swift in running to mischief,
- Proverbs 6:24 רָ֑ע adj Adjective ms To keep you from the immoral woman, From the flattery of the wayward wife's tongue.
- Proverbs 8:13 רָ֥ע רָ֭ע adj Adjective ms adj Adjective ms The fear of Yahweh is to hate evil. I hate pride, arrogance, the evil way, and the perverse mouth.
- Proverbs 11:15 רַע adj Adjective ms He who is collateral for a stranger will suffer for it, But he who refuses pledges of collateral is secure.
- Proverbs 11:19 רָעָ֣ה n c fs He who is truly righteous gets life. He who pursues evil gets death.
- Proverbs 11:21 רָּ֑ע adj Adjective ms Most assuredly, the evil man will not be unpunished, But the seed of the righteous will be delivered.
- Proverbs 11:27 רָעָ֣ה n c fs He who diligently seeks good seeks favor, But he who searches after evil, it shall come to him.
- Proverbs 12:12 רָעִ֑ים adj Adjective mp The wicked desires the plunder of evil men, But the root of the righteous flourishes.
- Proverbs 12:13 רָ֑ע adj Adjective ms An evil man is trapped by sinfulness of lips, But the righteous shall come out of trouble.
- Proverbs 12:20 רָ֑ע adj Adjective ms Deceit is in the heart of those who plot evil, But joy comes to the promoters of peace.
- Proverbs 12:21 רָֽע adj Adjective ms No mischief shall happen to the righteous, But the wicked shall be filled with evil.
- Proverbs 13:17 בְּ/רָ֑ע prep + Adjective Adjective ms A wicked messenger falls into trouble, But a trustworthy envoy gains healing.
- Proverbs 13:19 מֵ/רָֽע prep + Adjective Adjective ms Longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul, But fools detest turning from evil.
- Proverbs 13:21 רָעָ֑ה n c fs Misfortune pursues sinners, But prosperity rewards the righteous.
- Proverbs 14:16 מֵ/רָ֑ע prep + Adjective Adjective ms A wise man fears, and shuns evil, But the fool is hotheaded and reckless.
- Proverbs 14:19 רָ֭עִים adj Adjective mp The evil bow down before the good, And the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
- Proverbs 14:22 רָ֑ע adj Adjective ms Don't they go astray who plot evil? But love and faithfulness belong to those who plan good.
- Proverbs 14:32 בְּֽ֭/רָעָת/וֹ prep + n c fs cs + sfx pers 3ms The wicked is brought down in his calamity, But in death, the righteous has a refuge.
- Proverbs 15:3 רָעִ֥ים adj Adjective mp Yahweh's eyes are everywhere, Keeping watch on the evil and the good.
- Proverbs 15:10 רָ֭ע adj Adjective ms There is stern discipline for one who forsakes the way: Whoever hates reproof shall die.
- Proverbs 15:15 רָעִ֑ים adj Adjective mp All the days of the afflicted are wretched, But one who has a cheerful heart enjoys a continual feast.
- Proverbs 15:26 רָ֑ע adj Adjective ms Yahweh detests the thoughts of the wicked, But the thoughts of the pure are pleasing.
- Proverbs 15:28 רָעֽוֹת n c fp The heart of the righteous weighs answers, But the mouth of the wicked gushes out evil.
- Proverbs 16:4 רָעָֽה n c fs Yahweh has made everything for its own end-- Yes, even the wicked for the day of evil.
- Proverbs 16:6 מֵ/רָֽע prep + Adjective Adjective ms By mercy and truth iniquity is atoned for. By the fear of Yahweh men depart from evil.
- Proverbs 16:17 מֵ/רָ֑ע prep + Adjective Adjective ms The highway of the upright is to depart from evil. He who keeps his way preserves his soul.
- Proverbs 16:27 רָעָ֑ה n c fs A worthless man devises mischief. His speech is like a scorching fire.
- Proverbs 16:30 רָעָֽה n c fs One who winks his eyes to plot perversities, One who compresses his lips, is bent on evil.
- Proverbs 17:11 רָ֑ע adj Adjective ms An evil man seeks only rebellion; Therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
- Proverbs 17:13 רָ֭עָה רָ֝עָ֗ה n c fs n c fs Whoever rewards evil for good, Evil shall not depart from his house.
- Proverbs 17:20 בְּ/רָעָֽה prep + n c fs One who has a perverse heart doesn't find prosperity, And one who has a deceitful tongue falls into trouble.
- Proverbs 19:23 רָֽע adj Adjective ms The fear of Yahweh leads to life, then contentment; He rests and will not be touched by trouble.
- Proverbs 20:8 רָֽע adj Adjective ms A king who sits on the throne of judgment Scatters away all evil with his eyes.
- Proverbs 20:14 רַ֣ע רַ֭ע adj Adjective ms adj Adjective ms "It's no good, it's no good," says the buyer; But when he is gone his way, then he boasts.
- Proverbs 20:22 רָ֑ע adj Adjective ms Don't say, "I will pay back evil." Wait for Yahweh, and he will save you.
- Proverbs 20:30 בְּ/רָ֑ע prep + Adjective Adjective ms Wounding blows cleanse away evil, And beatings purge the innermost parts.
- Proverbs 21:10 רָ֑ע adj Adjective ms The soul of the wicked desires evil; His neighbor finds no mercy in his eyes.
- Proverbs 21:12 לָ/רָֽע prep det + Adjective Adjective ms The Righteous One considers the house of the wicked, And brings the wicked to ruin.
