Hebrew · H7489, G4190 · unreviewed

מֵרַע

Properly, to spoil (literally, by breaking to pieces); figuratively, to make (or be ) good for nothing , i.e. bad (physically, socially or morally) · evil/bad

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Words in this compound — expand to study each participant

רָעַע H7489 properly, to spoil (literally, by breaking to pieces); figuratively, to make (or be ) good for nothing , i.e. bad (physically, socially or morally)

Pronunciation rāʿaʿ

To damage or spoil through breaking; harm escalates from physical destruction to moral/social corruption.

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πονηρός G4190 evil/bad

Pronunciation ponērós

Moral or physical badness; notably used for Satan as "the evil one" in spiritual warfare contexts.

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What does מֵרַע (mera) mean in the Bible?

רָעַע · πονηρός is a Hebrew word meaning "one who practices evil".

Full entry for מֵרַע (H7489, G4190) · Browse the biblical lexicon

Meaning

one who practices evil

Grammatical Forms

How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.

Hiphil causative active — the subject causes someone else to perform the action 48×

Perfect 2Kgs 21:11 · Exod 5:23 · Ps 74:3 · Ruth 1:21 · 1Chr 21:17 · Mic 4:6 · Num 16:15 · 1Kgs 17:20 · Exod 5:22 · Num 11:11 · Gen 43:6 · Gen 44:5 · Jer 16:12 · Jer 7:26 · Jer 38:9 · Mic 3:4 16×

Participle active Isa 1:4 · Isa 14:20 · Isa 31:2 · Jer 20:13 · Jer 23:14 · Job 8:20 · Prov 17:4 · Ps 22:17 · Ps 26:5 · Ps 27:2 · Ps 37:9 · Ps 64:3 · Ps 92:12 · Ps 94:16 · Ps 119:115 15×

Imperfect Isa 11:9 · Isa 65:25 · Jer 10:5 · Prov 4:16 · 1Sam 12:25 · Gen 19:7 · 1Sam 26:21 · Jer 25:6 · Gen 19:9 · Ps 44:3 · Zeph 1:12 11×

Jussive 1Chr 16:22 · Judg 19:23 · Ps 105:15 3×

Infinitive absolute 1Sam 12:25 · Isa 1:16 2×

Infinitive construct Jer 13:23 1×

Qal basic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense 11×

Imperfect Deut 15:10 · Job 34:24 · Deut 28:54 · Deut 28:56 · Neh 2:3 5×

Jussive 2Sam 11:25 · Gen 21:12 2×

Perfect Jer 40:4 · Num 22:34 2×

Sequential imperfect Isa 8:9 1×

Infinitive absolute Isa 24:19 1×

Niphal passive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action 2×

Imperfect Prov 11:15 · Prov 13:20 2×

Hithpolel 1×

Perfect Isa 24:19 1×

Hebrew Verb Forms

How this verb appears across 62 occurrences in the Hebrew OT (OSHB Leningrad Codex).

Aspect / Form

Imperfect 23 Perfect 18 Participle 15 Infinitive absolute 3 Imperative 1 Perfective 1 Infinitive construct 1

Stem

Hiphil 48 Qal 11 Niphal 2 Hithpolel 1

Mood

Indicative 18 Indicative/jussive 15 Jussive 5 Indicative/cohortative 3 Imperative 1

OT Occurrences

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 19 — The Word of the Lord Grows Mightily in Ephesus John 17 — The Son’s High Priestly Prayer: Glory, Preservation, Sanctification, Unity, Mission, and Love Luke 11 — Prayer, Kingdom Conflict, True Hearing, and the Exposure of Hypocrisy Luke 8 — The Word Heard, the Kingdom Revealed, and the Lord’s Authority Displayed Mark 7 — True Defilement and Boundary-Crossing Mercy Matthew 12 — The Lord of the Sabbath, the Servant of the Lord, and the Crisis of Unbelief Matthew 13 — The Kingdom in Parables: Hearing, Hiddenness, Growth, Worth, and Judgment Matthew 15 — Tradition, the Heart, Gentile Faith, and the Compassionate Bread of the Messiah Matthew 16 — The Confession of the Christ, the Church Christ Builds, and the Cross-Shaped Way of Discipleship Matthew 18 — Kingdom Humility, Care for the Little Ones, Discipline, and Forgiveness in Christ’s Community Matthew 20 — The First-Last Kingdom, the Ransom-Giving Son of Man, and Mercy for the Blind Matthew 22 — The Wedding Banquet, the King’s Invitation, and the Messiah Who Is David’s Lord Matthew 25 — Readiness, Stewardship, and the Final Judgment of the Son of Man Matthew 5 — Kingdom Blessedness, Fulfilled Law, and Heart-Level Righteousness Matthew 6 — Hidden Righteousness, the Father’s Reward, and Seeking First the Kingdom Matthew 7 — Kingdom Discernment, the Narrow Way, and the Wise Builder Matthew 9 — Authority to Forgive, Mercy for Sinners, and Compassion for the Harvest Romans 12 — Living Sacrifices, Renewed Minds, Humble Service, and Love Without Hypocrisy

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

Sources

MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain

Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0

Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0

STEPBible Data — CC BY 4.0

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