Hebrew · H7489, H3190 · unreviewed

לְהָרַע אוֹ לְהֵיטִיב

Properly, to spoil (literally, by breaking to pieces); figuratively, to make (or be ) good for nothing , i.e. bad (physically, socially or morally) · to be (causative) make well , literally (sound, beautiful) or figuratively (happy, successful, right)

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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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יָטַב H3190 to be (causative) make well , literally (sound, beautiful) or figuratively (happy, successful, right)
Pronunciation yāṭab
Moves from physical wholeness to moral/relational goodness; denotes both state and deliberate action toward flourishing.
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What does לְהָרַע אוֹ לְהֵיטִיב (lĕhāraʿ ʾô lĕhêṭîḇ) mean in the Bible?

רָעַע · יָטַב is a Hebrew word meaning "properly, to spoil (literally, by breaking to pieces); figuratively, to make (or be ) good for nothing , i.e. bad (physically, socially or morally)". properly, to spoil (literally, by breaking to pieces); figuratively, to make (or be ) good for nothing , i.

Full entry for לְהָרַע אוֹ לְהֵיטִיב (H7489, H3190) · Browse the biblical lexicon

Meaning

properly, to spoil (literally, by breaking to pieces); figuratively, to make (or be ) good for nothing , i.e. bad (physically, socially or morally)
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
Infinitive absolute 1Sam 12:25 · Isa 1:16
Infinitive construct Jer 13:23
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
Jussive 2Sam 11:25 · Gen 21:12
Perfect Jer 40:4 · Num 22:34
Sequential imperfect Isa 8:9
Infinitive absolute Isa 24:19
Niphal passive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action
Imperfect Prov 11:15 · Prov 13:20
Hithpolel
Perfect Isa 24:19
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
Gen 19:7 Hiphil · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive Gen 19:9 Hiphil · Imperfect · Indicative/cohortative Gen 21:12 Qal · Imperfect · Jussive Gen 43:6 Hiphil · Perfect · Indicative Gen 44:5 Hiphil · Perfect · Indicative Exod 5:22 Hiphil · Perfect · Indicative Exod 5:23 Hiphil · Perfect · Indicative Num 11:11 Hiphil · Perfect · Indicative Num 16:15 Hiphil · Perfect · Indicative Num 22:34 Qal · Perfect · Indicative Deut 15:10 Qal · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive Deut 28:54 Qal · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive Deut 28:56 Qal · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive Judg 19:23 Hiphil · Imperfect · Jussive Ruth 1:21 Hiphil · Perfect · Indicative 1 Sam 12:25 Hiphil · Infinitive absolute 1 Sam 12:25 Hiphil · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive 1 Sam 26:21 Hiphil · Imperfect · Indicative/cohortative 2 Sam 11:25 Qal · Imperfect · Jussive 1 Kgs 17:20 Hiphil · Perfect · Indicative 2 Kgs 21:11 Hiphil · Perfect · Indicative 1 Chr 16:22 Hiphil · Imperfect · Jussive 1 Chr 21:17 Hiphil · Perfect · Indicative Neh 2:3 Qal · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive Job 8:20 Hiphil · Participle Job 34:24 Qal · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive Ps 22:17 Hiphil · Participle Ps 26:5 Hiphil · Participle Ps 27:2 Hiphil · Participle Ps 37:9 Hiphil · Participle Ps 44:3 Hiphil · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive Ps 64:3 Hiphil · Participle Ps 74:3 Hiphil · Perfect · Indicative Ps 92:12 Hiphil · Participle Ps 94:16 Hiphil · Participle Ps 105:15 Hiphil · Imperfect · Jussive Ps 119:115 Hiphil · Participle Prov 4:16 Hiphil · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive Prov 11:15 Niphal · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive Prov 13:20 Niphal · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive +22 more 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)

Sources