- Proverbs 22:3 רָעָ֣ה n c fs A prudent man sees danger, and hides himself; But the simple pass on, and suffer for it.
- Proverbs 23:6 רַ֣ע adj Adjective ms cs Don't eat the food of him who has a stingy eye, And don't crave his delicacies:
- Proverbs 24:1 רָעָ֑ה n c fs Don't be envious of evil men; Neither desire to be with them:
- Proverbs 24:16 בְ/רָעָֽה prep + n c fs For a righteous man falls seven times, and rises up again; But the wicked are overthrown by calamity.
- Proverbs 24:20 לָ/רָ֑ע prep det + Adjective Adjective ms For there will be no reward to the evil man; And the lamp of the wicked shall be snuffed out.
- Proverbs 25:20 רָֽע adj Adjective ms As one who takes away a garment in cold weather, Or vinegar on soda, So is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.
- Proverbs 26:23 רָֽע adj Adjective ms Like silver dross on an earthen vessel Are the lips of a fervent one with an evil heart.
- Proverbs 26:26 רָעָת֣/וֹ n c fs cs + sfx pers 3ms His malice may be concealed by deception, But his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
- Proverbs 27:12 רָעָ֣ה n c fs A prudent man sees danger and takes refuge; But the simple pass on, and suffer for it:
- Proverbs 28:5 רָ֭ע adj Adjective ms Evil men don't understand justice; But those who seek Yahweh understand it fully.
- Proverbs 28:10 רָ֗ע adj Adjective ms Whoever causes the upright to go astray in an evil way, He will fall into his own trap; But the blameless will inherit good.
- Proverbs 28:14 בְּ/רָעָֽה prep + n c fs Blessed is the man who always fears; But one who hardens his heart falls into trouble.
- Proverbs 28:22 רַ֣ע adj Adjective ms cs A stingy man hurries after riches, And doesn't know that poverty waits for him.
- Proverbs 29:6 רָ֣ע adj Adjective ms An evil man is snared by his sin, But the righteous can sing and be glad.
- Proverbs 31:12 רָ֑ע adj Adjective ms She does him good, and not harm, All the days of her life.
About this entry
At a glance — auto-summarized from this page’s data, not written by a person. Every figure links to its source below. This summary describes the numbers; it doesn’t interpret them.
The Hebrew word רע centers on the idea of “evil.” Its earliest occurrence is Genesis 2:9. It appears 623 verses across 36 books of the Hebrew Bible, among its most common vocabulary. Its meaning spans more than one sense — see its full sense range. It clusters with רעע, מרע and רע under a shared root. Dig into 623-verse concordance and the renderings breakdown below.
Gloss history
Strong's 1890 vs modern scholarship
About this word
Strong's H7451 catalogs a Hebrew word from the Hebrew Old Testament.
These counts are not copied from any lexicon or concordance. They are computed here, from the morphology-tagged Hebrew Old Testament. What Lemma adds →
- 623
- distinct verses
- The word appears in 623 distinct verses.
- 36 / 39
- OT books
- The word appears in 36 of 39 Old Testament books.
- #73
- by frequency
- Top 100 most frequent Hebrew words (rank 73 of 8,640 Hebrew words by occurrence).
View all 623 occurrences in the concordance →
By section of the Old Testament
By traditional corpus
Conventional, traditional groupings — biblical authorship is debated, so this is a traditional corpus grouping, not an authorship claim. Each share is this word’s portion of its verses in that division of the Hebrew canon. Each figure is a share of the word’s 623 distinct verses.
- Prophets (Nevi'im) 312 verses · 50%
- Writings (Ketuvim) 221 verses · 35%
- Torah (Pentateuch) 90 verses · 14%
How translations render this word
Counts come from each version’s own published word-to-Strong’s tagging or interlinear alignment — an approximate guide to how each version renders this word, not a word-level alignment the data otherwise carries. Because each total is that version’s own tagged count, the per-version totals vary from one another and need not match the appearance or distinct-verse counts above. These counts may also differ from a printed concordance because Lemma counts each distinctly tagged rendering and does not collapse phrase taggings into a single head-word total. This is a fixed set of word-tagged versions (KJV, ASV, BSB, ULT) and does not change with the reading translation you choose elsewhere. Each version’s license is shown beside its name below (and on Sources).
BDB lists this Strong’s number as 6 distinct words (homographs). Each count above pools all of them and is not split by sense — see the Senses section below. A low-frequency rendering may belong to a different one of those words, not the primary meaning.
- King James Version†: Evil 308×, Wickedness 39×, Was evil 26×
- American Standard Version†: Evil 241×, Was evil 51×, Wickedness 32×
- Berean Standard Bible†: Evil 247×, Disaster 72×, Harm 28×
- unfoldingWord Literal Text†: Evil 341×, Harm 49×, Bad 34×
King James Version Public Domain
Renders H7451 across 657† tagged occurrences — most commonly:
Plus other, less common renderings. Plus 118 renderings that appear only once — usually multi-word phrases or single function words the recovered tagging swept in, not distinct renderings. Not rendered by a distinct English word in 6 further occurrences.
American Standard Version Public Domain
Renders H7451 across 655† tagged occurrences — most commonly:
Plus other, less common renderings. Plus 165 renderings that appear only once — usually multi-word phrases or single function words the recovered tagging swept in, not distinct renderings.
