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Proverbs 12:21 — Word Study

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WLCלֹא־ יְאֻנֶּ֣ה לַצַּדִּ֣יק כָּל־ אָ֑וֶן וּ֝רְשָׁעִ֗ים מָ֣לְאוּ רָֽע׃

BSANolôʼ [absence of, none] harmʼâven [evil, mischief] befallsʼânâh [meets, comes upon] the righteoustsaddîyq [just, upright] but the wickedrâshâʻ [morally wrong, guilty] are filledmâlêʼ [made full, complete] with troubleraʻ [evil, adversity]

Word
Listen & take awayProverbs 12
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 21 is in this chapter.
Hebrew ↓ Download MP3 The Masoretic text of this chapter, read aloud. Read by Abraham Shmuelof, courtesy of Audio Scriptures International. Chapter divisions by the Academy of Ancient Languages..
Say the word Each Hebrew word carries its transliteration (Ra') — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Proverbs 12:21quick helps
In a sentenceThe verse contrasts the fate of the righteous with that of the wicked.
Who is speakingThe author of Proverbs, traditionally attributed to Solomon.
Where we areIn a collection of wise sayings about morality and justice.
The hard wordאָוֶן
Take awayThe righteous are protected from harm, while the wicked face adversity.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause subjectוְ verbאָנָה The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
How rare are these words?in the Old Testament

Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.

Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.

Deep Study — Proverbs 12:21

Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.

Context — Wisdom on Righteousness and Wickednessgenerated

20Deceit is in the hearts of those who devise evil, but the counselors of peace have joy.
21No harm befalls the righteous, but the wicked are filled with trouble.
22Lying lips are detestable to the LORD, but those who deal faithfully are His delight.
23A shrewd man keeps his knowledge to himself, but a foolish heart proclaims its folly.

Proverbs 12:21 emphasizes the protection of the righteous and the troubles of the wicked. This verse is part of a larger discussion on the consequences of moral behavior, where deceit and evil are contrasted with peace and righteousness, as seen in the surrounding verses. The wisdom literature often provides insights into the nature of justice and the outcomes of one's actions.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Romans 8:28And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.
21 Corinthians 3:22–23whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future. All of them belong to you,
32 Corinthians 4:17For our light and momentary affliction is producing for us an eternal glory that is far beyond comparison.
4Proverbs 1:31So they will eat the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.
5Proverbs 14:14The backslider in heart receives the fill of his own ways, but a good man is rewarded for his ways.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 8 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word יְאֻנֶּ֣ה, ye.'u.Nehgenerated

The verb יְאֻנֶּ֣ה (ye.'u.Neh) is a Pual imperfect form, meaning 'it happens' or 'it meets.' It conveys the idea of something coming upon or encountering someone, particularly in a significant or impactful way.

In this context, it indicates that no harm meets the righteous, suggesting divine protection or favor. The use of the imperfect tense implies a continuous or habitual action, reinforcing the idea that the righteous consistently experience safety from harm.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, where the translation uses harm for אָוֶן and maintains the contrast with the wicked.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb is יְאֻנֶּ֣ה, it happens, which governs the clause. The structure emphasizes the contrast between the two subjects: the righteous and the wicked.

The sentence is structured to highlight the outcomes for each group, with the righteous being the subject of the first clause and the wicked in the second, illustrating the moral dichotomy.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates יְאֻנֶּ֣ה as ἀρέσει (aresei), meaning 'it will be good for' or 'it will please.' This choice suggests a positive outcome for the righteous, emphasizing their favorable condition.

The translation of אָוֶן as ἄδικον (adikon) indicates a focus on the moral implications of wickedness, aligning with the ethical teachings found in both texts.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Proverbs 12:21 says that no harm comes to the righteous, while the wicked are filled with trouble. This verse teaches about the consequences of being just versus being wicked, showing that the righteous are protected and the wicked face difficulties.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean that no harm befalls the righteous?

This means that those who live justly and uprightly are under God's protection and do not experience the same troubles as the wicked.

How are the wicked described in this verse?

The wicked are described as being filled with trouble, indicating that their actions lead to negative consequences.

What is the significance of the contrast between the righteous and the wicked?

The contrast highlights the moral order of the world, where righteousness leads to safety and wickedness leads to suffering.

How can I apply this verse to my life?

You can strive to live righteously, trusting that this path leads to protection and peace, while avoiding actions that would lead to trouble.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what ways have I experienced God's protection in my life?
  2. How can I ensure that my actions align with righteousness?
  3. What are some examples of trouble that arise from wicked behavior?
  4. How does this verse encourage me to choose the right path in my decisions?

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Proverbs 12:21 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

There shall no evil happen to the just,.... The evil of sin: no iniquity, as the Targum; which, and the Septuagint, Syriac, and Arabic versions, interpret of sin not being agreeable, convenient, suit

Read John Gill on Proverbs 12 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

There shall no evil happen to the just: but the wicked shall be filled with mischief. There shall no evil happen to the just: but the wicked shall be filled with mischief.

Read Robert Jamieson on Proverbs 12 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

No evil; either, 1. Of sin; or rather, 2. Of suffering or mischief, as the next clause explains this. No such evil shall befall them as doth commonly befall the wicked, who are filled, or overwhelmed, and utterly destroyed by it; whereas good men are supported under their troubles, and shall be delivered out of them, and receive much benefit by them.

Read Matthew Poole on Proverbs 12 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Proverbs 12:21 There shall no evil happen to the just: but the wicked shall be filled with mischief.Ver. 21. There shall no evil happen to the just.] First, For evil of sin: God will not lead him into temptation, but will cut off occasions, remove stumbling blocks out of his way: devoratory evils, as Tertullian calls them, he shall be sure not to fall into. "That evil one shall not touch him," viz., tactu qualitativo, as Cajetan expounds it, with a deadly touch: nibble he may at their heels, but cannot reach their heads; shake he may his chain at them, but shall not set his fangs in them, or so far thrust his sting into them as to infuse into them the venom of that sin unto death. Next, For…

Read John Trapp on Proverbs 12 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(21) There shall no evil happen to the just.—Comp. our Lord’s promise as to temporal matters for those who “seek the kingdom of God” (Matthew 6:33). and for God’s care in spiritual matters, 1 Corinthians 10:13.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Proverbs 12 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 21. There shall no evil happen to the just] No, for all things work together for good to them that love God. Whatever occurs to a righteous man God turns to his advantage. But, on the other hand, the wicked are filled with mischief: they are hurt, grieved, and wounded, by every occurrence; and nothing turns to their profit.

Read AdamClarke on Proverbs 12 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

21. evil … mischief] Rather, mischief … evil, with R.V., reversing the meaning of the two Heb. words.

Read Cambridge on Proverbs 12 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

21. Evil — Calamity. Happen — Meet or befall. Romans 8:28 is a good comment on this clause: “All things work together for good to them that love God.” Filled with mischief — Evil calamity.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Proverbs 12 →

The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company

Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.

Modern formal

BSBBerean Standard Bible2020

No harm befalls the righteous, but the wicked are filled with trouble.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

No mischief shall happen to the righteous, but the wicked shall be filled with evil.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

No harm befalls the righteous, but the wicked are filled with trouble.

NETBNew English Translation2006

The righteous do not encounter any harm, but the wicked are filled with calamity.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

There shall no evil happen to the just: but the wicked shall be filled with mischief.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

There shall no mischief happen to the righteous; But the wicked shall be filled with evil.

RVARevised Version, American1894

There shall no mischief happen to the righteous: but the wicked shall be filled with evil.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

There shall no evil happen to the just: but the wicked shall be filled with mischief.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

There shall none iniquitie come to the iust: but the wicked are full of euill.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

There shall no evil happen to a righteous [man]; but the wicked shall be filled with mischief.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

No iniquity is desired by the righteous, And the wicked have been full of evil.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

No iniquity is desired by the righteous, || And the wicked have been full of evil.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

No wrong can come unawares to the righteous; but the wicked are full of evil.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

No ill comes on the righteous person, but wicked people are filled with difficulties.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

Whatsoever shall befall the just man. it shall not make him sad: but the wicked shall be filled with mischief.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

No harm comes to the good, but trouble fills the wicked.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

No trouble will come to upright men, but sinners will be full of evil.

Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.


The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank

This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.

clauseadverbialלֹאnotverbיְאֻנֶּ֣הit.happensprepositional phrase · prepositionalלַtonoun phrasetheצַּדִּ֣יקrighteousnoun phrase · subjectכָּלanyאָ֑וֶןtroubleוּ֝andclausesubjectרְשָׁעִ֗יםwicked.[people]verbמָ֣לְאוּthey.are.fulladverbialרָֽעdistress

Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.


