Original Word: רֶשַׁע
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: resha`
Pronunciation: reh-shah
Phonetic Spelling: (reh'-shah)
KJV: iniquity, wicked(-ness)
NASB: wickedness, wicked, evil, Ill-gotten, wicked acts
Word Origin: [from H7561 (רָשַׁע - condemn)]
1. a wrong (especially moral)
From rasha'; a wrong (especially moral) -- iniquity, wicked(-ness).
see HEBREW rasha'
1 wickedness, as violence and crime against civil law Ecclesiastes 3:16 (twice in verse); ׳אֶגְרֹף ר Isaiah 58:4 fist of wickedness; ׳חַרְצֻבּוֺת ר Isaiah 58:6; ׳לֶחֶם ר Proverbs 4:17; ׳מַטֵּה ר Ezekiel 7:11; ׳מאֹזְנֵי ר Micah 6:11; ׳אֹצְרוֺת ר Micah 6:10, compare Proverbs 10:2; בְּרֶשַׁע Psalm 141:4; Proverbs 12:3; ׳עשׂות ר Proverbs 16:12; ׳מֵרְשָׁעִים יֵצֵא ר 1 Samuel 24:14, (proverb).
2 wickedness of enemies: of Egypt Ezekiel 31:11 (dubious Co; gloss Toy); ׳שֵׁבֶט הר Psalm 125:3 (m5 SS רָשָׁע).
3 wickedness, in ethical relations: "" חטאת Deuteronomy 9:27 (D2); "" עון Jeremiah 14:20; "" עולה Hosea 10:13; opposed to צֶדֶק Psalm 45:8, אֱמֶת Proverbs 8:7; see also Psalm 5:5; Psalm 10:15; Job 34:10; Job 35:8; Ecclesiastes 7:25; Ecclesiastes 8:8; ׳אַנְשֵׁי ר Job 34:8; ׳אָהֳלֵי ר Psalm 84:11; שׁוּב מֵרִשְׁעוֺ Ezekiel 3:19; Ezekiel 33:12 (see רִשְׁעָה 3).
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רֶשַׁע designates moral wrong, injustice, or lawlessness that stands in direct antithesis to righteousness. It refers both to the objective presence of evil within society and to an individual’s culpable stance before the holy God. While the word can describe overt violence, its reach extends to the corruption of motives, deceitful speech, and systemic oppression. Thus it serves as a comprehensive theological term for everything that violates God’s covenant order.
Frequency and Distribution
Approximately thirty instances occur, with the highest concentrations in Psalms, Proverbs, and prophetic literature. It appears three times in Exodus (e.g., Exodus 23:1; 23:7), twice in Job (Job 6:29; 11:14), and repeatedly in Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and minor prophets such as Habakkuk. In wisdom and worship texts, רֶשַׁע often functions in poetic parallelism with "sin" (חַטָּאת) or "iniquity" (עָוֹן), sharpening the contrast with "righteousness" (צֶדֶק/צְדָקָה).
In Legal Contexts
The Torah employs רֶשַׁע principally in judicial settings. Exodus 23:1 warns, "You shall not spread a false report. Do not join the wicked by being a malicious witness". Verse 7 exhorts judges, "Stay far from a false charge; do not kill the innocent and the righteous, for I will not acquit the guilty." Here רֶשַׁע covers perjury, corruption, and bloodguilt. The word thereby highlights that Israel’s courtroom must imitate the perfect justice of Yahweh, who refuses to "justify the wicked."
In Wisdom Literature
Proverbs portrays רֶשַׁע as a destructive way of life. Proverbs 16:12 states, "Kings detest wrongdoing, for a throne is established through righteousness," underscoring that societal stability depends on the rejection of רֶשַׁע. Job pleads his innocence: "Relent, do not be unjust; reconsider, for my righteousness still stands" (Job 6:29). The antithesis between רֶשַׁע and righteousness supports the wisdom motif that "the fear of the LORD is hatred of evil" (Proverbs 8:13).
In Psalms and Prophets
Psalms presents רֶשַׁע in the laments of the righteous. Psalm 7:14–16 depicts the wicked’s schemes backfiring, affirming divine retribution. In Isaiah, the term surfaces in covenant lawsuits. "Your hands are full of blood" (Isaiah 1:15) frames the nation’s רֶשַׁע as both ritual and social defilement. Jeremiah 14:20 admits, "We have sinned against You," coupling רֶשַׁע with guilt that demands repentance. Ezekiel 33 stresses personal accountability: turning from רֶשַׁע brings life (Ezekiel 33:12–19).
Theological Significance
1. Contrast with Righteousness: רֶשַׁע sharpens Scripture’s moral dualism. It is never neutral; it invites divine judgment (Proverbs 11:21).
2. Universality and Depth: While some passages target specific acts (perjury, oppression), others reveal a pervasive heart condition (Jeremiah 4:4).
