191. evil

Lexicon

evil: Evil, wickedness, bad, harmful, distress

Original Word: אֱוִיל
Part of Speech: Adjective Masculine
Transliteration: eviyl
Pronunciation: rah
Phonetic Spelling: (ev-eel')
Definition: Evil, wickedness, bad, harmful, distress
Meaning: silly

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

foolish man

From an unused root (meaning to be perverse); (figuratively) silly -- fool(-ish) (man).

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from an unused word
Definition
foolish
NASB Translation
fool (11), fool's (1), foolish (6), foolish man (1), fools (7).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

אֱוִיל₂₆ adjective (foolish — ׳א Job 5:2 +; plural אֱוִילִים Psalm 107:17 +, etc.; — foolish, Proverbs 29:9 (׳אִישׁ א) Hosea 9:7 (predicate of prophet); compare Isaiah 35:8, elsewhere

noun masculine fool (always morally bad), who despises wisdom & discipline Proverbs 1:7; Proverbs 15:5; mocks at guilt Proverbs 14:9; is quarrelsome Proverbs 20:3; licentious Proverbs 7:22; it is folly & useless to instruct him Proverbs 16:22; Proverbs 27:22 (19 t. Proverbs); compare also Jeremiah 4:22; Job 5:2,3; Isaiah 19:11; Psalm 107:17.

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from an unused root meaning to be perverse or foolish.

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • G453: ἀνόητος (anoētos) • senseless, foolish
• G521: ἄφρων (aphrōn) • foolish, without reason
• G765: ἀσώφρων (asōphrōn) • lacking self-control, foolish
• G878: ἀφροσύνη (aphrosynē) • folly, foolishness
• G2233: ἡγέομαι (hēgeomai) • to lead, to think, to consider
• G3474: μωρός (mōros) • foolish, dull
• G4312: προνοέω (pronoeō) • to foresee, to provide for
• G5337: φρονέω (phroneō) • to think, to have understanding

These Greek terms reflect similar themes of foolishness and lack of wisdom, often used in the New Testament to describe those who act contrary to divine wisdom and understanding.

Usage: The word is used in the Hebrew Bible to describe individuals who act foolishly, often in a moral or spiritual sense. It is typically used in wisdom literature to contrast the wise and the foolish.

Context: The Hebrew term אֱוִיל (Evil) appears in various contexts throughout the Old Testament, primarily in wisdom literature such as Proverbs and Ecclesiastes. It characterizes individuals who reject wisdom and understanding, often leading to moral and ethical folly. The fool, as described by this term, is not merely lacking in intelligence but is morally deficient, often choosing paths that lead away from righteousness and towards self-destruction.

In Proverbs, the fool is often juxtaposed with the wise, highlighting the consequences of foolish behavior. For example, Proverbs 12:15 states, "The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to counsel." This illustrates the self-deceptive nature of the fool, who trusts in his own understanding rather than seeking guidance.

Ecclesiastes also uses the term to explore the futility of life when lived without divine wisdom. The fool is depicted as one who toils without purpose, as seen in Ecclesiastes 10:14, "A fool multiplies words, though no one knows what is coming—who can tell him what will happen after him?"

The term אֱוִיל is thus a significant concept in biblical theology, serving as a warning against the dangers of rejecting divine wisdom and guidance.

Forms and Transliterations

אֱ֝וִ֗יל אֱ֝וִיל אֱ֭וִיל אֱ֭וִלִים אֱוִ֑יל אֱוִ֗יל אֱוִ֣יל אֱוִֽיל׃ אֱוִילִ֥ים אֱוִלִ֣ים אויל אויל׃ אוילים אולים הָאֱוִ֨יל ׀ האויל וֶֽ֝אֱוִילִ֗ים וֶאֱוִ֥יל וֶאֱוִילִ֖ים ואויל ואוילים לֶֽ֭אֱוִיל לֶֽאֱוִ֣יל לאויל ’ĕ·wi·lîm ’ĕ·wî·lîm ’ĕ·wîl ’ĕwîl ’ĕwilîm ’ĕwîlîm eVil Evilim hā’ĕwîl hā·’ĕ·wîl haeVil le’ĕwîl le·’ĕ·wîl Leevil veeVil veeviLim we’ĕwîl we’ĕwîlîm we·’ĕ·wî·lîm we·’ĕ·wîl

