Hebrew · H1870, H7451, G3598, G2556 · unreviewed

בְּדֶרֶךְ רָע

A road (as trodden ); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb · bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral) · road · evil/harm: evil

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Words in this compound — expand to study each participant

דֶּרֶךְ H1870 a road (as trodden ); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb
Pronunciation derek
Path literally walked becomes metaphor for life's moral and spiritual trajectory; covenant-defining directional term
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רַע H7451 bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral)
Pronunciation ra
Encompasses both moral wickedness and physical affliction; God's judgment often conflates ethical and natural evil.
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ὁδός G3598 road
Pronunciation hodós
Metaphorically denotes a course of conduct or way of life, especially God's approved pathway or the Christian faith itself.
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κακός G2556 evil/harm: evil
Pronunciation kakós
Moral badness or harmfulness; encompasses both wickedness in persons and destructive consequences of actions.
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What does בְּדֶרֶךְ רָע (bederekh ra) mean in the Bible?

דֶּרֶךְ · רַע · ὁδός · κακός is a Hebrew word meaning "a path characterized by moral corruption or wicked conduct".

Full entry for בְּדֶרֶךְ רָע (H1870, H7451, G3598, G2556) · Browse the biblical lexicon

Meaning

a path characterized by moral corruption or wicked conduct
Grammatical Forms

How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.

Hebrew Verb Forms

How this verb appears across 1 occurrences in the Hebrew OT (OSHB Leningrad Codex).

Aspect / Form
Perfect 1
Stem
Qal 1
Mood
Indicative 1

Aspect in Hebrew reflects grammatical form, not tense. "Perfect" (Perfective) typically denotes completed action; "Imperfect" (Imperfective) denotes incomplete or ongoing action. Stem modifies the action type (Qal=simple, Niphal=passive, Piel=intensive, etc.).

Morphology: OSHB WLC (Open Scriptures, CC BY 4.0) · STEPBible TEHMC (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0)

Word Pictures (Robertson)

A.T. Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) discusses this term in the following chapters. Open any chapter and go to the Word Pictures tab to read his verse-by-verse commentary.

Acts 13 — The Spirit Sends the Mission and the Word Turns to the Gentiles Acts 16 — The Gospel Enters Macedonia: Opened Hearts, Broken Chains, and Household Faith Acts 19 — The Word of the Lord Grows Mightily in Ephesus Acts 22 — Paul’s Defense: Christ Appears, Sends, and Preserves His Witness Acts 24 — Paul Before Felix: Resurrection Hope, Clear Conscience, and Coming Judgment Acts 28 — Paul in Rome: The Kingdom Proclaimed Without Hindrance Acts 9 — The Risen Christ Converts His Fiercest Persecutor Colossians 3 — Raised with Christ: Putting Off the Old Life and Putting On the New John 14 — The Way, the Truth, and the Life, the Father Revealed in the Son, and the Promise of the Spirit John 18 — The Arrested King: Betrayal, Sovereign Surrender, Denial, Trial, and the Kingdom Not of This World Luke 3 — The Way Prepared, the Son Revealed, and the Lineage Traced Mark 10 — The Way of the Servant King: Marriage, Children, Wealth, Cross, Ransom, and Sight Mark 12 — The Rejected Son, the Greatest Commandment, the Lord of David, and the Widow’s Offering Mark 7 — True Defilement and Boundary-Crossing Mercy Matthew 10 — The Mission of the Twelve, Costly Witness, and Allegiance to Christ Matthew 11 — The Messiah Question, the Rejected Generation, and Rest for the Weary Matthew 13 — The Kingdom in Parables: Hearing, Hiddenness, Growth, Worth, and Judgment Matthew 20 — The First-Last Kingdom, the Ransom-Giving Son of Man, and Mercy for the Blind Matthew 21 — The King Enters Jerusalem, Judges Fruitless Religion, and Exposes Rejected-Son Leadership Matthew 22 — The Wedding Banquet, the King’s Invitation, and the Messiah Who Is David’s Lord Matthew 24 — The Olivet Discourse: Temple Desolation, Coming Judgment, the Son of Man, and Watchful Readiness Matthew 3 — The Forerunner, the Kingdom, and the Beloved Son Philippians 3 — Counting All Things Loss and Pressing On Toward Christ Romans 13 — Submission to Governing Authorities, Love as the Fulfillment of the Law, and Life in the Light of the Coming Day Romans 16 — Gospel Partnership, Holy Greeting, False-Teacher Warning, and Doxology to the God Who Establishes

A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) — public domain

Sources