7561. rasha
Lexical Summary
rasha: To be wicked, to act wickedly, to condemn

Original Word: רָשַׁע
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: rasha`
Pronunciation: rah-SHAH
Phonetic Spelling: (raw-shah')
KJV: condemn, make trouble, vex, be (commit, deal, depart, do) wicked(-ly, -ness)
NASB: condemn, acted wickedly, act wickedly, condemns, wicked, condemned, been wicked
Word Origin: [a primitive root]

1. to be wrong
2. (causatively) to do or declare wrong
3. (by implication) to disturb, violate

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
condemn, make trouble, vex, be commit, deal, depart, do wickedly,

A primitive root; to be (causatively, do or declare) wrong; by implication, to disturb, violate -- condemn, make trouble, vex, be (commit, deal, depart, do) wicked(-ly, -ness).

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
denominative verb from resha
Definition
to be wicked, act wickedly
NASB Translation
act wickedly (3), acted wickedly (6), been wicked (1), behaved wickedly (1), condemn (10), condemned (2), condemning (1), condemns (3), do wickedly (1), guilty (1), inflicted punishment (1), wicked (3), wickedly departed (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
[רָשַׁע] verb denominative be wicked, act wickedly; —

Qal Perfect1singular רָשַׁעָתִּי 2 Samuel 22:22 +, רָשָׁ֑עְנוּ 1 Kings 8:47 +; Imperfect2masculine singular תִּדְשַׁע Ecclesiastes 7:17; 1singular אֶרְשָׁ֑ע Job 9:29; Job 10:7; —

1 be wicked, act wickedly, 1 Kings 8:47 2Chronicles 6:37; Daniel 9:15; Ecclesiastes 7:17; +מֵאֱלֹהָי 2 Samuel 22:22 (in departing) from my God = Psalm 18:22.

2 be guilty, Job 9:29; Job 10:7,15.

Hiph`il Perfect3masculine singular הִרְשִׁיעַ2Chronicles 20:35; 3 masculine plural הִרְשִׁיעוּ Deuteronomy 25:1; Daniel 12:10; 1plural הִרְשַׁעְבוּ Daniel 9:5, etc.: Imperfect3masculine singular יַרְשִׁיעַ Proverbs 12:2 +; יַרְשִׁעַ Job 34:29; 3masculine plural יַרְשִׁיעֻן Exodus 22:8, etc.; Infinitive construct הַרְשִׁיעַ 1 Kings 8:32; 2Chronicles 22:3; Perfect מַרְשִׁיעַ Pt 2 Chronicles 17:15; plural construct מַרְשִׁיעֵי Daniel 11:32; —

1 condemn as guilty, in civil relations, with accusative Exodus 22:8 (E) Deuteronomy 25:1; Psalm 94:21; Job 34:17; Proverbs 17:15.

2 condemn as guilty, in ethical and religious relations, with accusative 1 Kings 8:32; Job 9:20; Job 10:2; Job 15:6; Job 32:3; Job 40:8; Psalm 37:33; Proverbs 12:2; Isaiah 50:9; Isaiah 54:17, absolute Job 34:29.

3 act wickedly (late), in ethics and religion: Job 34:12 (denied of ׳י), Nehemiah 9:33; Daniel 12:10; 2Chronicles 22:3; "" חטא Psalm 106:6; Daniel 9:5; הרשׁיע לעשׂות2Chronicles 20:35; מַרְשִׁיעֵי בְרִית Daniel 11:32; — יַרְשִׁיעַ 1 Samuel 14:47 read יַוָּשֵׁעַ ᵐ5 Capp We Dr Bu HPS.

Topical Lexicon
Overview

The verb רָשַׁע occurs about thirty-five times in the Old Testament. It represents wilful departure from covenant loyalty and, in its causative stem, the act of declaring someone guilty. Scripture regularly places the verb in deliberate contrast with “justify / declare righteous” (צָדַק), thereby sharpening the biblical antithesis between righteousness and wickedness.

Legal and Forensic Usage

1. Deuteronomy 25:1 presents the most succinct legal pairing: “the judges shall justify the righteous and condemn the wicked.” Here רָשַׁע describes a court’s formal verdict.
2. Solomon invokes the same principle in the dedication prayer: “Judge Your servants, condemning the wicked by bringing his way on his own head and justifying the righteous” (1 Kings 8:32).
3. A later generation repeats the petition almost verbatim (2 Chronicles 6:23), showing that the verb remained standard judicial vocabulary throughout Israel’s monarchy.
4. Proverbs 17:15 turns the principle into an ethical maxim: “He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous are both detestable to the LORD.” The text implies that misapplication of רָשַׁע perverts justice and invites divine wrath—an enduring lesson for every society that names the name of God.

