What does רֶשַׁע (resha) mean in the Bible?
Resha names wrongdoing or wickedness, with its concrete form supplied by the passage. Isaiah 58 exposes fasting joined to violence and calls for releasing the oppressed from wicked bonds.
Hebrew · H7562
רֶשַׁע
Resha names wrongdoing or wickedness, with its concrete form supplied by the passage. Isaiah 58 exposes fasting joined to violence and calls for releasing the oppressed from wicked bonds.
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רֶשַׁעH7562
Pronunciationresha
What does רֶשַׁע (resha) mean in the Bible?
Reader summary
Full entry for רֶשַׁע (H7562) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H7562?
The BSB source-word alignment has 30 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include of wickedness (5), Wickedness (5), from his wickedness (2), of the wicked (2), wicked (2).
Where does רֶשַׁע (resha) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Deuteronomy 9:27. Its strongest book concentrations include Psalms (6), Proverbs (5), Ecclesiastes (4), Ezekiel (4).
What This Word Actually Means
Resha names wrongdoing or wickedness, with its concrete form supplied by the passage. Isaiah 58 exposes fasting joined to violence and calls for releasing the oppressed from wicked bonds. Ecclesiastes observes wrong in the very places appointed for judgment and righteousness. Micah identifies treasures gained through dishonest measures, and David cites a proverb about wickedness while refusing to attack Saul.
Psalm 45 contrasts love of righteousness with hatred of wickedness within its royal song. Ezekiel 33 warns against relying on earlier righteousness while also recognizing turning away from former wickedness. The noun therefore directs readers toward actions, practices and responsibility rather than a permanent label that makes repentance impossible. Religious observance, legal office, wealth or royal status cannot make wrong acceptable.
Teaching can name exploitation accurately, invite concrete turning and repair, and retain the distinction between refusing personal revenge and allowing those who hold power to escape scrutiny.
How the Bible Uses It
Selected wrongdoing witnesses expose oppressive bonds, corruption in judgment, David's refusal of retaliation, the royal righteousness contrast, dishonest measures and a genuine turning from wickedness.
- Isa.58.6
Isn’t this the fast that I have chosen: to break the chains of wickedness, to untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and tear off every yoke?
The chosen fast breaks wicked bonds and frees the oppressed, following the indictment of strife and violent fasting.
- Eccl.3.16
Furthermore, I saw under the sun that in the place of judgment there is wickedness, and in the place of righteousness there is wickedness.
The observer finds wickedness in the place of judgment and righteousness, then speaks of God's judgment and human mortality.
- 1Sam.24.13
As the old proverb says, ‘Wickedness proceeds from the wicked.’ But my hand will never be against you.
David quotes a proverb about wickedness while refusing to attack Saul, retaining the narrated restraint rather than authorizing private revenge.
- Ps.45.7
You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you above your companions with the oil of joy.
The royal song contrasts loving righteousness and hating wickedness; its later reception must distinguish the Son from ordinary human rulers.
- Mic.6.10
Can I forget any longer, O house of the wicked, the treasures of wickedness and the short ephah, which is accursed?
Treasure gained through wickedness is linked to a short ephah, with false scales and violent deceit further specified in the following clauses.
- Ezek.33.12
Therefore, son of man, say to your people: ‘The righteousness of the righteous man will not deliver him in the day of his transgression; neither will the wickedness of the wicked man cause him to stumble on the day he turns from his wickedness. Nor will the righteous man be able to survive by his righteousness on the day he sins.’
The warning rejects reliance on earlier righteousness and recognizes turning from wickedness, so the past is neither immunity nor an unchangeable identity.
