Wicked, Evil

It is beyond me why I have not addressed this word on the web site until now. This fascinating, universal word has played a part in almost every seminar I have ever taught. Wicked or evil comes up virtually every time someone wants to demonize or disgrace someone. It is used about as often as calling someone a Nazi. In western countries if the word wicked is used we immediately think of baby killers or satan worshipers. So all I have to do is convince myself and others that I do not kill babies and I do not worship satan, so therefore... I am not wicked. But is this the scriptural definition of this English word?

Divre-Hayamim Bet (2Chronicles) 7:14If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.


Mishlei 24:8He that deviseth to do evil shall be called a mischievous person.

The English word evil or wicked comes primarily from two Hebrew roots, resh/ayin/ayin (רעע)and resh/shin/ayin (רשע). Both of these roots paint a picture of breaking something into pieces. In our two examples above I am using the resh/ayin/ayin root. Allow me to give an illustration from the times these texts were written. A woman is in her home preparing a meal. She has a large deep bowl on the table. The purpose of the bowl is to mix the ingredients together for the meal. If she takes the bowl and smashes it on the hard floor and breaks it into pieces that is the action behind wickedness or evil. Here are some uses in their verbal background.

Yiremeyahu (Jeremiah)YHVH called thy name, A green olive tree, fair, and of goodly fruit: with the noise of a great tumult he hath kindled fire upon it, and the branches of it are broken.


Iyyov (Job) 34:24He shall break in pieces mighty men without number, and set others in their stead.


Daniyy’el (Daniel) And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise.

The idea in the language in which these passages are written is to destroy the function of someone or something. This is wickedness according to our Father and not according to our cultural definition. In other words, if God's feasts and Sabbaths (and any other thing that He says) are designed from the beginning with a specific purpose or function and we forsake them or change them then......Hmmmm

Shalom Alecheim!