Englishman's Concordance

Job 5:2
HEB: כִּֽי־ לֶֽ֭אֱוִיל יַהֲרָג־ כָּ֑עַשׂ
NAS: slays the foolish man, And jealousy
KJV: killeth the foolish man, and envy
INT: for the foolish slays wrath

Job 5:3
HEB: אֲ‍ֽנִי־ רָ֭אִיתִי אֱוִ֣יל מַשְׁרִ֑ישׁ וָאֶקּ֖וֹב
NAS: I have seen the foolish taking root,
KJV: I have seen the foolish taking root:
INT: I have seen the foolish taking cursed

Psalm 107:17
HEB: אֱ֭וִלִים מִדֶּ֣רֶךְ פִּשְׁעָ֑ם
NAS: Fools, because of their rebellious
KJV: Fools because of their transgression,
INT: Fools way of their rebellious

Proverbs 1:7
HEB: חָכְמָ֥ה וּ֝מוּסָ֗ר אֱוִילִ֥ים בָּֽזוּ׃ פ
NAS: of knowledge; Fools despise
KJV: of knowledge: [but] fools despise
INT: wisdom and instruction Fools despise

Proverbs 7:22
HEB: אֶל־ מוּסַ֥ר אֱוִֽיל׃
NAS: to the discipline of a fool,
KJV: to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction
INT: to the discipline of a fool

Proverbs 10:8
HEB: יִקַּ֣ח מִצְוֹ֑ת וֶאֱוִ֥יל שְׂ֝פָתַ֗יִם יִלָּבֵֽט׃
NAS: But a babbling fool will be ruined.
KJV: but a prating fool shall fall.
INT: will receive commands fool A babbling will be ruined

Proverbs 10:10
HEB: יִתֵּ֣ן עַצָּ֑בֶת וֶאֱוִ֥יל שְׂ֝פָתַ֗יִם יִלָּבֵֽט׃
NAS: And a babbling fool will be ruined.
KJV: sorrow: but a prating fool shall fall.
INT: causes trouble fool babbling will be ruined

Proverbs 10:14
HEB: דָ֑עַת וּפִֽי־ אֱ֝וִיל מְחִתָּ֥ה קְרֹבָֽה׃
NAS: But with the mouth of the foolish, ruin
KJV: but the mouth of the foolish [is] near
INT: knowledge the mouth of the foolish ruin hand

Proverbs 10:21
HEB: יִרְע֣וּ רַבִּ֑ים וֶֽ֝אֱוִילִ֗ים בַּחֲסַר־ לֵ֥ב
NAS: feed many, But fools die for lack
KJV: feed many: but fools die for want
INT: feed many fools lack of understanding

Proverbs 11:29
HEB: ר֑וּחַ וְעֶ֥בֶד אֱ֝וִ֗יל לַחֲכַם־ לֵֽב׃
NAS: wind, And the foolish will be servant
KJV: the wind: and the fool [shall be] servant
INT: wind will be servant and the foolish to the wisehearted of heart

Proverbs 12:15
HEB: דֶּ֣רֶךְ אֱ֭וִיל יָשָׁ֣ר בְּעֵינָ֑יו
NAS: The way of a fool is right
KJV: The way of a fool [is] right
INT: the way of a fool is right eyes

Proverbs 12:16
HEB: אֱוִ֗יל בַּ֭יּוֹם יִוָּדַ֣ע
NAS: A fool's anger is known
KJV: A fool's wrath is presently
INT: A fool's once is known

