רָשַׁע (ra.sah)
ra.sah
be wicked
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 32 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb râshaʿ describes a state of moral failure, meaning to be wicked or act unjustly. It appears frequently in poetic books like Job and Psalms, where it often contrasts with righteousness. The word carries a dual sense: it can describe the active commission of evil, as seen when King David confesses he has committed wickedness (Psalm 106:6), or it can indicate a state of being guilty before God, such as Job questioning why he is treated as an offender (Job 9:29).
A key distinction lies in its Hiphil stem, which shifts the focus to legal judgment. In this form, the verb means to condemn someone as guilty, particularly in civil or religious disputes. This usage appears when judges are instructed not to condemn the innocent (Exodus 22:8), highlighting the word’s connection to justice and verdicts rather than just internal sin.
The root likely originates from a sense of disturbance or tumult, suggesting that wickedness disrupts social and spiritual order. This etymological background explains why the term is often linked with conflict or trouble in its usage. Translators typically render it as "wicked" or "condemn," capturing both the moral corruption of the actor and the legal consequences they face.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word râshaʿ carries a weight that goes beyond simple moral failure. It describes a state of being guilty or acting unjustly, often disrupting the order God intends for our lives and communities. In the Psalms and Job, we see this term used to describe both personal sin and the heavy burden of legal condemnation. When David confesses, "We have dealt wickedly" (Psalm 106:6), he is not just admitting a mistake; he is acknowledging a rupture in his relationship with God that requires repentance.
Yet this word also highlights God’s perfect justice. In passages like Proverbs 17:15, we are warned against justifying the wicked or condemning the righteous, reminding us that God sees the heart clearly. For you, this means your struggles with guilt or fear of judgment are seen by a God who knows the difference between true repentance and empty excuses. You do not have to carry the shame of past failures alone; His justice is matched by His mercy for those who turn back to Him.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 32 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- we have acted wickedly5×
- he acted wickedly2×
- I am guilty2×
- you will condemn as guilty1×
- you condemn as guilty/ me1×
- you be wicked1×
- will you condemn as guilty?/ me1×
- will you condemn as guilty1×
- will he condemn as guilty/ me1×
- will he condemn [him] as guilty1×
- to/ condemn as guilty1×
- to/ act wickedly1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- רָשָֽׁעְנוּ\׃2×
- יַרְשִׁיעֵ֑/נִי2×
- יַרְשִֽׁיעַ\׃2×
- הִרְשָֽׁעְנוּ\׃2×
- אֶרְשָׁ֑ע2×
- תַּרְשִׁיעֵ֑/נִי1×
- תַּרְשִֽׁיעַ\׃1×
- תַּרְשִׁ֑יעִי1×
- תַּ֝רְשִׁיעֵ֗/נִי1×
- תִּרְשַׁ֥ע1×
- רָשַׁ֡עְתִּי1×
- רָשַׁ֖עְתִּי1×
Key Verses
-
Proverbs 17:15
He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the righteous, both of them alike are an abomination to Yahweh.
Here the term is paired with legal injustice, warning that perverting judgment by excusing the guilty or condemning the innocent is an abomination to Yahweh.
-
Job 9:20
Though I am righteous, my own mouth will condemn me. Though I am blameless, it will prove me perverse.
Job uses this word to express his fear that even his own righteousness cannot silence the accusation of guilt before a holy God.
-
Deuteronomy 25:1
If there is a controversy between men, and they come to judgment and the judges judge them, then they shall justify the righteous and condemn the wicked.
This legal instruction shows the Hiphil stem in action, where judges must actively condemn the wicked to uphold justice in civil disputes.