Wickedness

Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words

1: Πονηρία (Strong'S #4189 — Noun Feminine — poneria — pon-ay-ree'-ah )

akin to poneros (see above, No. 1), is always rendered "wickedness" save in Acts 3:26 : see Iniquity , No. 4.

2: Κακία (Strong'S #2549 — Noun Feminine — kakia — kak-ee'-ah )

"evil," is rendered "wickedness" in Acts 8:22; RV in James 1:21 , AV, "naughtiness." See Evil , B, No. 1, MALICE.

1 John 5:19WickedActs 25:5

Vine's Expository Dictionary of OT Words

Belı̂ya‛al (בְּלִיַּעַל, Strong'S #1100), “wickedness; wicked; destruction.” The 27 occurrences of this noun are scattered throughout the periods of biblical Hebrew.

The basic meaning of this word appears in a passage such as Judg. 20:13, where the sons of belı̂ya‛al are perpetrators of wickedness (they raped and murdered a man’s concubine): “Now therefore deliver us the men, the children of Belial [NASB, “worthless fellows”] which are in Gibeah, that we may put them to death, and put away evil from Israel.” In its first appearance the word represents men who lead others into idolatry: “Certain men, the children of Belial, are gone out from among you, and have [seduced] the inhabitants of their city …” (Deut. 13:13). In Deut. 15:9 the word modifies Hebrew dabar , “word” or “matter.” Israel is warned to avoid “wicked” words (thoughts) in their hearts. Belı̂ya‛al is a synonym for rasha’ (“wicked rebellious one”) in Job 34:18. In Nah. 1:11 the wicked counselor plots evil against God. The psalmist uses belı̂ya‛al as a synonym of death: “The cords of death encompassed me, and the torrents of ungodliness [KJV, “floods of ungodly men”] terrified me” (Ps. 18:4, NASB).

King James Dictionary

WICKEDNESS, n. Departure from the rules of the divine law evil disposition or practices immorality crime sin sinfulness corrupt manners Wickedness generally signifies evil practices.

What wickedness is this that is done among you? Judges 20 .

But wickedness expresses also the corrupt dispositions of the heart.

Their inward part is very wickedness. Psalms 5 .

In heart ye work wickedness. Psalms 58 .

Webster's Dictionary

(1): (n.) The quality or state of being wicked; departure from the rules of the divine or the moral law; evil disposition or practices; immorality; depravity; sinfulness.

(2): (n.) A wicked thing or act; crime; sin; iniquity.

Baker's Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology

See Sin

Charles Buck Theological Dictionary

See SIN.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

wik´ed - nes  :

The state of being wicked; a mental disregard for justice, righteousness, truth, honor, virtue; evil in thought and life; depravity; sinfulness; criminality. See Sin . Many words are rendered "wickedness." There are many synonyms for wickedness in English and also in the Hebrew. Pride and vanity lead to it: "All the proud, and all that work wickedness ( רשעה , rish‛āh ) shall be stubble" ( Malachi 4:1 ). Akin to this is the word עון , ‛āwen , "iniquity," "vanity": "She eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness" (Proverbs 30:20 ). Then we have the word הוּה , hawwāh , meaning "mischief," "calamity," coming from inward intent upon evil: "Lo, this is the man that made not God his strength, but trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened himself in his wickedness" (Psalm 52:7 ); זמּה , zimmāh , "wickedness" in thought, carnality or lust harbored: "And if a man take a wife and her mother, it is wickedness" (Leviticus 20:14 ); עולה , ‛awlāh , "perverseness," "Neither shall the children of wickedness afflict them any more, as at the first" (2 Samuel 7:10 ). The word for evil (רע , ra‛ ) is many times employed to represent wickedness: "Remember all their wickedness" (Hosea 7:2 ). Wickedness like all forms and thoughts of wrong, kept warm in mind, seems to be a thing of growth; it begins with a thought, then a deed, then a character, and finally a destiny. Even in this life men increase in wickedness till they have lost all desire for that which is good in the sight of God and good men; the men in the vision of Isaiah seem to be in a condition beyond which the human heart cannot go: "Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness" (Isaiah 5:20 ). Shades of thought are added by such words as רע , rōa‛ , "evil," "badness": "Give them according to their work, and according to the wickedness of their doings" (Psalm 28:4 ). And רשׁע , resha‛ or רשׁעה , rish‛āh , also gives the common thought of wrong, wickedness. The prophets were strong in denunciations of all iniquity, perverseness, and in announcing the curse of God which would certainly follow.

Wickedness, malignity, evil in thought and purpose is presented by the word πονηρία , ponērı́a  : "But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why make ye trial of me, ye hypocrites?" ( Matthew 22:18 ). Jesus points out the origin of all wrong: "For from within, out of the heart of men, evil thoughts proceed ... wickednesses, deceit, lasciviousness ... all these evil things proceed from within, and defile the man" (Mark 7:21-23 ). See Imitation of Christ , xiii, 5.