Berean Standard Bible Public Domain
Renders H7451 across 651† tagged occurrences — most commonly:
Plus other, less common renderings. Plus 98 renderings that appear only once — usually multi-word phrases or single function words the recovered tagging swept in, not distinct renderings. Not rendered by a distinct English word in 13 further occurrences.
unfoldingWord Literal Text CC BY-SA 4.0
Renders H7451 across 644† tagged occurrences — most commonly:
Plus other, less common renderings. Plus 46 renderings that appear only once — usually multi-word phrases or single function words the recovered tagging swept in, not distinct renderings.
36 senses and sub-senses in the full BDB
Hebrew verbs can shift meaning by stem (binyan): Qal is the basic action, Niphal is often passive or reflexive, Piel often intensifies or makes it factitive, and Hiphil is typically causative. The senses below are grouped under the stem BDB assigns to each. This entry also uses Hithpael (reflexive or reciprocal).
What do BDB’s symbols mean?
BDB uses these scholarly abbreviations:
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 𝔊 | the Septuagint (the ancient Greek translation, LXX) |
| 𝔙 | the Vulgate (the Latin translation) |
| 𝔖 | the Syriac version (the Peshitta) |
| 𝔗 | the Targum (the Aramaic translation) |
| ψ | the Psalms |
| √ | root (the underlying root or stem) |
| ‖ | parallel passage (a synonymous or contrasted parallel) |
| † | the dagger: every passage where the word occurs is cited |
The 36 senses and sub-senses the full Brown-Driver-Briggs lexicon distinguishes for this word, in lexicon order (not ranked by frequency), with BDB’s own verbatim wording and sub-sense lettering. Shown in Hebrew script with BDB’s own scholarly abbreviations. The condensed entry is in the Lexicon Entry tab. See also the Forms in the corpus table below.
רע I pasture, tend, graze (Assyrian rêʾû vb. pasture, n. ruler, TelAm. ruh̬i (as Canaanism) WklNo. 181, 11
Qal
- Pf. 3 ms. consec. וְרָעָה Mi 5:3 +, 1 s. sf. consec. וּרְעִיתִים Ez 34:13, 3 pl. sf. consec. וְרָעוּם Je 23:4, etc.; Impf. 3 ms. יִרְעֶה Is 27:10 +, juss. יֵרַע Jb 20:26, sf. יִעֶנָּה ψ 80:14, וַיִּרְעֵם ψ 78:72 (וַיִּר׳ Hiph. van d. H.), etc.; Imv. ms. רְעֵה Mi 7:14 +, sf. רְעֵם ψ 28:9; fs. רְעִי Ct 1:8; mpl. רְעוּ Gn 29:7; Inf. cstr. לִרְעוֹת 37:12 +, etc.; Pt. רֹעֶה 30:36 +, sf. רֹעִי ψ 23:1 +; fs. רֹעָה Gn 29:9 Pr 25:19, etc.;— e.g. Micah 5:3
- 1. trans.
- a. pasture, tend (pascere), lit., c. acc. צֹאן Gn 30:31, 36; 37:12 (all J), Ex 3:1 (E), 1 S 17:15; 25:16 Is 61:5, acc. of asses Gn 36:24 (P), kids Ct 1:8; acc. (צפּאן) om. Gn 29:7; 37:13 (ב loc.) v 16 (all J), Ct 1:7 (‖ חִרְבִּיץ), Jb 24:2 (𝔊 Me Siegf Bu וְרֹעוֹ);—metaph. גֹּרֶן וָיֶקֶב לֹא יִרְעֵם Ho 9:2, but read יֵדָעֵם 𝔊 We Now GASm; מָוֶת יִרְעֵם ψ 49:15. e.g. Genesis 30:31
- b. fig. of י׳, acc. pers., Gn 48:15 (E) God, who shepherded me; c. acc. of people, as flock Ho 4:16 Is 40:11 Mi 7:14 (בְּשִׁבְטֶ֑ן), Ez 34:13 (pregn., c. אֶל loc.), v 14, 15 (+ הִרְבִּיץ), v 16 ψ 28:9. e.g. Genesis 48:15
- c. fig. of ruler, and teacher, acc. of people, as flock, 2 S 5:2 = 1 Ch 11:2; 2 S 7:7 = 1 Ch 17:6, ψ 78:72 Je 3:15; 23:2, 4; Ez 34:2, 3, 8, 10, 23(×2); Zc 11:4, 7(×2), 9; of guiding, שִׂפְתֵי צַדִּיק יִרְעוּ רַבִּים Pr 10:21; c. ב of people ψ 78:71; abs. Mi 5:3; c. acc. pers. reflex. pastured (fed, enriched) themselves Ez 34:2, 8, 10 e.g. 2 Samuel 5:2