Individual Moral Conduct

The Qal stem describes a person’s own plunge into evil. Pharaoh confesses, “I and my people are in the wrong” (Exodus 9:27); Moses confronts his fellow Hebrew, “Why do you strike your companion?” (Exodus 2:13). Job wrestles with the possibility that God has counted him wicked (Job 9:20; 10:15; 15:6; 32:3). In each passage רָשַׁע emphasises purposeful rebellion, not accidental failure.

Corporate Apostasy

Prophets use the verb to address national guilt. Ezekiel warns, “When the righteous turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, he will die for it” (Ezekiel 18:26; 33:12). The shift from obedience to רָשַׁע is decisive and deadly. The same chapter promises life to the wicked who repents (33:19), showing that judgment is never God’s final word when genuine repentance occurs.

Theological Emphasis

1. God’s holiness demands that wickedness be named and judged. Rָשַׁע therefore underscores divine justice.
2. The verb’s consistent opposition to צָדַק reveals that there is no moral middle ground before God; every person is either justified or condemned.
3. The sacrificial system, the Day of Atonement, and ultimately the cross of Jesus Christ answer the dilemma raised by רָשַׁע: How may the guilty be made righteous without God denying His own character (cf. Romans 3:26)?

Pastoral and Homiletical Insights

• Expose Sin Clearly—Old Testament writers never soften רָשַׁע. Faithful ministry follows their example, naming sin so that grace may abound.
• Guard Judicial Integrity—Deuteronomy 25:1 and Proverbs 17:15 apply to elders, pastors, and civil magistrates. Partiality in verdicts still desecrates God’s name.
• Proclaim the Hope of Repentance—Ezekiel links repentance with life. The same gospel promise governs evangelism and church discipline today.
• Cultivate Humility—Job’s agonising reflections remind believers that only divine verdicts matter. Human self-justification collapses under God’s scrutiny; Christ alone is our righteousness.

Eschatological Perspective

Isaiah envisions a coming King who will “with righteousness judge the poor, and decide with fairness for the afflicted of the earth” (Isaiah 11:4). While Isaiah uses a different verb, the vision answers every misuse of רָשַׁע. Final judgment will reverse every wrongful condemnation and vindicate all who are in Christ.

Summary

רָשַׁע is more than a word for generic evil; it is the biblical verb for determined rebellion and formal condemnation. It confronts every reader with God’s unwavering justice and simultaneously drives the humble to seek the righteousness provided in the promised Messiah.

Forms and Transliterations
אֶרְשָׁ֑ע ארשע הִרְשִׁ֥יעַ הִרְשָֽׁעְנוּ׃ הִרְשַׁ֣עְנוּ הרשיע הרשענו הרשענו׃ וְהִרְשִׁ֖יעוּ וְהִרְשִׁ֣יעוּ וְרָשָֽׁעְנוּ׃ וַ֝יַּרְשִׁ֗יעוּ וּמַרְשִׁ֣יעַ וּמַרְשִׁיעֵ֣י והרשיעו וירשיעו ומרשיע ומרשיעי ורשענו׃ יַ֝רְשִׁיעֶ֗נּוּ יַרְשִֽׁיעֲךָ֣ יַרְשִֽׁיעַ׃ יַרְשִֽׁיעוּ׃ יַרְשִׁ֑יעַ יַרְשִׁ֗עַ יַרְשִׁיעֵ֑נִי יַרְשִׁיעֻן֙ ירשיע ירשיע׃ ירשיעו׃ ירשיעך ירשיען ירשיענו ירשיעני ירשע לְהַרְשִֽׁיעַ׃ לְהַרְשִׁ֣יעַ להרשיע להרשיע׃ מֵרְשָׁעִ֖ים מרשעים רָ֝שַׁ֗עְתִּי רָשַׁ֖עְתִּי רָשַׁ֡עְתִּי רָשָֽׁעְנוּ׃ רשענו׃ רשעתי תִּרְשַׁ֥ע תַּ֝רְשִׁיעֵ֗נִי תַּרְשִֽׁיעַ׃ תַּרְשִׁ֑יעִי תַּרְשִׁיעֵ֑נִי תרשיע׃ תרשיעי תרשיעני תרשע ’er·šā‘ ’eršā‘ erSha hir·ša‘·nū hir·šā·‘ə·nū hir·šî·a‘ hiršā‘ənū hirša‘nū hirShaenu hirShanu hirShia hiršîa‘ lə·har·šî·a‘ leharShia ləharšîa‘ mê·rə·šā·‘îm mêrəšā‘îm mereshaIm rā·ša‘·tî rā·šā·‘ə·nū rāšā‘ənū rāša‘tî raShaenu raShati tar·šî·‘ê·nî tar·šî·‘î tar·šî·a‘ tarShia tarshiEni tarShii taršî‘ênî taršî‘î taršîa‘ tir·ša‘ tirša‘ tirSha ū·mar·šî·‘ê ū·mar·šî·a‘ umarShia umarshiEi ūmaršî‘ê ūmaršîa‘ vaiyarShiu vehirShiu veraShaenu way·yar·šî·‘ū wayyaršî‘ū wə·hir·šî·‘ū wə·rā·šā·‘ə·nū wəhiršî‘ū wərāšā‘ənū yar·šî·‘ă·ḵā yar·šî·‘ê·nî yar·šî·‘en·nū yar·šî·‘ū yar·šî·‘un yar·ši·a‘ yar·šî·a‘ yarShia yarshiaCha yarshiEni yarshiEnnu yarShiu yarshiUn yaršî‘ăḵā yaršî‘ênî yaršî‘ennū yaršî‘ū yaršî‘un yaršia‘ yaršîa‘
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Englishman's Concordance
Exodus 22:9
HEB: שְׁנֵיהֶ֑ם אֲשֶׁ֤ר יַרְשִׁיעֻן֙ אֱלֹהִ֔ים יְשַׁלֵּ֥ם
NAS: the judges condemn shall pay
KJV: [and] whom the judges shall condemn, he shall pay
INT: of both whom condemn the judges shall pay