3. Covenant Sanctions: Because God is just, רֶשַׁע provokes curses under the Mosaic covenant (Deuteronomy 28) and fuels prophetic indictments.
4. Eschatological Hope: The prophets foresee a day when רֶשַׁע will be eradicated (Isaiah 60:21), anticipating the messianic reign of perfect righteousness.
Christological and Redemptive Implications
The Old Testament’s aversion to רֶשַׁע prepares for the gospel, where Christ "was pierced for our transgressions" (Isaiah 53:5). The New Testament identifies Jesus as the righteous One who bears the penalty of human רֶשַׁע, "so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God" (2 Corinthians 5:21). Thus the ultimate answer to רֶשַׁע is not merely moral reform but substitutionary atonement and regeneration.
Pastoral and Homiletical Use
• Preaching Justice: Exodus 23 motivates modern believers to uphold integrity in courts, business, and government.
• Call to Repentance: Ezekiel 33 underscores individual responsibility, inviting hearers to forsake personal רֶשַׁע.
• Assurance of Judgment: Psalms reassure the oppressed that God will overturn systemic רֶשַׁע.
• Gospel Bridge: The contrast between human רֶשַׁע and divine righteousness points naturally to the cross and resurrection.
Related Hebrew Terms
• רָשָׁע (rashaʿ, "wicked person")—the adjectival counterpart.
• עָוֹן (avon, "iniquity")—focuses on guilt-load.
• חַטָּאת (chattaʾt, "sin")—broader term covering missing the mark.
Distinct nuances caution against conflating these words, yet together they provide a full-orbed doctrine of sin.
Summary
רֶשַׁע embodies every distortion of God’s order, whether private vice or public injustice. Scripture exposes, condemns, and ultimately provides redemption from רֶשַׁע through the righteous work of God’s Messiah.
1 Samuel 24:13
HEB: מֵרְשָׁעִ֖ים יֵ֣צֵא רֶ֑שַׁע וְיָדִ֖י לֹ֥א
NAS: comes forth wickedness; but my hand
KJV: of the ancients, Wickedness proceedeth
INT: condemn comes Wickedness hand not
Job 34:8
HEB: עִם־ אַנְשֵׁי־ רֶֽשַׁע׃
NAS: And walks with wicked men?
KJV: and walketh with wicked men.
INT: with with wicked
Job 34:10
HEB: חָלִ֖לָה לָאֵ֥ל מֵרֶ֗שַׁע וְשַׁדַּ֥י מֵעָֽוֶל׃
NAS: be it from God to do wickedness, And from the Almighty
KJV: from God, [that he should do] wickedness; and [from] the Almighty,
INT: Far God wickedness the Almighty wrong
Job 35:8
HEB: לְאִישׁ־ כָּמ֥וֹךָ רִשְׁעֶ֑ךָ וּלְבֶן־ אָ֝דָ֗ם
NAS: Your wickedness is for a man like
KJV: Thy wickedness [may hurt] a man
INT: A man like your wickedness A son of man
Psalm 5:4
HEB: אֵֽל־ חָפֵ֘ץ רֶ֥שַׁע ׀ אָ֑תָּה לֹ֖א
NAS: who takes pleasure in wickedness; No
KJV: that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil
INT: A God takes wickedness you No
Psalm 10:15
HEB: וָ֝רָ֗ע תִּֽדְרוֹשׁ־ רִשְׁע֥וֹ בַל־ תִּמְצָֽא׃
NAS: Seek out his wickedness until You find
KJV: [man]: seek out his wickedness [till] thou find
INT: and the evildoer Seek his wickedness none find
Psalm 45:7
HEB: צֶּדֶק֮ וַתִּשְׂנָ֫א רֶ֥שַׁע עַל־ כֵּ֤ן ׀
NAS: and hated wickedness; Therefore
KJV: and hatest wickedness: therefore God,
INT: righteousness and hated wickedness and after that
Psalm 84:10
HEB: מִ֝דּ֗וּר בְּאָהֳלֵי־ רֶֽשַׁע׃
NAS: dwell in the tents of wickedness.
KJV: in the tents of wickedness.