- d. especially pt. רֹעֶח, etc., as subst. = shepherd, herdsman: (1) lit., רֹעֵה צֹאן Gn 4:2; 46:32, 34; 47:3 (all J), רֹעֶח בַּצּ׳ 37:2 (E), 1 S 16:11; 17:34; רֹעֵי מִקְנֶה Gn 13:7(×2) (J); (ה)ר׳ alone, sg. Am 3:12 + 7 times (all in sim.); רֹעָה shepherdess, Gn 29:9 (J); כִּלִי רֹעֶה אֱוִילִי Zc 11:15 (v. כְּלִי 2 c), as symbol; pl. (הָ)רֹעִים Am 1:2; Ex 2:17, 19 (J), 1 S 21:8 (אַבִּיר הָר׳; Gr Dr Bu Kit Löhr א׳ הָרָצִים; 𝔊 LagBN 45 HPS אֹבִּיל הָעֲיָרִים, but cf. We) + 8 times + Is 31:4 (sim.), 38:12 (read רֹעִים for רֹעִי Perles29 Du CheHpt cf. Di), cf. (sf.) Gn 13:8(×2) (J); כְּלִי הָרֹעִים 1 S 17:40 (v. כְּלִי 3);—בֵּית־עֵקֶד הָרֹעִים, v. p. 112. (2) fig. of ruler (as often Assyrian; cf. Gk. (Homer) ποιμένα λαῶν), abs. sg. Je 17:16 fig. of prophet (but Aq Symm 𝔖 Gie Du Co מֵרָעָה). Zc 10:2; 11:16; 13:7b + 8 times Je Ez; sf. of י׳, דֹעִי Is 44:28 (of Cyrus), Zc 13:7a (read רֹעִי הָאֱוִילִי We Now GASm); abs. pl. Is 56:11; Je 2:8; 3:15; Mi 5:4 Zc 10:3; 11:5, 8 + 18 times Je Ez 34, + (of Assyrian leaders) Na 3:18; רֹעֵי יִשׂ׳ Ez 34:2; רֹעֵי צֹאנוֹ Is 63:11 (but read רֹעֵה [of Moses] 𝔊 𝔗 Di Du al.). (3) epith. of י׳: י׳ רֹעִי ψ 23:1, רֹעֵה יִשׂ׳ 80:2, רֹעֶה אֶבֶן יִשׂ׳, Gn 49:24 (poem in J; read cstr. רֹעֵה, cf. Comm.); מֵרֹעֶה אֶחָד Ec 12:11 DeWild, president of assembly of sages Siegf SS e.g. Genesis 4:2
- 2. intrans. feed, graze:
- a. lit. of cows, sheep, etc.: c. ב loc. Gn 41:2, 18 (E), 1 Ch 27:29; c. acc. of pasture Is 30:23; c. עַל loc. Zp 2:7 (עֲלֵי הַיָּם for MT עֲלֵיהֶם, v. Now); אֶל־מוּל loc. Ex 34:3 (J); abs. Is 5:17; 11:7 (‖ רבץ; but v. II. רעה infr.) 27:10 (‖ id.), 65:25 Jon 3:7; Jb 1:14. e.g. Genesis 41:2
- b. fig. of idolater, Is 44:20 he feedeth on ashes (acc.); cf. Ho 12:2 Ephr. feedeth on wind (acc.); פִּי כְסִילִים יִר׳ אִוֶּלֶת Pr 15:14 (so Vrss Qr; Kt פני for פי) the mouth of fools feeds on folly (Toy; Buhl √ II. רעה, Gerber 162 sub III. רעה); in Ct, c. ב loc., fig. of lover Ct 2:16; 6:2, 3; of breasts (like gazelles) 4:5. e.g. Isaiah 44:20
- c. fig., of Isr. as flock Is 14:30 (‖ רבץ), read (י—ַ)בְּכָרִי in my pasture(s), for MT בְּכוֹרֵי, Koppe Ew Di Du (otherwise CheHpt., cf. Marti); Zp 3:13 (‖ id.); c. עַל־דְּרָכִים Is 49:9; c. acc. of pasture-land Je 50:19; Mi 7:14; Ez 34:14b (+ אֶל loc.), v 18, 19; hence crop, strip, i.e. devastate, of conqueror, c. acc. of land Mi 5:5, cf. אֶת־יָדוֹ Je 6:3; so יִרְעוּךְ קָדְקֹד 2:16; acc. of Isr. under fig. of vine (subj. foes, as beasts) ψ 80:14. e.g. Isaiah 14:30
- d. subj. wind, c. acc. pers. Je 22:22, i.e. drive them away; subj. fire, c. acc. rei, יֵרַע Jb 20:26, but read perhaps יֵרָע, Niph. (Ol Di Hoffm Siegf Bu; otherwise Du).—רֹעֶה עֲקָרָה 24:21 is difficult; Bu הֵרַע for ר׳; more radical conj. in Du. e.g. Jeremiah 22:22
Niphal
- poss. Jb 20:26, v. 2 d supr. e.g. Job 20:26
Hiphil
- ψ 78:72 van d. H., v. 1 c supr. e.g. Psalms 78:72
רע II ob. associate with (cf. Schulthess69 ff. but also NöZMG liv (1900), 154 f.
Qal
- Imv. ms. וּרְעֵה אֱמוּנָה ψ 37:3 cherish faithfulness (Hup-Now RV Che Du Dr); > feed securely (Bae; i. רעה; feed on (his) faithfulness Am RV); Pt. רֹעֶה כְסִילִים Pr 13:20 one associating with fools, so ר׳ זֹלְלִים 28:7, ר׳ זוֹנוֹת 29:3 (Thes al. think these fig. from I. רעה, v. 2 b). e.g. Psalms 37:3
Hithpael
- 2 ms. אַל־תִּתְרַע אֶת־בַּעַל אָ֑ף Pr 22:24 do not make companionship with a bad-tempered man; perhaps also 3 fpl. תִּתְרָעֶינָה Is 11:7 (LagOr i. 21; Deceased Wife’s Sister 399 Brd Du CheHpt) cow and bear shall be each other’s companions; + Inf. cstr. הִתְרָעֹת Pr 18:24 (Toy, for MT הִתְרֹעֵעַ) there are [יֵשׁ for אִישׁ] friends (merely) to be companions (v. II. רעע ad fin.). e.g. Proverbs 22:24
רע III denom.
