עֶוֶל
(moral) evil
Definition
The Hebrew noun עֶוֶל (ʻevel) fundamentally denotes moral evil, specifically a perversion of justice and right order. It refers to actions that are crooked, unjust, or oppressive, violating God's standard of righteousness. In legal contexts, it describes dishonest scales and measures (Leviticus 19:35, Deuteronomy 25:16), while in a broader moral sense, it characterizes the inherent perverseness or iniquity of people or nations (Deuteronomy 32:4, 2 Samuel 3:34). The word often implies a tangible, harmful outcome resulting from twisted ethical behavior.
Biblical Usage
עֶוֶל is used 51 times, primarily in poetic and prophetic literature (Psalms, Proverbs, Isaiah) and the Torah's legal sections. It frequently appears in contexts condemning social injustice, judicial corruption, and personal deceit. A key pattern is its use in contrast to God's perfect justice, as in Deuteronomy 32:4, which declares God is 'a God of faithfulness and without עֶוֶל.' It describes both specific unjust acts (Leviticus 19:15) and the general condition of moral distortion (Psalm 92:15).
Etymology
Derived from the root עָוַל (ʻāval, H5765), meaning to act unjustly, be perverse, or deviate from a straight course. The noun form עֶוֶל carries the concrete sense of a 'crooked' or 'twisted' thing. Related nouns include עַוְלָה (ʻavlâ) and עָווֹן (ʻāvôn, iniquity), all sharing the core concept of moral distortion from a right standard.
Semantic Range
This word is central to the biblical understanding of sin as a perversion of God's good order. It highlights that evil is not merely an abstract force but manifests in concrete injustices that disrupt relationships and society. Understanding עֶוֶל enriches the reading of texts about God's character (He is without it) and human sin, emphasizing that God's justice is the straight line against which human 'crookedness' is measured. It underlines the need for divine intervention to rectify injustice.
In ancient Israel's covenant society, עֶוֶל was understood as a direct violation of the Torah's standards for communal fairness, especially in economics and law. Dishonest scales (Leviticus 19:36) were not just bad business but a religious offense, breaking covenant with a God of justice. This cultural lens shows that morality, economics, and worship were deeply intertwined.
רָעָה (raʿâ, H7451) — A broader term for evil, calamity, or harm, not always with the specific connotation of judicial perversion. עָווֹן (ʻāvôn, H5771) — Often translated 'iniquity,' emphasizing guilt or the consequence of crooked behavior. שֶׁקֶר (sheqer, H8267) — Deceit or falsehood, focusing on the aspect of lying rather than the broader injustice of עֶוֶל.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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