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Proverbs 21:10 — Word Study

Depth

WLCנֶ֣פֶשׁ רָ֭שָׁע אִוְּתָה־ רָ֑ע לֹא־ יֻחַ֖ן בְּעֵינָ֣יו רֵעֵֽהוּ׃

BSAThe soulnephesh [living being, essence of a person] of the wicked [man]râshâʻ [morally wrong, guilty of sin] cravesʼâvâh [strongly desires, longs for] evilraʻ [bad, moral harm] his neighborrêaʻ [close friend, companion] finds no favorchânan [graciousness, kindness] in his eyesʻayin [source of perception, understanding]

Word
Listen & take awayProverbs 21
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 10 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 (re.'E.hu) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Proverbs 21:10quick helps
In a sentenceThe wicked person has a strong desire for evil, and his neighbor is not favored in his sight.
Who is speakingThe author of Proverbs, reflecting on the nature of the wicked.
Where we areThis verse is part of a series of observations about the behavior of the wicked and the wise.
The hard wordאִוְּתָה
Take awayDesire can lead to harmful actions, and the wicked do not show kindness to those close to them.
6 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbאָוָה 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 21:10

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 — Observations on the Wicked and the Wisegenerated

9Better to live on a corner of the roof than to share a house with a quarrelsome wife.
10The soul of the wicked man craves evil; his neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.
11When a mocker is punished, the simple gain wisdom; and when a wise man is instructed, he acquires knowledge.
12The Righteous One considers the house of the wicked and brings the wicked to ruin.

Proverbs 21:10 presents a contrast between the wicked and their relationships with others. It highlights the inner cravings of the wicked and how these desires affect their interactions, particularly with neighbors. The surrounding verses provide further insights into the consequences of such behavior, illustrating the broader themes of morality and wisdom in the book of Proverbs.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Proverbs 3:29Do not devise evil against your neighbor, for he trustfully dwells beside you.
2Proverbs 12:12The wicked desire the plunder of evil men, but the root of the righteous flourishes.
3Psalm 36:4Even on his bed he plots wickedness; he sets himself on a path that is not good; he fails to reject evil.
4Psalm 52:2–3Your tongue devises destruction like a sharpened razor, O worker of deceit.
5Mark 7:21–22For from within the hearts of men come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery,

The Key Word אִוְּתָה, 'i.ve.tah-generated

The verb אָוָה (*avah*) is a Piel form meaning 'to desire' or 'to crave.' It signifies a strong longing or wish for something, often with negative connotations when associated with evil. In this context, it describes the intense craving of the wicked for evil, indicating a deep-seated inclination towards wrongdoing.

This word's usage here emphasizes the nature of the wicked man — his desires are not just casual wishes but are powerful urges that drive his actions. The Piel stem suggests an active and intense desire, which aligns with the moral implications of the verse.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

Translations generally agree on the meaning of the verse.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb is אִוְּתָה, it craves, which governs the subject נֶ֣פֶשׁ רָ֭שָׁע (the soul of the wicked). Following this, there is a negation לֹא־ (not) that modifies the verb יֻחַ֖ן (he is shown favor), indicating that the neighbor finds no favor in the eyes of the wicked.

The structure highlights the relationship between the wicked man's desires and his treatment of others, with the verb craves positioned prominently to emphasize the nature of his character.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates נֶ֣פֶשׁ as ψυξὴ (*psuchē*), which also means 'soul' or 'life.' This choice aligns closely with the Hebrew meaning, maintaining the focus on the essence of the person.

For רָ֭שָׁע, the LXX uses ἀσεβοῦς (*asebous*), which conveys a sense of ungodliness, reinforcing the moral implications of the wicked person's character.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Proverbs 21:10 tells us that the wicked person has a strong desire for evil, and as a result, he does not show kindness to his neighbor. This verse highlights the negative impact of wickedness on relationships, illustrating how one's inner cravings can lead to harmful behavior towards others.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean that the wicked man craves evil?

It indicates that the wicked person has a deep-seated desire for wrongdoing, which shapes his actions and character.

How does this verse reflect on relationships?

It shows that the inner desires of a person, especially if wicked, can negatively affect their treatment of others, leading to a lack of kindness.