Deuteronomy 25:1
HEB: אֶת־ הַצַּדִּ֔יק וְהִרְשִׁ֖יעוּ אֶת־ הָרָשָֽׁע׃
NAS: the righteous and condemn the wicked,
KJV: the righteous, and condemn the wicked.
INT: justify the righteous and condemn the wicked

1 Samuel 14:47
HEB: אֲשֶׁר־ יִפְנֶ֖ה יַרְשִֽׁיעַ׃
NAS: he turned, he inflicted punishment.
KJV: and whithersoever he turned himself, he vexed [them].
INT: he turned inflicted

1 Samuel 24:13
HEB: מְשַׁל֙ הַקַּדְמֹנִ֔י מֵרְשָׁעִ֖ים יֵ֣צֵא רֶ֑שַׁע
INT: as the proverb of the ancients condemn comes Wickedness

2 Samuel 22:22
HEB: יְהוָ֑ה וְלֹ֥א רָשַׁ֖עְתִּי מֵאֱלֹהָֽי׃
NAS: of the LORD, And have not acted wickedly against
KJV: of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God.
INT: of the LORD not acted my God

1 Kings 8:32
HEB: אֶת־ עֲבָדֶ֔יךָ לְהַרְשִׁ֣יעַ רָשָׁ֔ע לָתֵ֥ת
NAS: Your servants, condemning the wicked
KJV: thy servants, condemning the wicked,
INT: and judge your servants condemning the wicked bringing

1 Kings 8:47
HEB: חָטָ֥אנוּ וְהֶעֱוִ֖ינוּ רָשָֽׁעְנוּ׃
NAS: and have committed iniquity, we have acted wickedly';
KJV: and have done perversely, we have committed wickedness;
INT: have sinned committed have acted

2 Chronicles 6:37
HEB: חָטָ֥אנוּ הֶעֱוִ֖ינוּ וְרָשָֽׁעְנוּ׃
NAS: we have committed iniquity and have acted wickedly';
KJV: we have done amiss, and have dealt wickedly;
INT: have sinned have committed acted

2 Chronicles 20:35
HEB: יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל ה֖וּא הִרְשִׁ֥יעַ לַעֲשֽׂוֹת׃
NAS: of Israel. He acted wickedly in so doing.
KJV: of Israel, who did very wickedly:
INT: of Israel He acted doing

2 Chronicles 22:3
HEB: הָיְתָ֥ה יֽוֹעַצְתּ֖וֹ לְהַרְשִֽׁיעַ׃
NAS: was his counselor to do wickedly.
KJV: was his counsellor to do wickedly.
INT: become was his counselor to do

Nehemiah 9:33
HEB: עָשִׂ֖יתָ וַאֲנַ֥חְנוּ הִרְשָֽׁעְנוּ׃
NAS: faithfully, but we have acted wickedly.
KJV: right, but we have done wickedly:
INT: have dealt we have acted

Job 9:20
HEB: אֶ֭צְדָּק פִּ֣י יַרְשִׁיעֵ֑נִי תָּֽם־ אָ֝֗נִי
NAS: my mouth will condemn me; Though I am guiltless,
KJV: myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: [if I say], I [am] perfect,
INT: I am righteous my mouth will condemn I am guiltless I

Job 9:29
HEB: אָנֹכִ֥י אֶרְשָׁ֑ע לָמָּה־ זֶּ֝֗ה
NAS: I am accounted wicked, Why then
KJV: [If] I be wicked, why then labour
INT: I wicked Why then

