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רִשְׁעָה

𐤓𐤔𐤏𐤄

rishʻâh

H7564 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

Evil, especially in the sense of moral wickedness, iniquity, or wrongdoing; typically refers to acts or the condition of being unrighteous, with emphasis on breaches of ethical or divine norms. In some contexts, it denotes the state or quality of being wicked (wickedness), rather than particular acts.

Semantic Range

wickedness, moral evil, iniquity, wrongdoing, state of guilt, depravity, injustice

Root / Etymology

From the root רשע (resha‘), which conveys the sense of acting wickedly, being criminal or guilty, or transgressing ethical standards. רִשְׁעָה is the feminine noun form, abstracting the quality or state from the verb. Thus, רִשְׁעָה denotes 'wickedness' or 'evil' as an abstract concept, derived from 'to be wicked' or 'to do evil.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

רִשְׁעָה appears mostly in poetic and prophetic literature, where it characterizes the general condition or actions of those opposed to divine or ethical expectations. Its usage is predominantly abstract, in contrast to רֶשַׁע (resha‘), which may refer more concretely to a single act of wickedness or the wicked person. English translations commonly render רִשְׁעָה as 'wickedness' or 'evil,' but this can flatten the moral and sometimes legal nuance in ancient Israelite context, where the term implies a violation of covenantal or ethical standards rather than generic moral failing. The term is occasionally found in post-exilic and later texts, where it maintains its ethical focus and stands in opposition to righteousness (צְדָקָה or צֶדֶק). It should not be confused with other terms for sin (such as חֵטְא, 'transgression,' or עָוֹן, 'iniquity'), which can carry different theological or legal implications. There is no reference to the later religious or ethnic sense of 'Jew' in this term's biblical usage; רִשְׁעָה addresses general moral state or conduct.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

feminine of רֶשַׁע; wrong (especially moral); fault, wickedly(-ness).

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.

Root Family

רשע (Biresha) — to be wicked, to act unjustly, to do wrong

Root רשע to be wicked, act criminally, do evil
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1306 בִּרְשַׁע In-Wickedness
H3573 כּוּשַׁן רִשְׁעָתַיִם Kushan of double-wickedness
H4849 מִרְשַׁעַת the wicked woman
H7561 רָשַׁע I will act wickedly

Word Forms

10 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H7564-05 רִשְׁעָ֔ה risheah HNcfsa wickedness wickedness wickedness 4
H7564-04 מֵֽ/רִשְׁעָת/וֹ֙ merisheato HR/Ncfsc/Sp3ms from-his-wickedness from his wickedness from his wickedness 2
H7564-10 וְ/רִשְׁעַ֥ת verisheat HC/Ncfsc and wickedness wickedness of and wickedness of 2
H7564-01 בְּ/רִשְׁעַ֣ת berisheat HR/Ncfsc the wickedness in wickedness-of in the wickedness of 1
H7564-02 הָ/רִשְׁעָ֔ה harisheah HTd/Ncfsa wickedness wickedness wickedness 1
H7564-03 לְ/רִשְׁעָה֙ lerisheah HR/Ncfsa to wickedness to wickedness to wickedness 1
H7564-06 רִשְׁעָת֖/וֹ risheato HNcfsc/Sp3ms his guilt his wickedness his wickedness 1
H7564-07 וּ/בְ/רִשְׁעַת֙ uverisheat HC/R/Ncfsc but because of the wickedness of and in the wickedness of and because of the wickedness of 1
H7564-08 וּ֝/בְ/רִשְׁעָת֗/וֹ uverisheato HC/R/Ncfsc/Sp3ms but by his wickedness and in his wickedness but in his wickedness 1
H7564-09 וְ֝/רִשְׁעָ֗ה verisheah HC/Ncfsa but wickedness wickedness but wickedness 1

Occurrences in Scripture

15 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H7564-07 Deuteronomy 9:4 וּ/בְ/רִשְׁעַת֙ uverisheat HC/R/Ncfsc but because of the wickedness of and in the wickedness of and because of the wickedness of
H7564-01 Deuteronomy 9:5 בְּ/רִשְׁעַ֣ת berisheat HR/Ncfsc the wickedness in wickedness-of in the wickedness of
H7564-06 Deuteronomy 25:2 רִשְׁעָת֖/וֹ risheato HNcfsc/Sp3ms his guilt his wickedness his wickedness
H7564-05 Isaiah 9:17 רִשְׁעָ֔ה risheah HNcfsa wickedness wickedness wickedness
H7564-03 Ezekiel 5:6 לְ/רִשְׁעָה֙ lerisheah HR/Ncfsa to wickedness to wickedness to wickedness
H7564-10 Ezekiel 18:20 וְ/רִשְׁעַ֥ת verisheat HC/Ncfsc and wickedness wickedness of and wickedness of
H7564-04 Ezekiel 18:27 מֵֽ/רִשְׁעָת/וֹ֙ merisheato HR/Ncfsc/Sp3ms from-his-wickedness from his wickedness from his wickedness
H7564-10 Ezekiel 33:12 וְ/רִשְׁעַ֤ת verisheat HC/Ncfsc And wickedness wickedness of wickedness of
H7564-04 Ezekiel 33:19 מֵֽ/רִשְׁעָת֔/וֹ merisheato HR/Ncfsc/Sp3ms from-his-wickedness from his wickedness from his wickedness
H7564-02 Zechariah 5:8 הָ/רִשְׁעָ֔ה harisheah HTd/Ncfsa wickedness wickedness wickedness
H7564-05 Malachi 1:4 רִשְׁעָ֔ה risheah HNcfsa of-wickedness wickedness wickedness
H7564-05 Malachi 3:15 רִשְׁעָ֔ה risheah HNcfsa wickedness wickedness wickedness
H7564-05 Malachi 3:19 רִשְׁעָה֙ risheah HNcfsa wickedness wickedness wickedness
H7564-08 Proverbs 11:5 וּ֝/בְ/רִשְׁעָת֗/וֹ uverisheato HC/R/Ncfsc/Sp3ms but by his wickedness and in his wickedness but in his wickedness
H7564-09 Proverbs 13:6 וְ֝/רִשְׁעָ֗ה verisheah HC/Ncfsa but wickedness wickedness but wickedness
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