Why is the neighbor mentioned in this verse?

The neighbor represents those who are directly affected by the wicked person's actions and desires, highlighting the consequences of wickedness in personal relationships.

What can we learn from this verse about desire?

It teaches that unchecked desires, especially for evil, can lead to harmful behaviors and impact how we treat those around us.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what ways have I seen desires influence my actions towards others?
  2. How can I guard against negative cravings in my own life?
  3. What does this verse teach about the importance of kindness in relationships?
  4. How can I cultivate a heart that desires good rather than evil?

Commentators on this verse — 6 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Proverbs 21:10 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

The soul of the wicked desireth evil,.... The evil of sin, it being natural to him; he chooses it, delights in it, craves after it, under a notion of pleasure or profit: or the evil of mischief; it

Read John Gill on Proverbs 21 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

The soul of the wicked desireth evil: his neighbour findeth no favour in his eyes. The soul of the wicked desireth evil - eagerly. The noblest part of man is in him wholly engrossed in evil.

Read Robert Jamieson on Proverbs 21 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

The soul of the wicked desireth evil; his heart is fully and earnestly set in him, as it is expressed, , to do evil, to work wickedness, to do mischief to others, to satisfy his own lusts, though it be with injury of others. His neighbour findeth no favour in his eyes, if he either dissuade him from his wickedness, or stand in the way of his lusts. He spares neither friend nor foe.

Read Matthew Poole on Proverbs 21 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Proverbs 21:10 The soul of the wicked desireth evil: his neighbour findeth no favour in his eyes.Ver. 10. The soul of the wicked desireth evil.] Sinful self-love, the chokeweed of all true love, prompteth the wicked man to envy the good, and wish the evil of all but himself. Hard hearted he is and inhuman, unless it be in a qualm of kindness (as Saul to David, the Egyptians to the Israelites), or merely in dissimulation, as John O’ Neale, father to the Earl of Tyrone, that rebel (1598), inscribed himself in all places: I am great John O’ Neale, friend to the Queen of England, and foe to all the world. Eμουθανοντοςγαιαμιχθετωπυρι, said one wicked emperor; Eμουδεζωυτος, said another, striving…

Read John Trapp on Proverbs 21 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(10) His neighbour findeth no favour in his eyes.—The wicked must have whatever he has set his heart upon, however much trouble and sorrow he may cause to his neighbour thereby.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Proverbs 21 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

10. Wicked desireth — Or wishes, evil to others. Neighbour — Or friend. Some render: “He will even wrong his friend.” Comp. Proverbs 17:5-11. Findeth no favour — Or compassion.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Proverbs 21 →

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

The soul of the wicked man craves evil; his neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

The soul of the wicked desires evil; his neighbor finds no mercy in his eyes.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

The soul of the wicked man craves evil; his neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.

NETBNew English Translation2006

The appetite of the wicked desires evil; his neighbor is shown no favor in his eyes.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

The soul of the wicked desireth evil: his neighbour findeth no favour in his eyes.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

The soul of the wicked desireth evil: His neighbor findeth no favor in his eyes.

RVARevised Version, American1894

The soul of the wicked desireth evil: his neighbour findeth no favour in his eyes.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

The soul of the wicked desireth evil: his neighbor findeth no favor in his eyes.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

The soule of the wicked wisheth euill: and his neighbour hath no fauour in his eyes.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

The soul of the wicked desireth evil: his neighbour findeth no favour in his eyes.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

The soul of the wicked hath desired evil, Not gracious in his eyes is his neighbour.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

The soul of the wicked has desired evil, his neighbor is not gracious in his eyes.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

The soul of the wicked longeth for evil: his neighbor findeth no grace in his eyes.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

The appetite of the wicked craves evil; his neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

The soul of the wicked desireth evil, he will not have pity on his neighbour.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Evil people love to do wrong, they don't care what pain they cause anyone.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

The desire of the evil-doer is fixed on evil: he has no kind feeling for his neighbour.