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itof wickedness5×Psalms 141:4, Proverbs 4:17, Ecclesiastes 7:25, Isaiah 58:6
Wickedness5×1 Samuel 24:13, Psalms 45:7, Ecclesiastes 3:16, Hosea 10:13
from his wickedness2×Ezekiel 3:19, Ezekiel 33:12
of the wicked2×Psalms 84:10, Psalms 125:3
wicked2×Job 34:8, Proverbs 16:12
[to punish their] wickedness1×Ezekiel 7:11
according to its wickedness1×Ezekiel 31:11
and the wickedness1×Deuteronomy 9:27
and wickedness1×Proverbs 8:7
dishonest1×Micah 6:11
for his wickedness1×Psalms 10:15
Ill-gotten1×Proverbs 10:2
in wickedness1×Psalms 5:4
our wickedness1×Jeremiah 14:20
so wickedness1×Ecclesiastes 8:8
through wickedness1×Proverbs 12:3
to do wrong1×Job 34:10
viciously1×Isaiah 58:4
Your wickedness1×Job 35:8
Show sample aligned rows
Deuteronomy 9:27רִשְׁע֖וֹtoand the wickednessNoun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular1 Samuel 24:13רֶ֑שַׁעtoWickednessNoun - masculine singularJob 34:8רֶֽשַׁע׃towickedNoun - masculine singularJob 34:10מֵרֶ֗שַׁעtoto do wrongPreposition-m | Noun - masculine singularJob 35:8רִשְׁעֶ֑ךָtoYour wickednessNoun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singularPsalms 5:4רֶ֥שַׁע׀toin wickednessNoun - masculine singularPsalms 10:15רִשְׁע֥וֹtofor his wickednessNoun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singularPsalms 45:7רֶ֥שַׁעtowickednessNoun - masculine singularPsalms 84:10רֶֽשַׁע׃toof the wickedNoun - masculine singularPsalms 125:3הָרֶ֗שַׁעtoof the wickedArticle | Noun - masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowDeuteronomy 9:27
Aligned rows30
Books represented11
Deuteronomy11 Samuel1Job3Psalms6Proverbs5Ecclesiastes4Isaiah2Jeremiah1Ezekiel4Hosea1Micah2
Source forms
רֶ֑שַׁע8xre·ša‘1 Samuel 24:13, Proverbs 4:17, Proverbs 10:2, Proverbs 16:12
רֶֽשַׁע׃3xre·ša‘Job 34:8, Psalms 84:10, Proverbs 8:7
בְּרֶ֗שַׁע1xbə·re·ša‘Psalms 141:4
בְּרֶ֑שַׁע1xbə·re·ša‘Proverbs 12:3
הָרֶ֗שַׁע1xhā·re·ša‘Psalms 125:3
הָרֶ֔שַׁע1xhā·re·ša‘Ecclesiastes 3:16
הָרָֽשַׁע׃1xhā·rā·ša‘Ecclesiastes 3:16
כְּרִשְׁע֖וֹ1xkə·riš·‘ōwEzekiel 31:11
Parsing patterns
Noun - masculine singular17x1 Samuel 24:13, Job 34:8, Psalms 5:4, Psalms 45:7
Article | Noun - masculine singular3xPsalms 125:3, Ecclesiastes 3:16
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular2xDeuteronomy 9:27, Psalms 10:15
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular2xEzekiel 3:19, Ezekiel 33:12
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common plural1xJeremiah 14:20
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular1xJob 35:8
Preposition | Noun - masculine singular1xPsalms 141:4
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular1xProverbs 12:3
Using This Word Well
Be careful not to...
- Name and correct the harmful practice with evidence rather than escalating a contest of labels.
- Join repentance to changed conduct and appropriate repair without demanding private revenge or coerced access to those harmed.
Avoid claiming...
- Religious observance cannot make exploitative conduct righteous or exempt it from examination.
- The noun cannot assign an unchangeable final verdict to a person who turns from wrong.
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Moral perversity and deviation from justice; often paired with covenant violation and divine judgment throughout OT
Source Gloss
a wrong (especially moral)
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Moral perversity and deviation from justice; often paired with covenant violation and divine judgment throughout OT
a wrong (especially moral) BDB: wickedness Usage: iniquity, wicked(-ness).
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
Selected Scripture Witness
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Old Testament Witnesses
moral wrongdoing or injustice
Showing 1 selected witness from 30 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
רֶשַׁע is built from this root:
Why This Word Matters
Wickedness represents a life opposed to God's moral order.Proverbs 10:2
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.
For the Preacher and Teacher
Isaiah 58 refuses to let fasting conceal harmful conduct. The people seek religious recognition while strife, violence and oppression remain; the chosen fast addresses wicked bonds and care for neighbors. Ecclesiastes extends the examination to institutions intended to judge rightly, where wickedness is still observed. Micah makes injustice measurable through dishonest quantities and false weights.
A teacher can therefore name specific harm rather than use wickedness as a vague insult against opponents. David's quotation in First Samuel 24 accompanies his refusal to attack Saul, but the narrative does not make every powerful person exempt from truthful challenge or protection of others. Psalm 45's royal contrast praises righteousness, and Hebrews later applies it to the Son without giving modern rulers His identity.
Ezekiel 33 supplies the turning boundary: earlier righteousness is no license for present wrong, and former wickedness does not make a real turning meaningless. Accountable teaching calls for changed practices and repair while keeping judgment, mercy and human limits in their stated places.
Anchor passage
Isa.58.6
Doctrinal connections
- Isaiah rejects religious observance that continues violence and oppressive conduct.
- The chosen fast gives freedom and care for neighbors concrete expression.
- Ecclesiastes places corrupted human judgment beneath God's coming judgment.
- Micah exposes wealth connected to dishonest measures and denied fairness.
- Psalm 45 joins royal anointing to love of righteousness.
- Ezekiel recognizes turning from wrong while denying immunity from past righteousness.
Resha is a masculine noun with absolute and possessive construct forms naming wrong or wickedness. It is distinct from a word identifying a wicked person; the named conduct and its setting govern the application.
From Old to New Testament
Hebrews 1:8-9 explicitly applies Psalm 45's throne and righteousness language to the Son. That reception centers the royal contrast on Him; the Hebrew wrongdoing noun does not grant a modern king, pastor or institution the Son's moral standing or authority.