Piel
- be a special friend;—Pf. 3 ms. מֵרֵעֵהוּ אֲשֶׁר רֵעָה לוֹ Ju 14:20 his comrade who had been ‘best man’ (GFM) to him. e.g. Judges 14:20
רע IV I. רַע226 adj. bad, evil (distinction from n., and vb. Pf. 3 ms., is sometimes not easy, and opinions differ)
- 1. bad, disagreeable, malignant: of a woman, רָעָה בְּעֵינֵי Ex 21:8 (E; perhaps, with changed accent, vb. 3 fs. רָ֫עָה) disagreeable, unpleasing in the eyes of, pl. Gn 28:8 (P); of poisionous herb 2 K 4:41, malignant boils Dt 28:35; Jb 2:7, diseases Dt 7:15; 28:59; 2 Ch 21:19 Ec 6:2, deadly sword ψ 144:10, arrows Ez 5:16, severe judgments 14:21, wonders Dt 6:22; מַלְאֲכֵי רָעִים ψ 78:49 = fierce messengers (of God; Ew§ 287 a Ges§ 130 e), wild beasts Gn 37:20, 33 (JE) Lv 26:6 (H) Ez 5:17; 14:15, 21; 34:25; unclean thing Dt 23:10. e.g. Exodus 21:8
- 2. bad, unpleasant, giving pain, unhappiness, misery: ימים רעים evil days (of trial and hardship) Gn 47:9 (P) Pr 15:15; עִנְיָן רע Ec 1:13; 5:13; עִנְיַן 4:8, cf. 2:17; 9:3; הַמַּעֲשֶׂה הָרָע 4:3; הדבר הרע evil report Ex 33:4 (J), so דִּבָּה רָעָה Gn 37:2 (JE) Nu 14:37 (P), שׁם רע Dt 22:14, 19; Ne 6:13, שְׁמוּעָה רָעָה Je 49:23 ψ 112:7; of things: painful discipline Pr 15:10, evil occurrence 1 K 5:18, evil(-bringing) net Ec 9:12, instruments Is 32:7: כל הדבר הרע Jos 23:15 (D) all evil (injurious) things; רַע it is bad, harmful Is 3:11; Je 2:19; of speech, דבּר, רע או טוב Gn 24:50 (J) in prov., speak bad or good = anything at all, טטוב עד רע 31:24, 29 (E), לְמֵרָע ועד טוב 2 S 13:22, of the divine spirit as producing an ecstatic state of frenzy and violence 1 S 16:14, 15, 16, 23; 18:10; 19:9 (see רוּחַ 9). e.g. Genesis 47:9
- 3. evil, displeasing עָשָׂה רָ֔ע בְּעֵינֵי סַרְנֵי פְלִשְׁתִּים 1 S 29:7. e.g. 1 Samuel 29:7
- 4. bad of its kind, land Nu 13:19 (J), place 20:5 (JE), waters 2 K 2:19, figs Je 24:2, 3(×2), 8, kine Gn 41:3, 4, 19, 20, 21, 27 (E), מוּם רע Dt 15:21, cf. 17:1. e.g. Numbers 13:19
- 5. bad, i. e. of low value Lv 27:10(×2), 12, 14, 33 (H), cf. Mal 1:8(×2); רַע רַע יֹאמַר הַקּוֹנֶה Pr 20:14(×2). e.g. Leviticus 27:10
- 6. + מִן comp., worse than, 2 S 19:8; as superl., רָעֵי גוֹיִם Ez 7:24 worst of nations (del. Co). e.g. 2 Samuel 19:8
- 7. sad, unhappy: לֶב־רָ֑ע sad heart (cf. opp. טוב, יטב) Pr 25:20; of face Gn 40:7 (E) Ne 2:2; רע לְפָנָין v 1. e.g. Proverbs 25:20
- 8. הָשַׁב מַחֲשֶׁבֶת(ה)רָעָה devise evil (hurtful) device Ez 38:10; Est 9:25. e.g. Ezekiel 38:10
- 9. bad, unkind, vicious in disposition or temper: וְלֵב־רָ֑ע when the mind is vicious, harmful Pr 26:23; רַע עָ֑יִן one evil of eye Pr 23:6; 28:22; רוּחַ רָעָה Ju 9:23 bad temper. e.g. Proverbs 26:23
- 10. ethically bad, evil, wicked:
- a. in gen., אם טוב ואם רע Ec 12:14 whether good or bad. e.g. Ecclesiastes 12:14
- b. of persons, אישׁ רע 1 S 30:22; אדם רע ψ 140:2; המן הרע הזה Est 7:6 this wicked Haman, so רָ֑ע = evil man ψ 10:15, Jb 21:30; Pr 11:21; 12:13; 24:20, רָעִים = evil men Gn 13:13 (J) Je 6:29; 15:21; Ez 30:12 Jb 35:12; Pr 4:14; 12:12; 14:19; 15:3; רָעוֹת evil women Je 2:33; שׁכנים רעים 12:14 evil neighbours; of הַדּוֹר Dt 1:35, הָעָם Je 13:10; הָעֵדָה Nu 14:27, 35 (P), המשׁפחה Je 8:3; רַע כְּעֵינֵי י׳ wicked in the eyes of י׳ Gn 38:7 (JE) = 1 Ch 2:3; עָשָׂה הָרָע בְּעֵינֵי י׳ Nu 32:13 (R) Dt 4:25; 9:18; 17:2; 31:29; Ju 2:11 + 48 times, + (c. sf. of God) 2 K 21:15 Is 65:12; 66:4; Je 7:30; 32:30 ψ 51:6; 2 S 12:9, prob. also Je 18:10 (read הָרָע for הָרָעָה). e.g. 1 Samuel 30:22