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.

clausenoun phrase · subjectנֶ֣פֶשׁ[the].appetiteרָ֭שָׁעof.a.wicked.[person]verbאִוְּתָהit.cravesobjectרָ֑עevilclauseadverbialלֹאnotverbיֻחַ֖ןhe.is.shown.favorprepositional phrase · prepositionalבְּinnoun phraseעֵינָ֣יeyesוhisnoun phrase · subjectרֵעֵֽneighborהוּhis

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


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

The Masoretic Text of Proverbs 21:10 states, 'The soul of the wicked man craves evil; his neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.' The Septuagint, while not providing a direct translation, has a word-by-word correspondence with five of the eight words from the Masoretic Text, indicating some level of agreement in content, though the specific wording and structure differ. The Samaritan Pentateuch and the Dead Sea Scrolls do not provide additional variants for this verse, so the primary comparison remains between the Masoretic Text and the Septuagint.

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

נֶ֣פֶשׁ רָ֭שָׁע אִוְּתָה־ רָ֑ע לֹא־ יֻחַ֖ן בְּעֵינָ֣יו רֵעֵֽהוּ׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
נֶ֣פֶשׁψυξὴרָ֭שָׁעἀσεβοῦςלֹא־οὐκיֻחַ֖ןἐλεηθήσεταιרֵעֵֽהוּ׃ἀνθρώπων

5 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 21:10נֶ֫פֶשׁ[the] appet[the] appetite נֶ֫פֶשׁרָשָׁעa wicked [pa wicked [persoרָשָׁעאָוָהit cravesit cravesאָוָהרַעevilevilרַעלֹאnotnotלֹאחָנַןhe is shownhe is shown favחָנַןעַ֫יִןin view hisin view hisעַ֫יִןרֵעַneighbor hineighbor hisרֵעַנָפַשׁbe refreshbe refreshedנָפַשׁרָשַׁעbe wickedbe wickedרָשַׁערָעַעbe evilbe evilרָעַעחָנָהto campto campחָנָהבֵּית־עֵ֫קֶדHouse of SHouse of Shepheבֵּית־עֵ֫קֶדבָּקַשׁto seekto seekבָּקַשׁחַיalivealiveחַיצַדִּיקrighteousrighteousצַדִּיקאָבַדto perishto perishאָבַדמַטְעָםdelicacydelicacyמַטְעָםתַּאֲוָהdesiredesireתַּאֲוָהמַעֲלָלdeeddeedמַעֲלָלנחםto be sorrto be sorry: coנחםיָכֹלbe ablebe ableיָכֹלעוֹדstillstillעוֹדלָוָהto jointo joinלָוָהחֵןfavorfavorחֵןיָשָׁרJasharJasharיָשָׁר
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 21:10

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.

[the] appetite of a wicked [person] it craves evil not he is shown favor in view his neighbor his
נֶ֣פֶשׁNe.fesh [the] appetite of H5315 Noun common · feminine singular construct
754× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for soul or living being, used in the Bible to describe the essence of a person or animal. It encompasses the ideas of life, breath, and vitality, and is translated as 'soul' or 'creature' in the KJV. This word is central to biblical concepts of humanity and existence.
Amplified meaning
living being, essence of a person
Tyndale gloss
soul
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word נֶ֫פֶשׁ (*nephesh*) broadly means 'soul' or 'living being,' encompassing concepts like life, self, person, desire, and emotion. It is derived from the root meaning 'to breathe' and signifies both physical and mental aspects of existence. The lexicons note its use in various contexts, including as the seat of appetites and emotions, though its application to will and character is uncertain.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

נֶ֫פֶשׁ 756 n.f. soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, appetite, emotion, and passion

= that which breathes, the breathing substance or being

The נפשׁ becomes a living being

The נפשׁ is specif.

The נפשׁ as the essential of man stands for the man himself

נפשׁ = seat of the appetites, in all periods (46 t.)

נ׳ = seat of emotions and passions

נפשׁ is used occasionally for mental acts

נפשׁ for acts of the will is dub.

נפשׁ = character is still more dub.

נ׳ in D

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5315 נֶ֫פֶשׁ soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, appetite, emotion, and passion . = that which breathes, the breathing substance or being

. The נפשׁ becomes a living being

. The נפשׁ is specif.

. The נפשׁ as the essential of man stands for the man himself

. נפשׁ = seat of the appetites, in all periods (46 t.)

. נ׳ = seat of emotions and passions

. נפשׁ is used occasionally for mental acts

. נפשׁ for acts of the will is dub.