The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran

לֹא־ יְאֻנֶּ֣ה לַצַּדִּ֣יק כָּל־ אָ֑וֶן וּ֝רְשָׁעִ֗ים מָ֣לְאוּ רָֽע׃ is consistent across the Masoretic Text and the Septuagint, with both versions conveying the same essential message about the fate of the righteous and the wicked.

Masoretic TextLeningrad Codex, c. AD 1008 — the text this page is built on

לֹא־ יְאֻנֶּ֣ה לַצַּדִּ֣יק כָּל־ אָ֑וֶן וּ֝רְשָׁעִ֗ים מָ֣לְאוּ רָֽע׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
לֹא־οὐκיְאֻנֶּ֣הἀρέσειלַצַּדִּ֣יקδικαίῳכָּל־οὐδὲνאָ֑וֶןἄδικονוּ֝רְשָׁעִ֗יםδὲמָ֣לְאוּπλησθήσονταιרָֽע׃κακῶν

8 of the 8 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.

Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.


The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with

This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.

Proverbs 12:21לֹאnotnotלֹאאָנָהit happensit happensאָנָהצַדִּיקto the righto the righteouצַדִּיקכֹּלanyanyכֹּלאָ֫וֶןtroubletroubleאָ֫וֶןרָשָׁעand wicked and wicked [peoרָשָׁעמָלֵאthey are futhey are fullמָלֵארַעdistressdistressרַעצָדֵקto justifyto justifyצָדֵקכָּלַלto perfectto perfectכָּלַלרָשַׁעbe wickedbe wickedרָשַׁערָעַעbe evilbe evilרָעַעאָנָהto lamentto lamentאָנָהאַ֫יִןnothingnothingאַ֫יִןיָכֹלbe ablebe ableיָכֹלעוֹדstillstillעוֹדלֹאnotnotלֹארָשָׁעwickedwickedרָשָׁעעָ֫וֶלinjusticeinjusticeעָ֫וֶלעֵדָהcongregaticongregationעֵדָהעֲבֹדָהserviceserviceעֲבֹדָהפָּעַלto workto workפָּעַלעָמָלtroubletroubleעָמָלצַדִּיקrighteousrighteousצַדִּיקאָבַדto perishto perishאָבַדחָמָסviolenceviolenceחָמָס
meets it a little oftener than chancemeets it far oftener than chancebuilt from the same roottwo words of the verse share ita word of this versea related word

Lexicons — every word in Proverbs 12:21

One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.

Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.

not it happens to the righteous any trouble and wicked [people] they are full distress
לֹא־lo'- not H3808 Particle
5,170× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for not or no is used to indicate absence or negation, as when God says no to the Israelites' requests, or when they disobey His commands.
Amplified meaning
absence of, none
Tyndale gloss
not
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

לֹא (lo') is a Hebrew word meaning 'not' or 'no.' It serves as a simple negation and can imply absence or prohibition. The word can also be used in various contexts, often combined with other particles for emphasis or clarification. Its Aramaic equivalent is לָא (la), which also means 'not.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

לֹא or לוֹא adv. not

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3808 לֹא or לוֹא not

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3808 lo' lo

or lowi {lo}; or loh (Deut. 3:11) {lo}; a primitive particle;

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often

used with other particles (as follows):--X before, + or else,

ere, + except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never,

no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), (X as though...,(can-), for) not (out

of), of nought, otherwise, out of, + surely, + as truly as, +

of a truth, + verily, for want, + whether, without.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

לֹא (lo) — not.

1) not, no

1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition)

1b) not (with modifier-negation)

1c) nothing (subst)

1d) without (with particle)

1e) before (of time)

Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Part — Particle
HTn
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
not it happens to the righteous any trouble and wicked [people] they are full distress
יְאֻנֶּ֣הye.'u.Neh it happens H579 Verb · Pual · imperfect third person masculine singular
4× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to meet or approach someone, and it is used in various ways, such as to encounter or be opportune. It can also mean to seek a quarrel or cause oneself to meet someone. In the Bible, it is used in Exodus to describe God meeting with Moses.
Amplified meaning
meets, comes upon
Tyndale gloss
to meet
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אָנָה (anah) is a Hebrew root that conveys the idea of meeting or encountering, often in an opportune manner. It can refer to allowing or causing meetings, being sent to meet, or even seeking a quarrel. The entries suggest a range of meanings from casual encounters to more confrontational situations.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[אָנָה] vb. be opportune, meet, encounter opportunely