- c. of thoughts, יֵצֶר Gn 6:5; 8:21 (J), הַלֵּב הָרָע Je 3:17; 7:24; 11:8; 16:12; 18:12; words, רעות Pr 15:28. e.g. Genesis 6:5
- d. deeds, actions, עשׂה (כ)דבר הרע Dt 13:12; 17:5; 19:20; Ne 13:17; עשׂה הרעות Je 3:5; דבר רע ψ 64:6; 141:4 Ec 8:3, 5; דברים 1 S 2:23; 2 K 17:11; דֶּרֶךְ 1 K 13:33; Je 18:11; 23:22 + 11 times; דרכים 2 K 17:13; 2 Ch 7:14; Ez 20:44; 33:11; 36:31; Zc 1:4; מעשׂינוּ Ezr 9:13; מעללים Zc 1:4 Ne 9:35 (cf. רֹעַ 4); בֶּצַע רע Hb 2:9; מרוצתם Je 23:10; (ה)תועבות (ה)רעות Ez 6:11; 8:9 (del. Co); כִּי רָעוֹת בִּמְגוּרָם ψ 55:16 for evil deeds are in their dwelling. e.g. Deuteronomy 13:12
רע V
- 1. evil, distress, adversity: יָרֵא רַע fear evil ψ 23:4 Zp 3:15; בּוֹרֵא רָ֑ע Is 45:7 (of God), הביא רע 31:2; מתאננים רַע Nu 11:1 (J) murmuring respecting distress (see Di); אם טוב ואם רע Je 42:6 whether prosperity or adversity; יוֹם רע Am 6:3 day of calamity; יְמֵי רע ψ 49:6; 94:13; כי טוב קויתי ויבא רע Jb 30:26; בְּרָע in adversity Ex 5:19 (E) ψ 10:6; יִפֹּל בְּרָ֑ע Pr 13:17; אֶרְאֶה בָרָ֑ע Gn 44:34 (J); בכל־רע Pr 5:14, מכל רע Gn 48:16 (E) ψ 121:7; v. also Mi 1:12 ψ 140:12 Jb 5:19; 31:29; Pr 12:21; 19:23. e.g. Psalms 23:4
- 2. evil, injury, wrong: Hb 2:9; Jb 2:10; Pr 21:10; עשׂה רע, + עִם pers. Gn 31:29 (E); ל pers. Je 39:12; as obj. of חשּׁב Ho 7:15, חרשׁ Pr 6:14; 12:20; 14:22, השׁיב ψ 54:7, גמל 7:5 Pr 31:12, בקּשׁ 17:11, שׁלּם 20:22, אמר ψ 41:6, דבּר 109:20; דבּר בְּרָע 73:8 speak about injury; לֹא יִתְנַכֵּא טוֹב כִּי אִם רָ֑ע 1 K 22:8, 18 = 2 Ch (18:7 לְרָעָה), 18:17 לְרָ֑ע; לרע for harm, injury Is 59:7; Je 7:6; 25:7 ψ 56:6 Pr 1:16; 21:12; Ec 8:9; רַע יֵרוֹעַ Pr 11:15 (but read רֹעַ Gr SS, v. Toy). e.g. Habakkuk 2:9
- 3. ethical evil, Dt 30:15; 2 S 14:17; Is 5:20; Am 5:14; Mi 7:3 + 10 times; עשׂה רע 2 K 21:9; 2 Ch 12:14; 33:9; Ne 9:28 + 8 times; פֹּעֲלֵי רע Mi 2:1; אהב רע 3:2 (Qr), ψ 52:5; שׂנא רע Am 5:15 ψ 97:10 Pr 8:13; מאס רע ψ 36:5; מאס ברע Is 7:15, 16; בִּעֵר הרע מִן consume evil from Dt 13:6 + 8 times Dt; לֹא יְגֻרְךָ רָ֑ע ψ 5:5 (adj. = evil man Hup De al.); ידע טוב ורע Gn 2:9, 17; 3:5, 22 (all J), Dt 1:39; סר מֵרָע Is 59:15 ψ 34:15; 37:27; Pr 3:7 + 8 times; כי ברע הוא Ex 32:22 (J) he is set on evil; רע רשׁעים ψ 7:10; רע מעללים 1 S 25:3, cf. Mi 3:4 (v. רֹעַ 3); דִּבְרֵי רָע deeds of evil Je 5:28; תַּהְפֻּכוֹת רָ֑ע Pr 2:14; אֹרַח רע ψ 119:101; עֲצַת רע Ez 11:2; מֵחְשְׁבוֹת רע Pr 15:26; אִישׁ רע 29:6; אַנְשֵׁי רע 28:5; אֵשֶׁת רע 6:24 (but read רֵעַ Gr Bi Toy). e.g. Deuteronomy 30:15
רע VI evil, misery, distress, injury
- 1. evil, misery, distress: פַּחַד רָעָה Pr 1:33, באה (ה)רעה Ez 7:5(×2); c. עַל Is 47:11 (read באה for בא), Je 5:12 + 5 times; c. אֶל Je 2:3; 51:60; †הביא רעה Je 4:6 1 K 21:29; + אֶל 2 S 17:14 + 8 times K Je; + עַל 1 K 9:9 = 2 Ch 7:22, Je 19:3 + 6 times Je + 8 times; + אֶל et על Je 19:15; 36:31; יוֹם רעה 17:17, 18 + 5 times; יְמֵי הרעה †Ec 12:1 (i.e., spring days, fatal to old people, Wetzst in De Koh. 447); רָעוֹת evils Dt 31:17(×2), 21 (JE), 32:23 (poem), ψ 34:20; 40:13; 88:4; עֵת רָעָה Am 5:13; Je 2:27, 28 + 5 times; †ראה ברעה Nu 11:15 (JE) Ob 13; Est 8:6; †ראה רעה Je 44:17 ψ 90:15; Pr 22:3 = 27:12; †יפול ברעה 17:20; 28:14; †בְּרָעָה Je 44:29 (J) Pr 14:32; 24:16; Ne 1:3; 1 Ch 7:23 ψ 107:26; ברעותיכם 141:5; נִחַם עַל רָעָה Ex 32:12, 14 (J) Je 8:6 + 6 times; c. אֶל 2 S 24:16; Je 26:3, 13, 19; 42:10. e.g. Proverbs 1:33