. נפשׁ = character is still more dub.

. נ׳ in D

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5315 nephesh neh'-fesh

from 5314; properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of

(abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal,

accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or mental):--any,

appetite, beast, body, breath, creature, X dead(-ly), desire,

X (dis-)contented, X fish, ghost, + greedy, he, heart(-y),

(hath, X jeopardy of) life (X in jeopardy), lust, man, me,

mind, mortally, one, own, person, pleasure, (her-, him-, my-,

thy-)self, them (your)-selves, + slay, soul, + tablet, they,

thing, (X she) will, X would have it.

see HEBREW for 05314

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נֶ֫פֶשׁ (ne.phesh) — soul.

1) soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion

1a) that which breathes, the breathing substance or being, soul, the inner being of man

1b) living being

1c) living being (with life in the blood)

1d) the man himself, self, person or individual

1e) seat of the appetites

1f) seat of emotions and passions

1g) activity of mind

1g1) uncertain

1h) activity of the will

1h1) uncertain

1i) activity of the character

1i1) uncertain

נֶ֫פֶשׁ (ne.phesh) — soul: life.

1) soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion

1a) that which breathes, the breathing substance or being, soul, the inner being of man

1b) living being

1c) living being (with life in the blood)

1d) the man himself, self, person or individual

1e) seat of the appetites

1f) seat of emotions and passions

1g) activity of mind

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-cs — Noun common · feminine singular construct
HNcfsc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ov:

(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.

English usagewhat the translators’ English meant
Webster's Dictionary (1828), Webster's Unabridged (1913), Webster's Dictionary (1806)

OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]

1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.

I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.

For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.

Lamentations 3:1.

The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.

Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.

That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.

Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…

[the] appetite of a wicked [person] it craves evil not he is shown favor in view his neighbor his
רָ֭שָׁעRa.sho' a wicked [person] H7563 Noun common · masculine singular 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 of sin
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
Adj — Noun common · masculine singular absolute
HNcmsa
[the] appetite of a wicked [person] it craves evil not he is shown favor in view his neighbor his
אִוְּתָה־'i.ve.tah- it craves H183 Verb · Piel · perfect third person feminine singular
26× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To desire means to strongly wish for something, and can be used to describe physical or emotional longings. This word is used in the Bible to describe feelings of coveting or lusting after something.
Amplified meaning
strongly desires, longs for
Tyndale gloss
to desire
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אָוָה (avah) is a primitive root meaning to desire or wish for. It encompasses a range of meanings including to covet, long for, and lust after, often relating to bodily appetites. The verb appears in various forms, such as in the Piel and Hithpael stems, which indicate different nuances of desire.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[אָוָה] vb. incline, desire

Pi. desire

Hithp. desire, long for, lust after

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H183 [אָוָה] incline, desire . desire

. desire, long for, lust after

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

183 'avah aw-vaw'

a primitive root; to wish for:--covet, (greatly) desire, be

desirous, long, lust (after).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אָוָה (a.vah) — to desire.

1) desire, incline, covet, wait longingly, wish, sigh, want, be greedy, prefer

1a) (Piel) to desire, crave (food and drink)

1b) (Hithpael) to desire, long for, lust after (of bodily appetites)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Piel-Perf-3fs — Verb · Piel · perfect third person feminine singular
HVpp3fs
[the] appetite of a wicked [person] it craves evil not he is shown favor in view his neighbor his
רָ֑עRa' evil 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
bad, moral harm
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
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ev'-'-l, e'-vil ra`; poneros, @kakos, @kakon:

In the Bible it is represented as moral and physical. We choose to discuss the subject under these heads. Many of the evils that come upon men have not been intended by those who suffer for them. Disease, individual and national calamity, drought, scarcity of food, may not always be charged to the account of intentional wrong. Many times the innocent suffer with, and even for, the guilty. In such cases, only physical evil is apparent. Even when the suffering has been occasioned by sin or dereliction of duty, whether the wrong is active or passive, many, perhaps the majority of those who are injured, are not accountable in any way for the ills which come upon them. Neither is God the author of moral evil. "God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempteth no man" (Jas 1:13).

