רָשַׁע
to be (causatively, do or declare) wrong; by implication, to disturb, violate
Definition
The Hebrew verb רָשַׁע (râshaʻ) fundamentally means to act wickedly, be guilty, or declare someone guilty. It describes both the state of being morally wrong and the active commission of injustice. In its judicial sense, it means to condemn or pronounce guilty, as seen in legal contexts like Deuteronomy 25:1 where judges must justify the righteous and condemn the wicked. In a more active, causative sense, it means to act wickedly, disturb, or violate, such as when people 'deal wickedly' against God (1 Kings 8:47) or when kings 'make trouble' through unrighteous alliances (2 Chronicles 20:35).
Biblical Usage
This verb appears 34 times across various genres, including legal texts (Exodus 22:9), historical narratives (1 Samuel 14:47; 2 Samuel 22:22), and prayers in wisdom and prophetic contexts (1 Kings 8:32; 2 Chronicles 6:37). It is often used in judicial settings to describe declaring someone guilty, but also broadly for committing wicked acts, especially in contexts of covenant unfaithfulness. A pattern emerges where it contrasts with being righteous (צָדַק, tsadaq), highlighting a binary of guilt versus innocence.
Etymology
Derived from a primitive root, רָשַׁע is the verbal form related to the common adjective רָשָׁע (rashaʻ, H7563), meaning 'wicked' or 'guilty.' The root conveys a sense of disturbance, noise, or wrongdoing. Cognates in other Semitic languages, like Ugaritic and Arabic, support meanings related to being wrong, criminal, or in a state of guilt, indicating the core idea is a departure from right order or justice.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it defines the human condition of sin and guilt before God. It is central to the biblical theme of justice, where God as the righteous judge condemns wickedness (Psalm 7:11) yet offers forgiveness to those who confess their wicked deeds (1 Kings 8:47). Understanding רָשַׁע enriches reading by clarifying that biblical 'wickedness' is not just abstract evil but a legal and relational state of being in the wrong, which necessitates divine justice or mercy.
In ancient Israelite culture, this term had strong legal and communal implications. To be declared 'wicked' (רָשַׁע) in a court setting (Deuteronomy 25:1) meant social and religious ostracism, as justice was deeply tied to covenant community life. The concept differed from modern individualistic notions of wrong by emphasizing how wicked acts disturbed the social and divine order, requiring formal judgment or restoration.
חָטָא (chata', H2398) — to miss a target or sin, focusing on the failure aspect rather than the state of guilt. פָּשַׁע (pashaʻ, H6586) — to rebel or transgress, emphasizing willful rebellion against authority. עָוָה (ʻavah, H5753) — to bend or twist, denoting perversion of what is right. רָעַע (raʻaʻ, H7489) — to be bad or evil, a broader term for causing harm or calamity.
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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