- 2. evil, injury, wrong: †עשׂה רעה 2 S 12:18; Je 26:19; 41:11; c. עִם Gn 26:29 (J) Ju 15:3; 2 S 13:16; c. את Ju 11:27; c. ל 1 S 6:9; 1 K 2:44 + 4 times; c. אֶל Je 44:7; obj. of vbs. חשׁב Gn 50:20 (E) Je 36:3; 48:2 + 7 times; †חרשׁ 1 S 23:9; Pr 3:29; הֵשִׁיב Gn 50:15 (E) Ju 9:56, 57 + 4 times; †גמל Gn 50:17 (E) 1 S 24:18 (17); Is 3:9; Pr 3:30; בקשׁ Nu 35:23 (P); 1 S 24:10 (9); 25:26 + 4 times; †שׁלּם Gn 44:4 (J); Je 18:20; 51:24 ψ 35:12; 38:21; לְרָעָה for harm Gn 31:52; Ex 23:2 (E); Dt 29:20; Ju 2:15; 2 S 18:32; Je 21:10 + 8 times Je, Am 9:4; Zc 1:15; Pr 6:18; Ec 5:12; בְּרָעָתֶ֑ךָ 2 S 16:8 in thy mischief; בְּרָעָה Ex 32:12 (J) for mischief; רָעָה רַבָּה Ec 2:21; רָעָה חוֹלָה Ec 5:12, 15. e.g. 2 Samuel 12:18
- 3. ethical evil, 1 S 12:17, 19; 24:12; 26:18; Is 47:10; Je 2:19 + 13 times Je, + 18 times, + foll.: עָשָׂה (הָ)רָעָה Gn 39:9; Dt 31:18 (J) + 5 times + Je 18:10 (Kt, but Qr רע); מַעֲשֵׂה רעה Ec 8:11; אהב רעה Mi 3:2 (Kt); שׁוּב מרעה Je 18:8; 23:14; 44:5; בִּעֵר רעה מ׳ Ju 20:13 (v ii. רַע 3); מִפְּנֵי רָעָה Je 7:12; 44:3; מפני רָעַת רעתכם Ho 10:15; בגלל ר׳ Je 11:17; על כל ר׳ 1:16; 32:32; 33:5; מֵר׳ ψ 107:34 Je 12:4; אַנְשֵׁי רָעָה Pr 24:1. e.g. 1 Samuel 12:17
Senses from the full Brown-Driver-Briggs lexicon (Brown, Driver, Briggs; Oxford 1906 — public domain), digitized via Sefaria, supplemented by the OpenScriptures HebrewLexicon (CC BY 4.0). Full attribution on Sources.
Word origin
I. vb. pasture, tend, graze (Assyrian rêʾû vb. pasture, n. ruler, TelAm. ruh̬i (as Canaanism) WklNo. 181, 11; Arabic رَدَى, Ethiopic ርዕየ Aramaic רְעָא, ܪܥܳܐ, all = BH);—
II. vb. prob. associate with (cf. Schulthess69 ff. but also NöZMG liv (1900), 154 f.; Assyrian ruʾa, ruttu, neighbour, fellow (m. et f.; cf. JägerBAS i.483, 486); so Bed. أُرْعُوَّةٌ master, owner, WallinZMG v (1851), 9 JayakarJA xxi. 851; Ethiopic መርዓ: marriage; Arabic رَاعِى, راعيها, Ethiopic አርዑት: yoke; NH רֵעוּת friendship is from BH רֵעַ);—
II. I. רַע226 adj. bad, evil (distinction from n., and vb. Pf. 3 ms., is sometimes not easy, and opinions differ);—ms. רַע Gn 6:5 +; רָ֑ע 31:24 +; pl. רָעִים 13:13 +; cstr. רָעֵי Ez 7:24 (del. Co); fs. רָעָה Gn 37:2 + 37 times (this form usually noun), pl. רָעוֹת 28:8 + 14 times; רָעֹת 41:27 (18 times noun);—
III. n.m. Jb 30:26 evil, distress, misery, injury, calamity;—abs. רַע Nu 11:1 +, בְּרָע Ex 5:19 +, רָ֑ע Gn 48:16 +;—
IV. n.f. evil, misery, distress, injury;—abs. ר׳ Gn 26:29 +; cstr. רָעַת 6:5 +; sf. רָֽעָתִי ψ 35:4 +; רָעָֽתְךָ 1 K 2:44 +; רָֽעָתֵכִי Je 11:15 (text dub.); רָֽעַתְכֶם 1 S 12:17, etc.; pl. רָעוֹת Dt 31:17 +; רָעֹת Je 44:9 Ex 23:2; sf. רָעוֹתֵיכֶם 1 S 10:19 +, etc.;—
— Brown-Driver-Briggs (Oxford 1906, public domain), digitized via Sefaria, supplemented by the OpenScriptures HebrewLexicon (CC BY 4.0). See Sources.
