רָעָה310 H7451c
Evil, wickedness, calamity, harm, or distress — the noun form encompassing moral badness, disaster, injury, and suffering.
A feminine noun covering the full spectrum of what is bad in the biblical world, from moral wickedness to divine judgment to personal suffering. When paired with a possessor (as in 'the evil of your doings'), it denotes sinful character or intent; when God 'brings ra'ah' upon a nation, it shifts toward calamity or doom. The multilingual evidence is revealing: Spanish distinguishes 'mal' (evil/harm) from 'calamidad' (disaster), and German separates 'Böses' (moral evil) from 'Unheil' (catastrophe) and 'Trübsal' (tribulation), confirming that Hebrew ra'ah genuinely spans these distinct semantic territories rather than being a single vague concept.
1. moral evil or wickedness — The dominant sense: abstract moral evil, wickedness, or sinfulness as a quality or condition. Encompasses nearly 77% of occurrences, appearing in constructs like 'the evil of the heart' (Gen 6:5) and 'repay evil for good' (Gen 44:4). All major target languages converge on a single moral-badness term here — English 'evil,' Spanish 'mal,' French 'mal,' German 'Böses' — confirming the moral-quality reading. Often in opposition to tov ('good'), establishing the fundamental biblical moral axis. 234×
AR["الشَّرَّ","الـ-شَرَّ","سُوءًا","شَرًّا","شَرٌّ","شَرّاً"]·ben["অনিষ্ট","অন্যায়","মন্দ","মন্দতা"]·DE["Boese","Boeses","Böses"]·EN["evil"]·FR["mal"]·heb["ה-רעה","רע","רעה"]·HI["बुराई","बुरै"]·ID["celaka","jahat","keburukan","kejahatan","malapetaka"]·IT["male"]·jav["awon","bilai","piawon"]·KO["그-악을","나쁜-것을","악으로","악을","악이","악한-것을","악함을","재앙","재앙을"]·PT["mal","o-mal"]·RU["зла","зло","злое","злом"]·ES["el-mal","mal","mal?","maldad"]·SW["atakufa","baya","kutoka-","mabaya","mnu-kufanya","msiba","ubaya","uovu"]·TR["felaket","kötülük"]·urd["برائی","برائی؟","برائی۔","بلا","بُرا","بُرائی"]
Gen 26:29, Gen 44:4, Gen 50:17, Gen 50:20, Exod 10:10, Judg 11:27, Judg 15:3, Judg 20:13, 1 Sam 12:19, 1 Sam 24:11, 1 Sam 25:21, 1 Sam 25:26 (+38 more)
▼ 4 more senses below
Senses
2. calamity or disaster — External catastrophe, disaster, or doom, typically sent by God or experienced as judgment. Distinguished from sense 1 by the absence of moral agency in the sufferer — the ra'ah comes upon them. Key passages include 1 Kings 9:9 ('brought all this calamity upon them') and Judges 20:34,41 where military disaster overwhelms Benjamin. Spanish 'calamidad' and German 'Unheil' appear specifically in these contexts, signaling that translators perceive a genuinely different semantic frame from moral evil. 25×
AR["الشَّرَّ","الشَّرُّ","الشَّرِّ","الـ-شَّرِّ","بِ-الشَّرِّ","شَرٍّ","شَرِّهِمْ","في-شَرٍّ","هٰذَا-الشَّرِّ","وَشَرُّهُ","وَلِلشَّرِّ"]·ben["-অমঙ্গল","-বিপদ","-মন্দ","-মন্দে","অমঙ্গল","অমঙ্গল-বিষয়ে","আর-অমঙ্গল-বিষয়ে","এবং-তার-অমঙ্গল","তাদের-অনিষ্ট","বিপদ","মন্দ-তাদের","মন্দতা","মন্দে"]·DE["Boeses","das-Unheil","der-Boese","der-Boeses","der-disaster","in-Boeses","und-Boeses","und-zu-weidete","zu-weidete"]·EN["and-for-calamity","and-his-disaster","for-calamity","in-calamity","into-calamity","into