בִּאוּשׁ
𐤁𐤀𐤅𐤔
biʼûwsh
H873 adjective
SILEX Entry
Definition
An adjective denoting that which is evil, bad, or wicked in moral or practical character. Refers to what is objectionable, harmful, of poor quality, or carrying negative connotations. Though attested as an Aramaic form, the semantic range can include moral evil, wrong action, or simply undesirable conditions.
Semantic Range
bad, faulty, wicked, morally wrong, defective, harmful, evil
Root / Etymology
The term derives from the root בְּאֵשׁ (bᵉ’ēsh), which in Aramaic means 'bad' or 'evil.' The root itself is not attested in Biblical Hebrew and appears solely in Aramaic usage within the Hebrew Bible. The word בִּאוּשׁ is a derivative form functioning as an adjective describing something or someone as bad or faulty. Root meaning: to be bad, morally or functionally.
Historical & Contextual Notes
בִּאוּשׁ occurs in the Aramaic portions of the Hebrew Bible, particularly in books such as Ezra and Daniel. It denotes moral wrongness or wickedness in legal and narrative contexts. It is distinct from the more commonly used Hebrew roots for 'evil' or 'bad,' such as רַע (raʿ) and רֶשַׁע (reshaʿ), which are native Hebrew terms for evil or wickedness. The Aramaic בִּאוּשׁ did not carry theological overtones distinct from its practical sense of 'bad' or 'wicked.' In later Jewish Aramaic and rabbinic literature, cognate forms continued to convey these basic negative qualities. English translations as 'wicked' or 'bad' generally reflect the term's meaning, but may miss its broader applicative sense of negative quality or defectiveness, not limited to overt moral evil.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
(Aramaic) from בְּאֵשׁ; wicked; bad.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
באשׁ (b-ʾ-š) — to be bad, to spoil, to go wrong, to be evil
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H873-02 |
ו/באישת/א | vvysht | AC/Aafsd/Td |
and evil | the bad | 1 |
H873-01 |
וּ/בִֽישְׁתָּ/א֙ | uvisheta | AC/Aafsd/Td |
and wicked | the bad one | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences