πονηρ-ία G4189
Wickedness, evil, malice; moral depravity whether as an inner disposition or in its outward expressions.
A noun encompassing the full spectrum of moral evil, from inner malicious intent to outward wicked deeds. Jesus denounces the Pharisees' poneria when they test him with insincere questions (Matt 22:18) and when their outward piety masks inner 'wickedness and greed' (Luke 11:39). In Mark 7:22 it appears in a catalogue of vices flowing from the human heart, while Paul lists it among the fruits of unrighteousness (Rom 1:29). The plural form in Ephesians 6:12 — 'spiritual forces of wickedness' — extends it into the cosmic realm. Spanish 'maldad,' French 'mechancete,' and German 'Bosheit' all convey deep-seated moral corruption.
Senses
1. wickedness, evil, malice — Wickedness, evil, malice — the quality or condition of moral depravity, encompassing both the disposition of a corrupt heart and its concrete manifestations. Jesus perceives the Pharisees' poneria as they attempt to entrap him (Matt 22:18), and diagnoses it as the hidden interior reality behind external religiosity (Luke 11:39). In Mark 7:22 it joins a vice list tracing sin to its source in the heart. Paul deploys it in Rom 1:29 as a summary term for human fallenness. The cross-linguistic evidence — Spanish 'maldad,' French 'mechancete,' German 'Bosheit/Schlechtigkeit' — uniformly denotes deep moral corruption rather than mere misfortune. 7×
AR["الخُبْثِ", "الشَّرِّ", "خُبثَهُم", "شَرٍّ", "شَرّاً", "شُرُورٌ", "شُرُورِكُمْ"]·ben["দুষ্টতা", "দুষ্টতা,", "দুষ্টতায়", "মন্দতা", "মন্দতা-র", "মন্দতার,"]·DE["Bosheit", "Schlechtigkeit"]·EN["of-wickedness", "wickedness", "wickednesses"]·FR["méchanceté"]·heb["הַ-", "רִשְׁעָה", "רָעוֹת", "רֹעַ"]·HI["दुष्टता", "देखो", "बुरऐ", "बुराई"]·ID["kebejatan,", "kejahatan", "kejahatan,"]·IT["malvagita", "poneriai", "ponerian", "ponerias", "ponērias"]·jav["awon,", "duraka", "duraka,", "kadurjanan,", "kadursilan", "kajahatan", "piawon"]·KO["악-의", "악으로", "악의-를", "악함", "악함들", "악함들-로부터"]·PT["de-maldade", "maldade", "maldades", "malícia"]·RU["зла", "злобы", "злодеяний", "лукавства,", "лукавство", "порочности"]·ES["de-maldad", "de-perversidad", "maldad", "maldades"]·SW["maovu", "ubaya,", "uovu", "uovu,", "wao"]·TR["kotulugu", "kötülükle", "kötülükler", "kötülüklerinden", "kötülüğün", "kötülüğünü"]·urd["بدنیتی", "بدی", "برائیوں", "بُرائی-سے", "شرارت", "شرارت-کے"]
Related Senses
H3808 1. simple negation (not) (4839×)G1722 1. locative: in, within (2442×)H1004b 1. house, dwelling, building (2015×)G3756 1. not (negation particle) (1635×)H4480a 1. source or separation (1198×)H5892b 1. city, town (1093×)G1519 1. direction: into, to, toward (1061×)H3427 1. Qal: to dwell, inhabit (937×)G1537 1. from, out of (source/origin) (886×)H8034 1. Name (designation / identifier) (856×)G3361 1. subjective negation (not) (834×)G1909 1. on, upon (spatial surface) (757×)H0369 1. existential negation: there is not (738×)H5869a 1. in the eyes/sight of (evaluative) (734×)H5650 1. Servant, attendant, subject (723×)H0408 1. prohibitive negation do-not (712×)G2443 1. so that, in order that (purpose/result) (665×)G0575 1. from (649×)G1223 1. through, by means of (582×)H3541 1. thus, so, in this manner (569×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
πονηρ-ία, ἡ, bad state or condition, ὀφθαλμῶν Refs 5th c.BC+ __II in moral sense, wickedness, vice, knavery, ἡ μωρία.. ἀδελφὴ τῆς π. ἔφυ Refs 5th c.BC+; εἰς τὴν π. πάλιν τρέπεται turns again to vice, Refs 5th c.BC+: in plural, knavish tricks, rogueries, Refs 4th c.BC+ __II.2 baseness, cowardice, Refs 5th c.BC+ __II.3 with a political connotation, mob-rule, Refs 5th c.BC+