Nave's Topical Bible

→ APPEARANCE OF, TO BE AVOIDED Ro 14:1-23; 1Co 8:7-13; 10:28-33; 1Th 4:11,12; 5:22

→ INSTANCES OF

Paul, in refusing to eat what had been offered to idols 1Co 8:13

In supporting himself 1Co 9:7-23

[the] appetite of a wicked [person] it craves evil not he is shown favor in view his neighbor his
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.
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
HTn — Particle
HTn
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
[the] appetite of a wicked [person] it craves evil not he is shown favor in view his neighbor his
יֻחַ֖ןyu.Chan he is shown favor H2603 Verb · Hophal · imperfect third person masculine singular
78× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to show kindness or favor, often by bending or stooping to help someone in need, as seen in the actions of God towards his people.
Amplified meaning
graciousness, kindness
Tyndale gloss
be gracious
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

חָנַן (chanan) is a Hebrew verb meaning to show favor or be gracious. It encompasses various forms, including being pitied, directing favor, and seeking favor through imploration. The word can also mean to be loathsome, as noted in Job 19:17. The lexicons provide a range of uses, primarily focusing on kindness and mercy.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חָנַן vb. shew favour, be gracious

Qal favour, shew favour

Niph. be pitied

Po‛el direct favour to

Hoph. be shewn favour, consideration

Hithp. seek or implore favour

base

[חָנַן] be loathsome—only Jb 19:17

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2603a חָנַן shew favour, be gracious .favour, shew favour

. be pitied

.direct favour to

. be shewn favour, consideration

. seek or implore favour

H2603b חָנַן be loathsome

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2603 chanan khaw-nan'

a primitive root (compare 2583); properly, to bend or stoop

in kindness to an inferior; to favor, bestow; causatively to

implore (i.e. move to favor by petition):--beseech, X fair,

(be, find, shew) favour(-able), be (deal, give, grant

(gracious(-ly), intreat, (be) merciful, have (shew) mercy (on,

upon), have pity upon, pray, make supplication, X very.

see HEBREW for 02583

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חָנַן (cha.nan) — be gracious.

1) to be gracious, show favour, pity

1a) (Qal) to show favour, be gracious

1b) (Niphal) to be pitied

1c) (Piel) to make gracious, make favourable, be gracious

1d) (Poel) to direct favour to, have mercy on

1e) (Hophal) to be shown favour, be shown consideration

1f) (Hithpael) to seek favour, implore favour

חָנַן (cha.nan) — be loathsome.

to be loathsome

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Hophal-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Hophal · imperfect third person masculine singular
HVHi3ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

fa'-ver (chen, ratson, with other Hebrew words; charis): Means generally good will, acceptance, and the benefits flowing from these; in older usage it meant also the countenance, hence, appearance. Alternating in English Versions of the Bible with "grace," it is used chiefly of man, but sometimes also of God (Ge 18:3; 30:27; 39:21; Ex 3:21; 2Sa 15:25, "in the eyes of Yahweh," etc.). It is used perhaps in the sense of "countenance" in Pr 31:30, "Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain" (the King James Version), where for "favor" the Revised Version (British and American) has "grace"; the reference is to external appearance. "Favored" is used in the sense of "appearance" in…

Nave's Topical Bible

→ See GOD, GRACE OF

[the] appetite of a wicked [person] it craves evil not he is shown favor in view his neighbor his
בְּעֵינָ֣יוbe.'ei.Nav in view his H5869 Preposition · noun common feminine dual construct · suffix
887× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word can mean a spring or fountain, but also refers to the eye or a source of something. It is often translated as affliction, outward appearance, or countenance, and is used in various contexts throughout the Bible.
Amplified meaning
source of perception, understanding
Tyndale gloss
eye
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word עַ֫יִן (*'ayin*) means 'eye' and can refer to both the physical organ and its figurative uses, such as mental qualities and desires. It also denotes a 'spring' or 'fountain' of water. The entries highlight various phrases and contexts, including appearances and expressions of emotion, but do not indicate any significant disagreement among lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עַ֫יִן 859 n.f. eye

lit. as physical organ

eyes as showing mental qualities

desire of the eyes, abominations of the eyes

Fig. of mental and physical faculties, acts and states

Transferred mngs.:

visible surface of earth

appearance

gleam, sparkle

Other phrases are: an eye for an eye; eye to eye; in the presence of, in full view of; of business transaction; on the forehead

base

עַ֫יִן n.f. spring (of water). Particular springs are:

ע׳ חֲרֹר Ju 7:1

ע׳ הַקּוֹרֵא (partridge-spring) Ju 15:19

ע׳ רֹגֵל near Jerus.

