G2550 κακοήθεια (kakoḗtheia)

Malice (2550) (kakoetheia from kakós = bad, evil + ethos = disposition) is used only here in the NT and refers to the person who has an ill-nature, taking everything with an evil connotation and giving a malicious interpretation to the actions of others, a nature which is evil and makes one suspect evil in others. Haldane writes that kakoetheia in the original, when resolved into its component parts, literally signifies bad custom or disposition, yet it generally signifies something more specific, and is with sufficient propriety rendered malignity, which is a desire to hurt others without any other reason than that of doing evil to them, and finding pleasure in their sufferings. The definition of the term, as quoted from Aristotle by Dr. Macknight, seems true rather as a specification than as a definition. It “is a disposition,” he says, “to take everything in the worst sense.” (Exposition of the Epistle to the Romans) Barclay describes these unrighteous people as possessed of The spirit which puts the worst construction on everything (kakoetheia). Kakoetheia means literally evil-naturedness. At its widest it means malignity. Aristotle defined it in a narrower sense which it has always retained. He said it was “the spirit which always supposes the worst about other people.” Pliny called it “malignity of interpretation.” Jeremy Taylor said that it is “a baseness of nature by which we take things by the wrong handle, and expound things always in the worst sense.” It may well be that this is the commonest of all sins. If there are two possible constructions to be put upon the action of any man, human nature will choose the worse. It is terrifying to think how many reputations have been murdered in gossip over the teacups, with people maliciously putting a wrong interpretation upon a completely innocent action. When we are tempted so to do, we ought to remember that God hears and remembers every word we speak. (Daily Study Bible Online) Instances of malice in the Scripture Cain toward Abel, Ge 4:8. Ishmael toward Sarah, Ge 21:9. Sarah toward Hagar, Ge 21:10. Philistines toward Isaac, Ge 26. Esau toward Jacob, Ge 27:41. Joseph's brethren toward Joseph, Ge 37; 42:21. Potiphar's wife toward Joseph, Ge 39:14-20. Ammonites toward the Israelites, Deut. 23:3, 4. Saul toward David, 1 Sam. 18:8-29; 19; 20:30-33; 22:6-18; 23:7-23; 26:18. David toward Michal, 2 Sam. 6:21, 22, 23; toward Joab, 1Ki 2:5, 6; Shimei, 1Ki 2:8, 9. Shimei toward David, 2 Sam. 16:5-8. Ahithophel toward David, 2 Sam. 17:1, 2, 3. Jezebel toward Elijah, 1 Kin. 19:1, 2. Ahaziah toward Elijah, 2 Kin. 1. Jehoram toward Elisha, 2 Kin. 6:31. Samaritans toward the Jews, Ezra 4; Neh. 2:10; 4; 6. Haman toward Mordecai, Esther 3:5-15; 5:9-14. Jeremiah's enemies, Jer. 26:8-11; 38. Nebuchadnezzar toward Zedekiah, Jer. 52:10, 11. Daniel's enemies, Dan. 6:4-9. Herodias toward John, Matt. 14:3-10; Mark 6:24, 25, 26, 27, 28. Herod toward Jesus, Luke 23:11. The Jews toward Jesus, Matt. 27:18; Mark 12:12; 15:10; Luke 11:53, 54. James and John toward the Samaritans, Luke 9:54. Jews toward Paul, Acts 17:5; 23:12; 25:3. Masters of the slave girl who had a spirit of divination toward Paul, Acts 16:19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24. MALICE, MALIGNITY [ISBE] - mal'-is, ma-lig'-ni-ti (kakia, poneros, kakoetheia): "Malice," now used in the sense of deliberate ill-will, by its derivation means badness, or wickedness generally, and was so used in Older English. W. L. Walker "Go to the page below to access live links related to the material on this page - these links include Scriptures (which can be read in context), Scripture pop-ups on mouse over, and a variety of related resources such as Bible dictionary articles, commentaries, sermon notes and theological journal articles related to the topic under discussion." http://www.preceptaustin.org/romans_129-31.htm#malice