Derived from רעע (râʻaʻ) (H7489) — to do evil.
Jastrow Dictionary
A second Hebrew/Aramaic lexicon for comparison, covering Aramaic and post-biblical (Talmudic, Targumic, Midrashic) usage that the biblical-Hebrew BDB does not. Matched by lemma rather than by Strong’s number, so a lemma may carry more than one Jastrow headword (shown separately below), and the entries cover usage well beyond the Bible.
רַע I
- [shaken,] weak, sick; bad; (noun) evil. Ber. 7ᵃ מפני מה … ורע לו why is there a righteous man who fares well, and another righteous man who fares badly? Ib. 23ᵃ (ref. to Koh. IV, 17) בין טוב לרע וכ׳ they cannot distinguish between good and evil, and want to offer a sacrifice before me? Kidd. 40ᵃ (ref. to Is. III, 11) וכי יש רשע רע ויש שאינו רע is there a bad wicked man and a wicked man that is not bad?; רע לשמים ורע לבריות וכ׳ one bad in his relation to heaven (irreligious) and bad to men is a bad wicked man &c. Ohol. XVIII, 6 שכחן רע whose strength is feeble, v. כֹּחַ. Ab. II, 9 חבר רע a bad companion; לב רע a bad heart; a. v. fr.—Fem. רָעָה bad; (noun) evil. Ib., a. fr. עין ר׳, v. עַיִן. Sabb. 11ᵃ כל ד׳ ולא אשה ר׳ any evil, only not a bad wife. Ber. 61ᵃ אחת … ואחת יועצתו לר׳ one (kidney) counsels for good, the other for evil. Y. Shek. I, beg. 45ᵈ לטובה … לר׳ וכ׳ for a good purpose—‘every liberal-hearted’ (Ex. XXXV, 22), for a bad purpose—‘the whole people’ (ib. XXXII, 3). Hor. 10ᵇ אפי׳ טובתם … ר׳ היא וכ׳ even the good which wicked men do is an evil with the righteous (they do not enjoy it); Yeb. 103ᵃ sq. Koh. R. to V, 12, v. חוֹלָה I. Ber. l. c. (ref. to Koh. IV, 17) אל תהי … אם על ר׳ הם מביאים be not like the fools who sin and offer a sacrifice, not knowing whether they offer it for the good they have done or for the evil; a. v. fr.—Pl. רָעִים; רָעוֹת. Keth. 110ᵇ (quot. fr. Ben Sira) כל ימי עני ר׳ all the days of a poor man are bad; Snh. 101ᵃ. Y. Ber. V, 8ᵈ bot., v. חָצַף. Ex. R. s. 42 (ref. to Jer. II, 13) ושתי ר׳ עשו לבד have they committed no more than two evils?; a. v. fr. e.g. Ecclesiastes 4:17
רַע II
- to be evil, v. רָעַע.
רַע III
- ch. = אֲרַע, v. לרַע
רֵעַ
- , v. רֵיעַ
A Dictionary of the Targumim, the Talmud Babli and Yerushalmi, and the Midrashic Literature (Marcus Jastrow; London, Luzac, 1903) — Public Domain. Digitized via Sefaria. Digitized via Sefaria. Full attribution on Sources.
Forms in the corpus
The 228 distinct written forms H7451 takes in the Hebrew Bible, most frequent first — each parse links to that state’s occurrences in the concordance. Hebrew forms include their vowel points and cantillation, so a single lemma takes many written forms.
The 60 most common forms are shown; 168 rarer forms follow in the full concordance.
Same root — word family
Other BDB entries built from the same root as H7451, grouped by Strong’s listed origin. These share a root / origin per the lexicon — not necessarily a shared meaning. Each links to that word’s own entry.
Derives from
Shares the same root
Proper names from this root
People and places named from this root — a name, not an additional meaning of the word.
Compare all same-root words → Showing 4 of 6 — not the complete family. 1 of the same-root words is a proper name (a person or place). They share a root, not necessarily a meaning.
Septuagint verse parallels
This word appears in 574 verses that also exist in the Greek Old Testament (Septuagint), out of the 623 Hebrew verses it occurs in. You can read those verses in Greek by switching the Old Testament edition to the Septuagint.
Read these verses in the Septuagint
- Genesis 2:9
- Exodus 5:19
- Leviticus 26:6
- Numbers 11:1
- Deuteronomy 1:35
- Joshua 23:15
- Judges 2:11
- 1 Samuel 2:23
- 2 Samuel 3:39
- 1 Kings 1:52
- 2 Kings 2:19
- 1 Chronicles 2:3
This is a verse-level parallel only — the same verses exist in both the Hebrew and Greek Old Testaments. No word-level Hebrew↔Greek correspondence is claimed: the data carries no such alignment, so no Greek word is shown as this Hebrew word’s translation. Coverage is not total — the Septuagint omits the deuterocanon and renumbers the Psalms, so some Hebrew verses have no direct Greek parallel.