-evil","the-calamity","the-disaster","the-distress","the-evil","their-harm","their-trouble"]·FR["dans-mal","et-mal","et-à-mal","le-disaster","le-mal","mal","à-mal"]·heb["ב-רעה","ה-רע","ה-רעה","הָ-רָעָה","ו-ל-רעה","ו-רעתו","ל-רעה","רע-ם","רעתם"]·HI["उनकी-विपत्ति","उनकी-विपत्ति-के","उनकी-हानि","और-उसकी-बुराई","और-के-विषय-विपत्ति","के-लिए-बुराई","बुराई","बुराई-की","बुराई-में","बुराई-में।","बुरै","विपत्ति","विपत्ति-को"]·ID["bencana","dalam-kejahatan","dan-malapetakanya","dan-tentang-malapetaka","kecelakaan","kejahatan","kejahatan-mereka","kemalangan","malapetaka","malapetaka-itu","malapetaka-mereka","untuk-celaka"]·IT["a-pascolo","e-a-pascolo","e-male","il-disaster","il-male","in-calamità","male"]·jav["awon","bebaya-punika","bilahi","bilai","bilainé","ing-piawon","kangge-piawon","lan-kangge-piawon","lan-karisakan","piawon","piawon-ipun","piwales"]·KO["~에-재앙","그-악","그-재앙","그-재앙을","그-재앙이","그들의-재앙을","그들의-재앙의","그리고-그의-악이","그리고-재앙에-대하여","악-에","악이","재앙-에","재앙을","재앙이"]·PT["de-mal","e-para-mal","e-sua-ruína","em-mal","mal-seu","o-mal","seu-mal."]·RU["·-зле","беда","бедствия-их","беду","в-беде","в-беду","во-зло","зла","зла-им","зло","зло-их","и-бедствие-его","и-о-зле"]·ES["de-mal","el-mal","en-la-calamidad","en-mal","la-calamidad","la-desgracia","la-maldad","mal-su","su-mal","y-de-mal","y-su-mal"]·SW["haraah","jambo-la","katika-msiba","mabaya","maovu","msiba","msiba-wao","na-kwa-uovu","na-maafa-yake","taabu","ubaya","wa-msiba-wao","watafutao","ya-uovu"]·TR["-kötülük","felaket","felakete","felaketi","felaketlerinin","felakette","kötülük","kötülük-","kötülük-için","kötülüklerini","kötülüğe","kötülüğü","kötülüğün","ve-kötülüğe","ve-kötülüğü"]·urd["-بلا","-کی-آفت","ان-کی-برائی","اور-بُرائی-اُس-کی","اور-مصیبت-کے-لئے","اُن-کی-بلا","اُن-کی-بلا-کے","برائی","برائی-کی","برائی-کے","بُرائی","بُرائی-میں","مصیبت","میں-بلا"]
Gen 19:19, Judg 20:34, Judg 20:41, 1 Kgs 9:9, 2 Kgs 6:33, 1 Chr 21:15, 2 Chr 7:22, 2 Chr 34:28, Neh 2:17, Neh 13:18, Neh 13:27, Esth 7:7 (+13 more)
3. harm or injury — Targeted harm or injury directed at a specific person, focusing on the damaging effect rather than moral character or cosmic judgment. Genesis 31:52 ('this heap is witness... that I will not pass over... to do you harm') and Psalm 35:4 ('let those who devise harm against me') illustrate the interpersonal, intentional dimension. German 'Harm' appears here alongside the usual 'Böses,' and Spanish uses 'mi mal' (my harm) with possessive constructions, marking this as personally directed injury. 20×
AR["سوئي","شَرًّا","شَرّي","عَلَى-الشَّرِّ","لِ-الشَّرِّ","لِ-شَرٍّ","لِلشَّرِّ"]·ben["-মন্দের-জন্য","অনিষ্টের-জন্য","অমঙ্গলের-জন্য","আমার-অমঙ্গল।","আমার-মন্দ","আমার-মন্দে","ক্ষতির-জন্য","বিপদের-জন্য","মন্দতায়","মন্দের-জন্য"]·DE["fuer-Boese","fuer-Boeses","mein-harm","zu-Boeses","zu-weidete","zum-Bösen"]·EN["for-evil","for-harm","my-harm"]·FR["mal","pour-mal","pour-mauvaise","à-mal"]·heb["ל-רע","ל-רעה","רעת-י","רעתי"]·HI["के-लिए-बुराई","के-लिए-बुराई।","को-बुराई","बुराई-के-लिए","बुराई-मेरी","मेरी-हानि","विपत्ति-के-लिए","विपत्ति-मेरी-में"]·ID["kecelakaanku","malapetaka","untuk-kecelakaan","untuk-kejahatan","untuk-malapetaka"]·IT["a-pascolo","male","per-male"]·jav["awon-kawula","kangge-awon","kangge-bilai","kangge-piawon","kanggé-awon","kanggé-piawon","karibetan-kula","piawon-kula","tumrap-piawon"]·KO["나-의-악-의","나-의-해-를","나-의-해를","내-재앙-을","내-해악-을","악을-위하여","에-대한-악을","에-악","에-재앙","에-재앙으로","에-재앙을-위하여","에게-재앙","에게-재앙으로","위하여-악하게"]·PT["meu-mal","o-mal","para-mal","para-o-mal"]·RU["для-зла","зла","зла-моего","зло-мне","злу","злу-моему","к-злу","ко-злу","на-зло"]·ES["de-mi-mal","mal","mi-mal","para-el-mal","para-mal"]·SW["kwa-baya","kwa-maafa","kwa-maangamizi","kwa-mabaya","kwa-ubaya","kwa-uovu","ubaya","ubaya-wangu"]·TR["-için-kötülük","felaketimde","için-kötülük","kötülük-için","kötülüğe","kötülüğü","kötülüğümü"]·urd["برائی-کے-لیے","بُرائی-کے-لئے","بُرائی-کے-لیے","میری-برائی","میری-بُرائی","میری-بُرائی-سے"]
4. evil deeds or evils — Plural concrete evil deeds or wicked acts — the countable, specific actions rather than the abstract quality. Deuteronomy 31:17 ('many evils and troubles shall come upon them') and Psalm 40:12 ('innumerable evils have surrounded me') exemplify this pluralized, enumerative usage. Spanish shifts to 'maldades' (wicked deeds) and 'males' (evils), and French uses 'maux' (plural ills), confirming the move from abstract quality to discrete sinful actions. 14×
AR["الشُّرُورُ","الـ-شُرورِ","شُرورٌ","شُرُورًا","شُرُورٌ","شُرُورَ","شُرُورِ","وَشُرورُ"]·ben["-মন্দগুলোর","অমঙ্গল","অমঙ্গলগুলি","এবং-মন্দগুলি-","মন্দ","মন্দগুলি","মন্দতাগুলি","সেই-অমঙ্গল"]·DE["Boeses","der-Streben","der-evils","evil-things","evils","und-Streben"]·EN["and-evils-of","evil-things","evils","evils-of","the-evil","the-evils"]·FR["et-mauvais","le-maux","mal","mauvais","maux"]·heb["ה-רעות","ו-רעות","רעות"]·HI["और-बुराइयाँ","ती-बुराईयों","बुराइयाँ","बुराई","बुराईयोंने"]·ID["-hal-hal-buruk","dan-kejahatan","kejahatan","kejahatan-kejahatan"]·IT["e-male","evils","il-evils","male"]·jav["Efraim","awon","piala","piawon","piawon-piawon","piawon-punika"]·KO["그-나쁜-것들-이","그-악한-것들을","그-악한-것들이","그리고-악들이","악-을","악들을","악한-것들-을","악한-것들을","악한-것들이","재앙들-이"]·PT["e-maldades-de","maldades","maldades-de","males","os-males"]·RU["бедствия","беды","зла","зло","злодеяния","и-злодеяния"]·ES["las-maldades","lo-malo","los-males","maldades-de","males","y-maldades-de"]·SW["mabaya","maovu","na-maovu-ya","uovu-wa"]·TR["kötülükler","kötülüklerini","ve-kötülükleri"]·urd["اور-برائیاں","برائیاں","برائیوں","بُرائیاں","بُرائیوں","مصیبتیں"]
Deut 31:17, Deut 31:17, Deut 31:21, Deut 32:23, Ps 40:12, Ps 140:2, Jer 2:13, Jer 44:9, Jer 44:9, Jer 44:9, Jer 44:9, Lam 3:38 (+2 more)
5. trouble or distress — Subjective trouble, affliction, or distress experienced by a person — emphasizing felt suffering rather than moral fault or external catastrophe. Numbers 11:15 ('let me not see my distress') and Nehemiah 1:3 ('the survivors are in great trouble') center on the experiential dimension. German 'Trübsal' (tribulation/affliction) appears in this cluster, distinct from 'Böses,' and Spanish 'malestar' (unease/distress) confirms the subjective-suffering reading. 13×
