רַע (ra)
ra
bad: harmful; bad: evil; distress: harm; distress: evil
H:AQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 550 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:A
Word Overview
The Hebrew word ra covers a wide spectrum of negative experience, ranging from physical harm to moral wickedness. It describes anything that is bad, unpleasant, or painful, whether referring to spoiled food, difficult circumstances, or cruel actions. In Proverbs and Genesis, it often marks situations that bring distress or injury, such as the "bad" report of the spies in Numbers 13:32 or the suffering Job endures.
Its meaning shifts with context. When applied to people, it points to ethical evil and malicious intent. When describing events or objects, it simply means harmful or disagreeable. This flexibility allows translators to use "evil," "bad," "distress," or "calamity" depending on the sentence. The word captures both the reality of suffering and the source of moral failure.
Translators must choose carefully because ra bridges the gap between abstract morality and concrete pain. It reminds readers that in biblical thought, ethical wrong often leads to tangible harm, while natural disasters can be seen as divine judgment. The term unites the physical and moral dimensions of human experience under one concept of what is fundamentally "bad."
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word ra captures the heavy reality of what goes wrong in our lives. It describes everything from physical harm and distress to moral wickedness. When we read that the earth was filled with ra, we see a world where ethical failure leads to tangible pain. This word reminds us that sin is not just an abstract concept but something that breaks relationships and brings suffering.
In Genesis 37, Joseph’s brothers spread an evil report about him, causing deep family distress. Later, they used the same word to deceive their father, claiming a wild beast had killed him. These stories show how ra can tear apart trust and leave loved ones in grief. Yet even in these dark moments, God remains present.
Understanding this word helps us name our struggles honestly. It acknowledges that life contains real harm and moral failure, but it also points to the hope of redemption. We do not face these challenges alone; God sees the pain and works to bring good out of what seems bad.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 550 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- evil98×
- the/ evil85×
- <the>/ evil40×
- calamity34×
- the/ calamity23×
- bad22×
- harm21×
- from/ evil14×
- for/ harm12×
- trouble9×
- the/ harm8×
- and/ evil8×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- הָ/רַ֖ע36×
- רָ֑ע29×
- רָעָ֔ה18×
- רָעָֽה\׃17×
- רָעָ֖ה17×
- הָ/רָעָ֖ה15×
- רָעָ֑ה14×
- רָֽע\׃14×
- הָ/רָ֖ע13×
- הָ֣/רָעָ֔ה12×
- רָעָ֛ה11×
- רָ֔ע11×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 37:2
This is the history of the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brothers. He was a boy with the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father’s wives. Joseph brought an evil report of them to their father.
This verse shows how ra functions as a destructive report that damages family trust and causes deep emotional distress.
-
Genesis 6:5
Yahweh saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of man’s heart was continually only evil.
Here the word describes the pervasive moral corruption of humanity, highlighting the root cause of the flood narrative.
-
Genesis 37:20
Come now therefore, and let’s kill him, and cast him into one of the pits, and we will say, ‘An evil animal has devoured him.’ We will see what will become of his dreams.”
The brothers plan to cover their crime by claiming an evil animal killed Joseph, linking physical harm with deceitful intent.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Hebrew word ra mean?
How is ra different from other words for evil?
Where does this word appear in the Bible?
Every Occurrence (550 verses across 34 books)
Genesis 34 verses
Out of the ground Yahweh God made every tree to grow that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food, including the…
Genesis 2:17but you shall not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil; for in the day that you eat of it, you will surely…
Genesis 3:5for God knows that in the day you eat it, your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
Genesis 3:22Yahweh God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of us, knowing good and evil. Now, lest he reach out his hand,…
Genesis 6:5Yahweh saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of man’s heart…
Genesis 8:21Yahweh smelled the pleasant aroma. Yahweh said in his heart, “I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake…
Genesis 13:13Now the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked and sinners against Yahweh.
Genesis 19:19See now, your servant has found favor in your sight, and you have magnified your loving kindness, which you have shown…
Genesis 24:50Then Laban and Bethuel answered, “The thing proceeds from Yahweh. We can’t speak to you bad or good.
Genesis 26:29that you will do us no harm, as we have not touched you, and as we have done to you nothing but good, and have sent you…
Genesis 28:8Esau saw that the daughters of Canaan didn’t please Isaac, his father.
Genesis 31:24God came to Laban the Syrian in a dream of the night, and said to him, “Be careful that you don’t speak to Jacob either…
Genesis 31:29It is in the power of my hand to hurt you, but the God of your father spoke to me last night, saying, ‘Be careful that…
Genesis 31:52May this heap be a witness, and the pillar be a witness, that I will not pass over this heap to you, and that you will…
Genesis 37:2This is the history of the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his…
Genesis 37:20Come now therefore, and let’s kill him, and cast him into one of the pits, and we will say, ‘An evil animal has…
Genesis 37:33He recognized it, and said, “It is my son’s tunic. An evil animal has devoured him. Joseph is without doubt torn in…
Genesis 38:7Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in Yahweh’s sight. So Yahweh killed him.
Genesis 39:9No one is greater in this house than I am, and he has not kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife.…
Genesis 40:7He asked Pharaoh’s officers who were with him in custody in his master’s house, saying, “Why do you look so sad today?”
Genesis 41:3Behold, seven other cattle came up after them out of the river, ugly and thin, and stood by the other cattle on the…
Genesis 41:4The ugly and thin cattle ate up the seven sleek and fat cattle. So Pharaoh awoke.
Genesis 41:19and behold, seven other cattle came up after them, poor and very ugly and thin, such as I never saw in all the land of…
Genesis 41:20The thin and ugly cattle ate up the first seven fat cattle;
Genesis 41:21and when they had eaten them up, it couldn’t be known that they had eaten them, but they were still ugly, as at the…
Genesis 41:27The seven thin and ugly cattle that came up after them are seven years, and also the seven empty heads of grain blasted…
Genesis 44:4When they had gone out of the city, and were not yet far off, Joseph said to his steward, “Up, follow after the men.…
Genesis 44:29If you take this one also from me, and harm happens to him, you will bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to Sheol.’
Genesis 44:34For how will I go up to my father, if the boy isn’t with me?—lest I see the evil that will come on my father.”
Genesis 47:9Jacob said to Pharaoh, “The years of my pilgrimage are one hundred thirty years. The days of the years of my life have…
Genesis 48:16the angel who has redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads, and let my name be named on them, and the name of my…
Genesis 50:15When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “It may be that Joseph will hate us, and will fully…
Genesis 50:17‘You shall tell Joseph, “Now please forgive the disobedience of your brothers, and their sin, because they did evil to…
Genesis 50:20As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to save many people alive, as is happening today.