ע׳ הַתַּנִּין (dragon-spring)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5869a עַ֫יִן eye . lit. as physical organ

. . eyes as showing mental qualities

. desire of the eyes, abominations of the eyes

. Fig. of mental and physical faculties, acts and states

. Transferred mngs.: . visible surface of earth

. appearance

. gleam, sparkle

. Other phrases are: an eye for an eye; eye to eye; in the presence of, in full view of; of business transaction; on the forehead

H5869b עַ֫יִן spring (of water)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5869 `ayin ah'-yin

probably a primitive word; an eye (literally or

figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the

landscape):--affliction, outward appearance, + before, +

think best, colour, conceit, + be content, countenance, +

displease, eye((-brow), (-d), -sight), face, + favour,

fountain, furrow (from the margin), X him, + humble,

knowledge, look, (+ well), X me, open(-ly), + (not) please,

presence, + regard, resemblance, sight, X thee, X them, +

think, X us, well, X you(-rselves).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — eye.

: eye

1) eye

1a) eye

1a1) of physical eye

1a2) as showing mental qualities

1a3) of mental and spiritual faculties (fig.)

עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — Fountain (Gate).

§ spring, fountain

עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — Fountain of.

§ spring, fountain

עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — eye: seeing.

: seeing

1) eye

1a) eye

1a1) of physical eye

1a2) as showing mental qualities

1a3) of mental and spiritual faculties (fig.)

עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — eye: appearance.

: appearance

1) eye

1a) eye

1a1) of physical eye

1a2) as showing mental qualities

1a3) of mental and spiritual faculties (fig.)

עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — eye: before(the eyes).

: before(the_eyes)

1) eye

1a) eye

1a1) of physical eye

1a2) as showing mental qualities

1a3) of mental and spiritual faculties (fig.)

עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — eye: sin.

: sin

1) eye

1a) eye

1a1) of physical eye

1a2) as showing mental qualities

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-cd | Suff — Preposition · noun common feminine dual construct · suffix
HR/Ncfdc/Sp3ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

hiz: Used often in the King James Version with reference to a neuter or inanimate thing, or to a lower animal (Ge 1:11, "after his kind"; Le 1:16, "pluck away his crop"; Ac 12:10, "of his own accord"; 1Co 15:38, "his own body"), etc. the Revised Version (British and American) substitutes "its."

[the] appetite of a wicked [person] it craves evil not he is shown favor in view his neighbor his
רֵעֵֽהוּ׃re.'E.hu neighbor his H7453 Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
188× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A neighbor or friend is what this word means, describing someone close to you. It can also refer to a companion, fellow citizen, or another person, and is often translated as brother or friend.
Amplified meaning
close friend, companion
Tyndale gloss
neighbor
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

רֵעַ (rea`) refers to a friend, companion, or fellow, emphasizing close associations such as brotherhood or intimacy. It can also denote a neighbor or another person in a broader sense. The word is derived from a root meaning 'to associate.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

רֵעַ 187 n.m. friend, companion, fellow

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7453 רֵעַ friend, companion, fellow

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7453 rea` ray'-ah

or reya2 {ray'-ah}; from 7462; an associate (more or less

close):--brother, companion, fellow, friend, husband, lover,

neighbour, X (an-)other.

see HEBREW for 0reya2

see HEBREW for 07462

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רֵעַ (re.a) — neighbor.

1) friend, companion, fellow, another person

1a) friend, intimate

1b) fellow, fellow-citizen, another person (weaker sense)

1c) other, another (reciprocal phrase)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
HNcmsc/Sp3ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

hiz: Used often in the King James Version with reference to a neuter or inanimate thing, or to a lower animal (Ge 1:11, "after his kind"; Le 1:16, "pluck away his crop"; Ac 12:10, "of his own accord"; 1Co 15:38, "his own body"), etc. the Revised Version (British and American) substitutes "its."

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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