רָעַע (ra.a)
ra.a
be evil; to shatter
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 98 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb ra’a carries two distinct threads of meaning that often intersect in Scripture: moral corruption and physical destruction. In its most common sense, it describes what is bad, evil, or wicked, covering everything from ethical wrongdoing to things that are simply displeasing or injurious. This dual nature reflects a worldview where moral failure is not just a legal transgression but a force that actively damages the fabric of reality.
A striking feature of this word is its literal sense of breaking or shattering. While many English translations smooth this over with "do evil," the underlying image is one of rupture. The sources highlight passages where the earth itself is described as being broken asunder, linking human wickedness to cosmic instability. In Jeremiah, for instance, the verb describes how nations and leaders actively inflict injury or hurt upon others, making their actions a tangible force of destruction rather than an abstract concept.
This concrete imagery helps explain why the word appears so frequently in prophetic literature like Jeremiah and Isaiah. The prophets use ra’a to show that sin is not merely a private failing but a shattering event that breaks relationships and societies. By choosing this verb, the biblical authors emphasize that evil has weight and consequence, capable of breaking iron and splitting the ground beneath our feet.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew verb ra’a carries a weight that goes beyond simple moral judgment. It describes a force of rupture, something that shatters or breaks. When Scripture says people did evil, it often paints a picture of active destruction—breaking relationships, tearing apart communities, and causing tangible harm. This word reminds us that sin is not just an abstract error in thinking; it has real consequences that can damage the fabric of our lives and the world around us.
Yet this understanding also brings clarity to our own struggles. When we feel broken or see the world falling apart, we recognize the gravity of what goes wrong. But we also see the need for restoration. The same God who names this shattering power is the one who mends what is torn. In moments when we fail to treat others well, or when we face mistreatment ourselves, we are invited to bring that brokenness to Him. He sees the depth of the damage and offers a path toward healing that restores what was lost.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 98 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ it was displeasing10×
- evil-doers9×
- to/ do harm4×
- to/ do evil4×
- it will be evil3×
- have you done harm3×
- you have done evil2×
- you do harm2×
- you do evil2×
- they will do harm2×
- they do harm2×
- it be displeasing2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וַ/יֵּ֥רַע4×
- מְרֵעִ֔ים3×
- מְרֵעִ֑ים3×
- תָּרֵֽעוּ\׃2×
- מְרֵעִֽים\׃2×
- לְ/הָרַ֔ע2×
- יֵרַ֤ע2×
- וַ/יֵּ֧רַע2×
- וַ/יֵּ֤רַע2×
- הָרֵֽעַ\׃2×
- הֵרַ֖ע2×
- הֵרֵ֖עוּ2×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 19:7
He said, “Please, my brothers, don’t act so wickedly.
Lot uses this word to warn against active wickedness, highlighting how evil disrupts community safety and hospitality.
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Exodus 5:22
Moses returned to Yahweh, and said, “Lord, why have you brought trouble on this people? Why is it that you have sent me?
Moses questions why God allowed trouble to increase rather than relieve the people's suffering after his initial obedience.
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Numbers 16:15
Moses was very angry, and said to Yahweh, “Don’t respect their offering. I have not taken one donkey from them, neither have I hurt one of them.”
Moses denies having hurt any of the rebels, using the verb to emphasize that his leadership did not inflict injury on them.
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Joshua 24:15
If it seems evil to you to serve Yahweh, choose today whom you will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell; but as for me and my house, we will serve Yahweh.”
Joshua frames serving other gods as choosing what is 'evil' or displeasing, presenting it as a clear moral decision for the people.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Hebrew word ra’a mean?
How is ra’a different from other words for evil?
Where does this word appear most frequently?
Every Occurrence (98 verses across 23 books)
Genesis 9 verses
He said, “Please, my brothers, don’t act so wickedly.
Genesis 19:9They said, “Stand back!” Then they said, “This one fellow came in to live as a foreigner, and he appoints himself a…
Genesis 21:11The thing was very grievous in Abraham’s sight on account of his son.
Genesis 21:12God said to Abraham, “Don’t let it be grievous in your sight because of the boy, and because of your servant. In all…
Genesis 31:7Your father has deceived me, and changed my wages ten times, but God didn’t allow him to hurt me.
Genesis 38:10The thing which he did was evil in Yahweh’s sight, and he killed him also.
Genesis 43:6Israel said, “Why did you treat me so badly, telling the man that you had another brother?”
Genesis 44:5Isn’t this that from which my lord drinks, and by which he indeed divines? You have done evil in so doing.’”
Genesis 48:17When Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand on the head of Ephraim, it displeased him. He held up his father’s…