← H5764 H5766 →

עֲוַל

𐤏𐤅𐤋

ʻăval

H5765 verb

SILEX Entry

Root עול to act unjustly, to deal wrongly, to distort

Definition

To act unjustly, commit injustice, or behave in a manner violating equity or right; to act wrongly, especially with reference to social or legal norms. The verb can refer to active actions of injustice, corruption, or perversion of what is right, and more broadly any behavior characterized by moral distortion or wrongdoing.

Semantic Range

to act unjustly, commit injustice, violate right, pervert justice, behave corruptly, deal unrighteously

Root / Etymology

The root is עול (ע-ו-ל), which conveys the sense of injustice or perversion of right. עֲוַל is a verbal form from this root and directly expresses action contrary to justice or righteousness. The root meaning 'to act unjustly, oppress' yields the lexical meaning 'to do wrong, act unjustly.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

עֲוַל occurs rarely in Biblical Hebrew, found mainly in poetic or wisdom literature (e.g., Job 6:29, 34:12). Its usage typically connotes more than casual wrongdoing, emphasizing a qualitative distortion or corruption of justice, often in a legal or communal sense. In the Ancient Near Eastern legal context, such terms were critical for delineating behavior that violated communal standards or divine law. This verb is less frequent than related verbal forms such as עָוַל (to do wrong) or nouns such as עָוֶל (injustice), but is part of a broader word group describing moral or legal wrongdoing. English translations often flatten the nuance by rendering as "deal unjustly" or "do wrong." The term carried special weight in legal and wisdom contexts, underlining the seriousness of corrupt or perverse action in the eyes of the Israelite community. Over time, cognate words in post-biblical Hebrew retained the sense of injustice and perversion of norms.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to distort (morally); deal unjustly, unrighteous.

Bantu Hebrew

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

+ Add Bantu Hebrew Word

Root Family

עול (ʿ-w-l) — injustice, wrong, distortion of right

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H5759 עֲוִיל their nursing infants
H5760 עֲוִיל unjust man
H5763 עוּל to suckle
H5764 עוּל nursing infant of
H5766 עֶוֶל injustice

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H5765-02 יְעַוֵּ֑ל yeavel HVpi3ms he deals unjustly he perpetrates injustice 1
H5765-01 מְעַוֵּ֣ל meavel HVprmsa unrighteous from injustice 1

Occurrences in Scripture

2 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H5765-02 Isaiah 26:10 יְעַוֵּ֑ל yeavel HVpi3ms he deals unjustly he perpetrates injustice
H5765-01 Psalms 71:4 מְעַוֵּ֣ל meavel HVprmsa unrighteous from injustice
← H5764 Hebrew Lexicon H5766 →