Proverbs 14:3
HEB: בְּֽפִי־ אֱ֭וִיל חֹ֣טֶר גַּאֲוָ֑ה
NAS: In the mouth of the foolish is a rod
KJV: In the mouth of the foolish [is] a rod
INT: the mouth of the foolish rod for back

Proverbs 14:9
HEB: אֱ֭וִלִים יָלִ֣יץ אָשָׁ֑ם
NAS: Fools mock at sin,
KJV: Fools make a mock at sin:
INT: Fools A mock sin

Proverbs 15:5
HEB: אֱוִ֗יל יִ֭נְאַץ מוּסַ֣ר
NAS: A fool rejects his father's
KJV: A fool despiseth his father's
INT: A fool rejects discipline

Proverbs 16:22
HEB: בְּעָלָ֑יו וּמוּסַ֖ר אֱוִלִ֣ים אִוֶּֽלֶת׃
NAS: it, But the discipline of fools is folly.
KJV: it: but the instruction of fools [is] folly.
INT: who the discipline of fools is folly

Proverbs 17:28
HEB: גַּ֤ם אֱוִ֣יל מַ֭חֲרִישׁ חָכָ֣ם
NAS: Even a fool, when he keeps silent,
KJV: Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace,
INT: Even A fool keeps wise

Proverbs 20:3
HEB: מֵרִ֑יב וְכָל־ אֱ֝וִ֗יל יִתְגַּלָּֽע׃
NAS: for a man, But any fool will quarrel.
KJV: from strife: but every fool will be meddling.
INT: strife any fool will quarrel

Proverbs 24:7
HEB: רָאמ֣וֹת לֶֽאֱוִ֣יל חָכְמ֑וֹת בַּ֝שַּׁ֗עַר
NAS: is [too] exalted for a fool, He does not open
KJV: [is] too high for a fool: he openeth
INT: is exalted A fool Wisdom the gate

Proverbs 27:3
HEB: הַח֑וֹל וְכַ֥עַס אֱ֝וִ֗יל כָּבֵ֥ד מִשְּׁנֵיהֶֽם׃
NAS: But the provocation of a fool is heavier
KJV: weighty; but a fool's wrath
INT: and the sand the provocation of a fool is heavier both

Proverbs 27:22
HEB: תִּכְתּֽוֹשׁ־ אֶת־ הָאֱוִ֨יל ׀ בַּֽמַּכְתֵּ֡שׁ בְּת֣וֹךְ
NAS: you pound a fool in a mortar
KJV: Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar
INT: Though pound A fool A mortar along

Proverbs 29:9
HEB: אֶת־ אִ֣ישׁ אֱוִ֑יל וְרָגַ֥ז וְ֝שָׂחַ֗ק
NAS: has a controversy with a foolish man,
KJV: contendeth with a foolish man,
INT: for man A foolish rages laughs

Isaiah 35:8
HEB: הֹלֵ֥ךְ דֶּ֛רֶךְ וֶאֱוִילִ֖ים לֹ֥א יִתְעֽוּ׃
NAS: [that] way, And fools will not wander
KJV: it; but it [shall be] for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err
INT: walks way and fools will not wander

Jeremiah 4:22
HEB: כִּ֣י ׀ אֱוִ֣יל עַמִּ֗י אוֹתִי֙
NAS: For My people are foolish, They know
KJV: For my people [is] foolish, they have not known
INT: for are foolish my people no

Hosea 9:7
HEB: יֵדְע֖וּ יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל אֱוִ֣יל הַנָּבִ֗יא מְשֻׁגָּע֙
NAS: [this]! The prophet is a fool, The inspired
KJV: [it]: the prophet [is] a fool, the spiritual
INT: know Israel fool the prophet is demented

25 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 191
25 Occurrences

’ĕ·wîl — 14 Occ.
’ĕ·wi·lîm — 4 Occ.
hā·’ĕ·wîl — 1 Occ.
le·’ĕ·wîl — 2 Occ.
we·’ĕ·wîl — 2 Occ.
we·’ĕ·wî·lîm — 2 Occ.