Pi. cause (or allow) to meet

Pu. be allowed to meet, be sent

Hithp. cause oneself to meet, seek occasion (= seek a quarrel with)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H579 אָנָה be opportune, meet, encounter opportunely . cause (or allow) to meet

. be allowed to meet, be sent

. cause oneself to meet, seek occasion (= seek a quarrel with)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

579 'anah aw-naw'

a primitive root (perhaps rather identical with 578 through

the idea of contraction in anguish); to approach; hence, to

meet in various senses:--befall, deliver, happen, seek a

quarrel.

see HEBREW for 0578

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אָנָה (a.nah) — to meet.

1) to meet, encounter, approach, be opportune

1a) (Piel) to allow to meet, cause to meet

1b) (Pual) to be sent, be allowed to meet

1c) (Hithpael) to seek occasion (quarrel), cause oneself to meet

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Pual-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Pual · imperfect third person masculine singular
HVPi3ms
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
not it happens to the righteous any trouble and wicked [people] they are full distress
לַצַּדִּ֣יקla.tza.Dik to the righteous H6662 Preposition
206× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Means being just or righteous, as seen in government, personal conduct, or character, often describing someone made right with God. It appears in descriptions of King David and other biblical leaders. The concept is central to the Bible's teachings on morality and ethics.
Amplified meaning
just, upright
Tyndale gloss
righteous
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

צַדִּיק (tsaddiyq) means just or righteous, covering various aspects such as lawful behavior, moral conduct, and being justified by God. It is derived from a related root and is used to describe individuals who are upright in character and actions.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

צַדִּיק 206 adj. just, righteous

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6662 צַדִּיק just, righteous

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6662 tsaddiyq tsad-deek'

from 6663; just:--just, lawful, righteous (man).

see HEBREW for 06663

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

צַדִּיק (tsad.diq) — righteous.

1) just, lawful, righteous

1a) just, righteous (in government)

1b) just, right (in one's cause)

1c) just, righteous (in conduct and character)

1d) righteous (as justified and vindicated by God)

1e) right, correct, lawful

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | Adj — Preposition
HRd/Aamsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Nave's Topical Bible

→ MISCELLANY OF MINOR SUB-TOPICS

Compared with

The sun Jud 5:31; Mt 13:43

Stars Da 12:3

Lights Mt 5:14; Php 2:15

Mount Zion Ps 125:1,2

Lebanon Ho 14:5-7

Treasure Ex 19:5; Ps 135:4

Jewels Mal 3:17

Gold Job 23:10; La 4:2

not it happens to the righteous any trouble and wicked [people] they are full distress
כָּל־kol- any H3605 Noun common · masculine singular construct
5,415× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for 'all' or 'everything' is used throughout the Bible, like in Genesis 1:31, where God sees all He has made as very good. It encompasses the entirety of something, whether people, things, or situations.
Tyndale gloss
all
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כֹּל (kol) means 'all' or 'the whole.' It can refer to totality, including every person or thing, and is often used with a following genitive to specify what is included. The term can also denote a broader sense of everything in existence or all circumstances of life. The lexicons do not show significant disagreement on its meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כֹּל once כּוֹל n.m. the whole, all

with foll. gen. (as usually) the whole of, to be rendered, however, often in our idiom, to avoid stiffness, any or every

Absolutely:

without the art., all things, all

with the art. הַכֹּל

where the sense is limited by the context to things (or persons) just mentioned

in a wider sense, all, whether of all mankind or of all living things, the universe, or of all the circumstances of life (chiefly late)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3605 כֹּל once כּוֹל the whole, all . with foll. gen. (as usually) the whole of, to be rendered, however, often in our idiom, to avoid stiffness, any or every

. Absolutely: . without the art., all things, all

. with the art. הַכֹּל . where the sense is limited by the context to things (or persons) just mentioned

. in a wider sense, all, whether of all mankind or of all living things, the universe, or of all the circumstances of life (chiefly late)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3605 kol kole

or (Jer. 33:8) kowl {kole}; from 3634; properly, the whole;

hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a

plural sense):--(in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any

(manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as

many as, (no-)thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole,

whoso(-ever).

see HEBREW for 03634

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כֹּל (kol) — all.