AR["الشَّرِّ","بَلِيَّتِي","بِ-السّوء","بِ-شَرٍّ","بِشُرُورٍ","شَرٍّ","ضُرَّهُ","فِي-شَرٍّ","مَصائِبُ","مِنْ-ضِيقِهِ"]·ben["-দুর্দশায়","আমার-দুর্দশা।","কষ্টে","তার-অনিষ্ট-থেকে","তার-ক্ষতি।","বিপদের","মন্দ","মন্দে","মন্দের"]·DE["Boeses","Trübsal","in-Boeses","in-der-Bedrängnis","mein-misery","sein-harm","sind-evils-von","von-troubles","weidete"]·EN["are-evils-of","calamity","evil","from-his-distress","his-harm","in-distress","in-evil","in-the-distress","my-misery","of-troubles","trouble"]·FR["dans-mal","mal","mauvais","mon-misery","son-harm"]·heb["ב-רע","ב-רעה","ב-רעות","ב-רעתי","מ-רעתו","רעה","רעות","רעתו"]·HI["-में-बुराई","अपनी-बुराई-को","उस-की-बुराई-से","उसकी-बुराई","कष्टों-से","बुराई-में","विपत्ति-का","विपत्ति-के","विपत्तियाँ","संकट-के","संकट-में"]·ID["dalam-kesusahan","dalam-malapetaka","dari-kesusahannya;","dengan-kemalangan","kejahatannya","kesengsaraanku","malapetaka"]·IT["male","mio-misery","pascolo","suo-harm"]·jav["awonipun","ing-kasangsaran","ing-piawon","karempugan","kasangsaran","piawon","piawon.","saking-bilainipun","wonten-ing-awon-kula","wonten-ing-kasusahan"]·KO["그의-고통-에서","나의-불행-에서","악의","에-재앙","에-재앙-에서","재난이","재앙-의","재앙의","재앱들-로","해악-그의","환난-에서","환난-의"]·PT["angústia","de-angústia","de-mal-dele","de-males","em-mal","mal","mal,","mal.","no-mal-meu","seu-mal","são-as-aflições-do"]·RU["бедами","бедствия","беду-мою","беды","в-беде","в-зле","зла","зла-его","злой","от-зла-его"]·ES["calamidad","de-males","de-su-malestar","desgracias-de","en-aflicción","en-mal","en-mi-mal:","mal","por-el-mal","su-mal"]·SW["katika-msiba","katika-taabu","kutoka-msiba-wake","kwa-matatizo","kwa-msiba","mabaya-yangu","matatizo-ya","msiba","ubaya-wake","ya-ubaya"]·TR["-de-kötülüğümde","bela","belalar","felaketin","felakette","kötülükle","kötülüğün","kötülüğünü","sıkıntıda","sıkıntılarla","sıkıntısından-onun"]·urd["اس-کا-نقصان","اُس-کی-تکلیف-سے","اپنی-بدحالی","بُرائی-سے","بُرائی-کا","بُرائی-کے","بُرے","بِ-مصیبتوں","مصیبتیں","میں-برائی","میں-مصیبت"]
Related Senses
H2896a 1. good (quality or moral) (305×)H7563 1. wicked person (259×)H5771 1. iniquity, sin, wrongdoing (222×)H6662 1. righteous person (substantive) (195×)G0266 1. sin, failure, transgression (173×)H2403b 1. sin, transgression (170×)H2617a 1. Covenant faithfulness, steadfast love (167×)H2398 1. Qal: to sin, commit sin (165×)H6666 1. righteousness, moral uprightness (145×)G5485 1. grace, divine favor (141×)H7451a 1. morally evil, wicked (129×)H2403b 2. sin-offering, sacrifice for sin (120×)H6664 1. righteousness, justice (116×)G2570 1. good, right, excellent (98×)G1343 1. (92×)H6588 1. transgression, offense against God (88×)G0018 1. good (moral quality) (85×)H2896b 1. good, what is good (85×)H7451b 1. evil, wickedness (moral) (83×)H7451a 2. evil, harm, calamity (80×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
רָעָה310 n.f. evil, misery, distress, injury;—abs. ר׳ Gn 26:29 +; cstr. רָעַת 6:5 +; sf. רָֽעָתִי ψ 35:4 +; רָעָֽתְךָ 1 K 2:44 +; רָֽעָתֵכִי Je 11:15 (text dub.); רָֽעַתְכֶם 1 S 12:17, etc.; pl. רָעוֹת Dt 31:17 +; רָעֹת Je 44:9 Ex 23:2; sf. רָעוֹתֵיכֶם 1 S 10:19 +, etc.;— 1. evil, misery, distress: פַּחַד רָעָה Pr 1:33, באה (ה)רעה Ez 7:5(×2); c. עַל Is 47:11 (read באה for בא), Je 5:12 + 5 times;…