INT: dwell the tents of wickedness
Psalm 125:3
HEB: יָנ֡וּחַ שֵׁ֤בֶט הָרֶ֗שַׁע עַל֮ גּוֹרַ֪ל
NAS: For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest
KJV: For the rod of the wicked shall not rest
INT: rest the scepter of wickedness upon the land
Psalm 141:4
HEB: לְהִתְע֘וֹלֵ֤ל עֲלִל֨וֹת ׀ בְּרֶ֗שַׁע אֶת־ אִישִׁ֥ים
NAS: To practice deeds of wickedness With men
KJV: to practise wicked works
INT: to practice works of wickedness for who
Proverbs 4:17
HEB: לָ֭חֲמוּ לֶ֣חֶם רֶ֑שַׁע וְיֵ֖ין חֲמָסִ֣ים
NAS: the bread of wickedness And drink
KJV: the bread of wickedness, and drink
INT: eat the bread of wickedness the wine of violence
Proverbs 8:7
HEB: וְתוֹעֲבַ֖ת שְׂפָתַ֣י רֶֽשַׁע׃
NAS: truth; And wickedness is an abomination
KJV: truth; and wickedness [is] an abomination
INT: is an abomination to my lips and wickedness
Proverbs 10:2
HEB: י֭וֹעִילוּ אוֹצְר֣וֹת רֶ֑שַׁע וּ֝צְדָקָ֗ה תַּצִּ֥יל
NAS: Ill-gotten gains do not profit,
KJV: Treasures of wickedness profit
INT: profit gains Ill-gotten righteousness delivers
Proverbs 12:3
HEB: יִכּ֣וֹן אָדָ֣ם בְּרֶ֑שַׁע וְשֹׁ֥רֶשׁ צַ֝דִּיקִ֗ים
NAS: will not be established by wickedness, But the root
KJV: shall not be established by wickedness: but the root
INT: will not be established A man wickedness the root of the righteous
Proverbs 16:12
HEB: מְ֭לָכִים עֲשׂ֣וֹת רֶ֑שַׁע כִּ֥י בִ֝צְדָקָ֗ה
NAS: to commit wicked acts, For a throne
KJV: to commit wickedness: for the throne
INT: kings to commit wicked on righteousness
Ecclesiastes 3:16
HEB: הַמִּשְׁפָּט֙ שָׁ֣מָּה הָרֶ֔שַׁע וּמְק֥וֹם הַצֶּ֖דֶק
NAS: there is wickedness and in the place
KJV: of judgment, [that] wickedness [was] there; and the place
INT: of justice there is wickedness the place of righteousness
Ecclesiastes 3:16
HEB: הַצֶּ֖דֶק שָׁ֥מָּה הָרָֽשַׁע׃
NAS: of righteousness there is wickedness.
KJV: of righteousness, [that] iniquity [was] there.
INT: of righteousness there is wickedness
Ecclesiastes 7:25
HEB: וְחֶשְׁבּ֑וֹן וְלָדַ֙עַת֙ רֶ֣שַׁע כֶּ֔סֶל וְהַסִּכְל֖וּת
NAS: and to know the evil of folly and the foolishness
KJV: [of things], and to know the wickedness of folly,
INT: and an explanation cunning the evil of folly of foolishness
Ecclesiastes 8:8
HEB: וְלֹֽא־ יְמַלֵּ֥ט רֶ֖שַׁע אֶת־ בְּעָלָֽיו׃
NAS: in the time of war, and evil will not deliver
KJV: in [that] war; neither shall wickedness deliver
INT: will not deliver and evil who all manner
Isaiah 58:4
HEB: וּלְהַכּ֖וֹת בְּאֶגְרֹ֣ף רֶ֑שַׁע לֹא־ תָצ֣וּמוּ
NAS: and to strike with a wicked fist.
KJV: with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast
INT: strike fist A wicked not fast
Isaiah 58:6
HEB: פַּתֵּ֙חַ֙ חַרְצֻבּ֣וֹת רֶ֔שַׁע הַתֵּ֖ר אֲגֻדּ֣וֹת
NAS: the bonds of wickedness, To undo
KJV: the bands of wickedness, to undo
INT: to loosen the bonds of wickedness to undo the bands
Jeremiah 14:20
HEB: יָדַ֧עְנוּ יְהוָ֛ה רִשְׁעֵ֖נוּ עֲוֹ֣ן אֲבוֹתֵ֑ינוּ
NAS: We know our wickedness, O LORD,
KJV: O LORD, our wickedness, [and] the iniquity
INT: know LORD our wickedness the iniquity of our fathers
Ezekiel 3:19
HEB: וְלֹא־ שָׁב֙ מֵֽרִשְׁע֔וֹ וּמִדַּרְכּ֖וֹ הָרְשָׁעָ֑ה
NAS: and he does not turn from his wickedness or from his wicked
KJV: and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked
INT: does not turn his wickedness way his wicked
Ezekiel 7:11
HEB: קָ֖ם לְמַטֵּה־ רֶ֑שַׁע לֹא־ מֵהֶ֞ם
NAS: into a rod of wickedness. None
KJV: into a rod of wickedness: none of them [shall remain], nor of their multitude,
INT: has grown A rod of wickedness None like
30 Occurrences
Strong's Hebrew 7562
30 Occurrences
bə·re·ša‘ — 2 Occ.
hā·rā·ša‘ — 1 Occ.
hā·re·ša‘ — 2 Occ.
kə·riš·‘ōw — 1 Occ.
mê·re·ša‘ — 1 Occ.
mê·riš·‘ōw — 2 Occ.
re·ša‘ — 17 Occ.
riš·‘e·ḵā — 1 Occ.
riš·‘ê·nū — 1 Occ.
riš·‘ōw — 2 Occ.