1) all, the whole

1a) all, the whole of

1b) any, each, every, anything

1c) totality, everything

Aramaic equivalent: kol (כֹּל "all" H3606)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNcmsc — Noun common · masculine singular construct
HNcmsc
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
not it happens to the righteous any trouble and wicked [people] they are full distress
אָ֑וֶן'A.ven trouble H205 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
77× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to evil, wickedness, or trouble, often describing idolatry or iniquity, and is used in various KJV translations to convey a sense of wrongdoing.
Amplified meaning
evil, mischief
Tyndale gloss
evil: wickedness
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אָ֫וֶן (aven) encompasses meanings related to trouble, sorrow, and wickedness. It may also refer to idolatry and the concept of vanity or nothingness. The entries suggest a range of negative connotations, including affliction and iniquity, indicating a strong moral or ethical dimension. There are no significant disagreements among the lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אָ֫וֶן 85 n.m. trouble, sorrow, wickedness

trouble, sorrow

idolatry

trouble of iniquity, wickedness

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H205 אָ֫וֶן trouble, sorrow, wickedness

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

205 'aven aw-ven'

from an unused root perhaps meaning properly, to pant (hence,

to exert oneself, usually in vain; to come to naught);

strictly nothingness; also trouble. vanity, wickedness;

specifically an idol:--affliction, evil, false, idol,

iniquity, mischief, mourners(-ing), naught, sorrow, unjust,

unrighteous, vain ,vanity, wicked(-ness). Compare 369.

see HEBREW for 0369

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אָ֫וֶן (a.ven) — evil: wickedness.

1) trouble, wickedness, sorrow

1a) trouble, sorrow

1b) idolatry

1c) trouble of iniquity, wickedness

Also means: a.ven (אָ֫וֶן ": trouble" H0205H)

אָ֫וֶן (a.ven) — evil: trouble.

1) trouble, wickedness, sorrow

1a) trouble, sorrow

1b) idolatry

1c) trouble of iniquity, wickedness

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absolute
HNcmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Nave's Topical Bible

→ BORROWING Mt 6:25-34; Mr 5:35,36; Joh 14:1; 16:6,7; Php 4:6; 1Pe 5:7

See AFFLICTION

See SUFFERING

→ INSTANCES OF

Israelites at the Red Sea Ex 14:10-12

About water Ex 15:23-25; 17:2,3; Nu 20:1-13

Food Ex 16:2,3; Nu 11:4-33

When Moses waited upon the mountain Ex 32:1

not it happens to the righteous any trouble and wicked [people] they are full distress
וּ֝רְשָׁעִ֗יםu.re.sha.'Im and wicked [people] H7563 Conjunction · noun common masculine plural absolute
263× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word describes someone who is morally wrong, a bad person who is guilty of crime or sin against God or others. It is used to describe the wicked in biblical stories, such as in the book of Genesis.
Amplified meaning
morally wrong, guilty
Tyndale gloss
wicked
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

רָשָׁע (rasha`) refers to someone who is wicked or criminal, encompassing meanings such as guilty and ungodly. It is derived from a root that implies moral wrongdoing. The term is used to describe individuals who are hostile to God or guilty of sin against others.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

רָשָׁע 263 adj. wicked, criminal

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7563 רָשָׁע wicked, criminal

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7563 rasha` raw-shaw'

from 7561; morally wrong; concretely, an (actively) bad

person:--+ condemned, guilty, ungodly, wicked (man), that did

wrong.

see HEBREW for 07561

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רָשָׁע (ra.sah) — wicked.

1) wicked, criminal

1a) guilty one, one guilty of crime (subst)

1b) wicked (hostile to God)

