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עַוָּל

𐤏𐤅𐤋

ʻavvâl

H5767 noun

SILEX Entry

Root עול to act perversely, commit injustice, deal corruptly

Definition

Unjust, one who acts contrary to what is right or lawful; a person who commits injustice or wrongdoing. The term designates individuals whose actions are characterized by moral or social perversion, especially violations of justice or integrity. In legal and ethical discourse of the Hebrew Bible, it often denotes someone perpetrating injustice, particularly in judicial or social contexts. The nuance extends from individual acts (wrongdoing, injustice) to the character of being unjust or morally deviant.

Semantic Range

unjust person, wrongdoer, perpetrator of injustice, one who acts corruptly, morally perverse individual, unrighteous person, wicked person (with specific focus on injustice)

Root / Etymology

From the root עול (ʻ-w-l), meaning to act perversely, commit injustice, or deviate from what is right. The form עַוָּל (ʻavvâl) is an intensive or substantive form, designating an individual who performs such acts or possesses this quality persistently. Unlike the simple verb, the noun focuses on the agent or characteristic rather than the action alone.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In biblical contexts, עַוָּל is distinct from similar terms such as רָשָׁע (rasha‘, 'wicked'—often with emphasis on general moral evil) or חָטָא (chata', 'sinner,' with focus on missing the mark or violation of divine command). עַוָּל centers specifically on acts of injustice, which includes dishonest dealings, legal corruption, or the perversion of justice. Found in legal, prophetic, and wisdom literature, its use spans from warnings against unjust judges (e.g., Psalm 82:2) to denunciations of social oppression (Proverbs 29:27). English translations like "wicked" or "unjust" may blur this nuance, sometimes rendering the term too broadly as a synonym for evil, whereas the Hebrew connotation emphasizes social and ethical injustice. The concept is primarily judicial and moral rather than ritual. The term continues to be used post-exile with much the same ethical connotation, reflecting continuity in Israelite moral vocabulary.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

intensive from עֲוַל; evil (morally); unjust, unrighteous, wicked.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

עול (ʿ-w-l) — act perversely, commit injustice, deal corruptly

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H5759 עֲוִיל their nursing infants
H5760 עֲוִיל unjust man
H5763 עוּל to suckle
H5764 עוּל nursing infant of
H5765 עֲוַל from injustice

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H5767-01 עַוָּ֖ל aval HNcmsa of the wicked indeed, however 3
H5767-02 כְ/עַוָּֽל kheaval HR/Ncmsa as the unjust unjust one 1
H5767-03 לְ/עַוָּ֑ל leaval HR/Ncmsa for the wicked to an unjust one 1

Occurrences in Scripture

5 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H5767-01 Zephaniah 3:5 עַוָּ֖ל aval HNcmsa the unjust indeed, however
H5767-01 Job 18:21 עַוָּ֑ל aval HNcmsa of the wicked indeed, however
H5767-02 Job 27:7 כְ/עַוָּֽל kheaval HR/Ncmsa as the unjust unjust one
H5767-01 Job 29:17 עַוָּ֑ל aval HNcmsa of the wicked indeed, however
H5767-03 Job 31:3 לְ/עַוָּ֑ל leaval HR/Ncmsa for the wicked to an unjust one
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