Job 10:2
HEB: אֱ֭לוֹהַּ אַל־ תַּרְשִׁיעֵ֑נִי הֽ֝וֹדִיעֵ֗נִי עַ֣ל
NAS: to God, Do not condemn me; Let me know
KJV: unto God, Do not condemn me; shew
INT: God not condemn know and

Job 10:7
HEB: כִּי־ לֹ֣א אֶרְשָׁ֑ע וְאֵ֖ין מִיָּדְךָ֣
NAS: I am indeed not guilty, Yet there is no
KJV: Thou knowest that I am not wicked; and [there is] none that can deliver
INT: I am indeed not guilty there your hand

Job 10:15
HEB: אִם־ רָשַׁ֡עְתִּי אַלְלַ֬י לִ֗י
NAS: If I am wicked, woe
KJV: If I be wicked, woe
INT: If I am wicked woe I am righteous

Job 15:6
HEB: יַרְשִֽׁיעֲךָ֣ פִ֣יךָ וְלֹא־
NAS: Your own mouth condemns you, and not I; And your own lips
KJV: Thine own mouth condemneth thee, and not I: yea, thine own lips
INT: condemns mouth and not

Job 32:3
HEB: מָצְא֣וּ מַעֲנֶ֑ה וַ֝יַּרְשִׁ֗יעוּ אֶת־ אִיּֽוֹב׃
NAS: no answer, and yet had condemned Job.
KJV: no answer, and [yet] had condemned Job.
INT: had found answer had condemned Job

Job 34:12
HEB: אֵ֥ל לֹֽא־ יַרְשִׁ֑יעַ וְ֝שַׁדַּ֗י לֹֽא־
NAS: God will not act wickedly, And the Almighty
KJV: God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty
INT: God will not act and the Almighty will not

Job 34:17
HEB: צַדִּ֖יק כַּבִּ֣יר תַּרְשִֽׁיעַ׃
NAS: rule? And will you condemn the righteous
KJV: govern? and wilt thou condemn him that is most
INT: the righteous mighty condemn

Job 34:29
HEB: יַשְׁקִ֨ט ׀ וּמִ֥י יַרְשִׁ֗עַ וְיַסְתֵּ֣ר פָּ֭נִים
NAS: who then can condemn? And when He hides
KJV: When he giveth quietness, who then can make trouble? and when he hideth
INT: keeps who trouble hideth his face

Job 40:8
HEB: תָּפֵ֣ר מִשְׁפָּטִ֑י תַּ֝רְשִׁיעֵ֗נִי לְמַ֣עַן תִּצְדָּֽק׃
NAS: My judgment? Will you condemn Me that you may be justified?
KJV: my judgment? wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous?
INT: annul adversary condemn because of mayest be righteous

Psalm 18:21
HEB: יְהוָ֑ה וְלֹֽא־ רָ֝שַׁ֗עְתִּי מֵאֱלֹהָֽי׃
NAS: of the LORD, And have not wickedly departed from my God.
KJV: of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God.
INT: of the LORD not wickedly my God

Psalm 37:33
HEB: בְיָד֑וֹ וְלֹ֥א יַ֝רְשִׁיעֶ֗נּוּ בְּהִשָּׁפְטֽוֹ׃
NAS: him in his hand Or let him be condemned when he is judged.
KJV: him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged.
INT: his hand not him be condemned is judged

Psalm 94:21
HEB: וְדָ֖ם נָקִ֣י יַרְשִֽׁיעוּ׃
NAS: of the righteous And condemn the innocent
KJV: of the righteous, and condemn the innocent
INT: to death the innocent and condemn

35 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 7561
35 Occurrences


’er·šā‘ — 2 Occ.
hir·šā·‘ə·nū — 2 Occ.
hir·ša‘·nū — 1 Occ.
hir·šî·a‘ — 1 Occ.
lə·har·šî·a‘ — 2 Occ.
mê·rə·šā·‘îm — 1 Occ.
rā·šā·‘ə·nū — 2 Occ.
rā·ša‘·tî — 3 Occ.
tar·šî·a‘ — 1 Occ.
tar·šî·‘ê·nî — 2 Occ.
tar·šî·‘î — 1 Occ.
tir·ša‘ — 1 Occ.
ū·mar·šî·a‘ — 1 Occ.
ū·mar·šî·‘ê — 1 Occ.
way·yar·šî·‘ū — 1 Occ.
wə·hir·šî·‘ū — 2 Occ.
wə·rā·šā·‘ə·nū — 1 Occ.
yar·šî·a‘ — 4 Occ.
yar·šî·‘ă·ḵā — 1 Occ.
yar·šî·‘ê·nî — 2 Occ.
yar·šî·‘en·nū — 1 Occ.
yar·šî·‘ū — 1 Occ.
yar·šî·‘un — 1 Occ.

7560
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