1c) wicked, guilty of sin (against God or man)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | Adj — Conjunction · noun common masculine plural absolute
HC/Ncmpa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

pe'-p'-l: In English Versions of the Bible represents something over a dozen Hebrew and Greek words. Of these, in the Old Testament, `am, is overwhelmingly the most common (about 2,000 times), with le'om, and goy, next in order; but the various Hebrew words are used with very little or no difference in force (e.g. Pr 14:28; but, on the other hand, in Ps 44 contrast verses 12 and 14). Of the changes introduced by the Revised Version (British and American) the only one of significance (cited explicitly in the Preface to the English Revised Version) is the frequent use of the plural "peoples" (strangely avoided in the King James Version except Re 10:11; 17:15), where other nations than Israel are in question. So, for instance, in Ps…

not it happens to the righteous any trouble and wicked [people] they are full distress
מָ֣לְאוּMal.'u they are full H4390 Verb · Qal · perfect third person common plural
249× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To fill means to make something full or complete, like filling a container or fulfilling a promise. This word is used in many contexts, including being full of joy or having a job completed.
Amplified meaning
made full, complete
Tyndale gloss
to fill
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מָלֵא (male') means 'to fill' or 'be full,' with applications ranging from literal filling to figurative uses like accomplishing or completing something. It appears in various forms, including Qal, Niphal, Piel, and Hithpael, indicating different nuances such as being satisfied or confirming. Notably, it can also refer to massing against someone.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מָלֵא 249 vb. be full, fill

Qal 99

be full, usu. c. acc. material

trans. fill

Niph.

be filled

be accomplished, ended

Pi.

fill

special uses are:

fulfil, accomplish, complete, obj. week, year, day

Pu. filled

Hithp. mass themselves against me

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4390 מָלֵא be full, fill .. be full, usu. c. acc. material

. trans. fill

. . be filled

. be accomplished, ended

. . fill

. special uses are:

. fulfil, accomplish, complete, obj. week, year, day

. filled

. mass themselves against me

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4390 male' maw-lay'

or malae (Esth. 7:5) {maw-law'}; a primitive root, to fill or

(intransitively) be full of, in a wide application (literally

and figuratively):--accomplish, confirm, + consecrate, be at

an end, be expired, be fenced, fill, fulfil, (be, become, X

draw, give in, go) full(-ly, -ly set, tale), (over-)flow,

fulness, furnish, gather (selves, together), presume,

replenish, satisfy, set, space, take a (hand-)full, + have

wholly.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מָלֵא (ma.le) — to fill.

1) to fill, be full

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to be full

1a1a) fulness, abundance (participle)

1a1b) to be full, be accomplished, be ended

1a2) to consecrate, fill the hand

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be filled, be armed, be satisfied

1b2) to be accomplished, be ended

1c) (Piel)

1c1) to fill

1c2) to satisfy

1c3) to fulfil, accomplish, complete

1c4) to confirm

1d) (Pual) to be filled

1e) (Hithpael) to mass themselves against

Aramaic equivalent: me.la (מְלָא "to fill" H4391)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Perf-3cp — Verb · Qal · perfect third person common plural
HVqp3cp
not it happens to the righteous any trouble and wicked [people] they are full distress
רָֽע׃Ra' distress H7451 Adj
662× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Ra means bad or evil, referring to moral or natural harm. It describes adversity, affliction, or distress, and is often used to convey a sense of misery or injury.
Amplified meaning
evil, adversity
Tyndale gloss
bad: harmful
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

רַע (ra) is a Hebrew word meaning bad or evil, encompassing a range of negative qualities such as distress, misery, and ethical wrongdoing. It can describe unpleasantness, harm, or low value, and is used in various contexts, including emotional states and moral judgments. The entries also note its comparative form, indicating worse than or worst. The word has feminine forms, such as רָעָה (ra.ah), which similarly convey concepts of evil and distress.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

רַע 228 adj. bad, evil

bad, disagreeable, malignant

bad, unpleasant, giving pain, unhappiness, misery

evil, displeasing

bad of its kind

bad, , i.e. of low value

מִן comp., worse than

sad, unhappy

devise evil (hurtful) device

bad, unkind, vicious in disposition or temper

ethically bad, evil, wicked

base

רַע 126 n.m. evil, distress, misery, injury, calamity

evil, distress, adversity

evil, injury, wrong

ethical evil

base

רָעָה 310 n.f. evil, misery, distress, injury

evil, misery, distress

evil, injury, wrong

ethical evil

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7451a רַע bad, evil . bad, disagreeable, malignant

. bad, unpleasant, giving pain, unhappiness, misery

. evil, displeasing

. bad of its kind

. bad, , i.e. of low value

. + מִן comp., worse than

. sad, unhappy

. devise evil (hurtful) device

. bad, unkind, vicious in disposition or temper

. ethically bad, evil, wicked

H7451b רַע evil, distress, misery, injury, calamity . evil, distress, adversity

. evil, injury, wrong

. ethical evil

H7451c רָעָה evil, misery, distress, injury . evil, misery, distress

. evil, injury, wrong

. ethical evil

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7451 ra` rah

from 7489; bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral):--

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.).

see HEBREW for 07489

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רַע (ra) — bad: harmful.

: harmful

adj

1) bad, evil

1a) bad, disagreeable, malignant

1b) bad, unpleasant, evil (giving pain, unhappiness, misery)

1c) evil, displeasing

1d) bad (of its kind-land, water, etc)

1e) bad (of value)

1f) worse than, worst (comparison)

1g) sad, unhappy

1h) evil (hurtful)

1i) bad, unkind (vicious in disposition)

1j) bad, evil, wicked (ethically)

1j1) in general, of persons, of thoughts

1j2) deeds, actions

רַע (ra) — bad: evil.

1) evil, distress, misery, injury, calamity

1a) evil, distress, adversity

1b) evil, injury, wrong

1c) evil (ethical)

רָעָה (ra.ah) — distress: harm.

: harm

1) evil, misery, distress, injury

1a) evil, misery, distress

1b) evil, injury, wrong

1c) evil (ethical)

רַע (ra) — bad: evil.

: evil

adj

1) bad, evil

1a) bad, disagreeable, malignant

1b) bad, unpleasant, evil (giving pain, unhappiness, misery)

1c) evil, displeasing

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adj — Adj
HAamsa
Sources on this page. Lexicons and dictionaries imported from the CrossWire SWORD modules — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, Dodson, the Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones, Robinson and Packard, Webster and Cawdrey. Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (Harper, 1889 — Grimm’s Wilke’s Clavis Novi Testamenti, translated, revised and enlarged by Joseph Henry Thayer) is public domain and is set here from the Internet Archive page scan greekenglishlex00grim; it is uncorrected OCR, marked as such on the entry itself, and the Strong’s numbers — which Thayer’s own edition does not carry — were matched by lemma against the other modules on this page. Trench’s Synonyms of the New Testament (Macmillan, 1880) and Moulton and Milligan’s Vocabulary of the Greek Testament (Hodder & Stoughton, 1930, which entered the United States public domain on 1 January 2026) are set from Internet Archive page scans synonymsofnewtes00treniala and vocabularyofgree00mouluoft, and are likewise uncorrected OCR matched to Strong’s numbers by lemma. Trench treats a group of words at once, so the same essay stands on the page of each word it compares. The Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary is © 1993 and is used here by permission for non-commercial use, www.teknia.com/greek-dictionary. The full Liddell-Scott-Jones and the Hebrew word data (TAHOT) come from STEPBible.org, CC BY 4.0. Brown-Driver-Briggs is the OpenScriptures digitisation, public domain. Syntax analysis is the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (biblicalhumanities.org); the concordance and morphology are built from the tagged Nestle 1904 text. Septuagint occurrences use the Open Scriptures Septuagint lemma index, derived from CCAT (University of Pennsylvania) and the Rahlfs 1935 dataset by Eliran Wong, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 — used here on a non-commercial ministry site. Greek of Josephus and Barnabas from the Perseus Digital Library, CC BY-SA 4.0. Commentaries and the Ante-Nicene Fathers are public-domain texts hosted on this site. Everyday Greek from the Duke Databank of Documentary Papyri, CC BY 3.0, with dates and provenance from the Heidelberger Gesamtverzeichnis. Philo and the Apostolic Fathers from Open Greek and Latin (First1KGreek), CC BY-SA 4.0. The apparatus and the fifth Greek column are the SBL Greek New Testament, © 2010 SBL and Logos Bible Software, CC BY 4.0. The Latin is the Clementine Vulgate (public domain); the Syriac New Testament is the ETCBC edition (MIT licence). The Hebrew behind the Greek is computed here from the Septuagint index and TAHOT, not taken from any aligned edition. The translation spread and the per-word edition marks come from the Translators Amalgamated Greek NT (STEPBible, CC BY 4.0); clause roles from the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (CC BY-SA 4.0); place identifications and their confidence from OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding (CC BY 4.0), with map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors. Gospel parallels are computed here from shared uncommon vocabulary, not taken from any printed harmony. Cross references are the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and the subject headings are Nave’s Topical Bible, both public domain. Works under Creative Commons licences are used unchanged apart from markup removal.

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