Malice

Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament

(κακία)

Malice is the propensity to inflict injury upon another, or to take pleasure in his misfortunes. In early English it denoted wickedness in general ( Hasting's Dictionary of the Bible (5 vols) iii. 223), but the modern meaning is found in Shakespeare, e.g. in Othello’s words:

‘Speak of me as I am; nothing extenuate,

Nor set down aught in malice’

(Act v. sc. ii. line 342).

κακία changed its connotation in much the same way. In classical Greek it was not a particular fault or vice, but that badness of nature or character (opp. to ἀρετή, ‘virtue,’ ‘excellence’) which is the root of all faults. Cicero discusses the point in Tusc. Disp. IV. xv. 34: ‘Hujus igitur virtutis contraria est vitiositas. Sic enim malo quam malitiam appellare eam, quam Graeci κακίαν appellant. Nam malitia certi cujusdam vitii nomen est; vitiositas omnium.’ In the NT the context generally indicates that κακία is a specific fault or vice. The compound κακοηθεια (‘malicious disposition’) designates but one of the many elements or workings of the reprobate mind ( Romans 1:29). Christians recall the time, before ‘the washing of regeneration,’ when they were ‘living in malice (ἐν κακίᾳ) and envy’ ( Titus 3:3). κακία is one of the sins which the believer must resolutely put away ( Ephesians 4:31,  Colossians 3:8); he is not to eat the Christian passover with the leaven of malice ( 1 Corinthians 5:8); in malice he is to be a babe ( 1 Corinthians 14:20). Without apparent cause the Revisers prefer ‘wickedness’ in  James 1:21,  1 Peter 2:1;  1 Peter 2:16, relegating ‘malice’ to the margin. Only once is the wider meaning unquestionable: the κακία of which Simon the Magian is urged to repent is no specific fault, but the deep-seated wickedness of a man who is still in the gall of bitterness ( Acts 8:22-23).

James Strahan.

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

MALICE

1. (i) OT. All in Pr.-Bk. [Note: Prayer Book.] version:   Psalms 94:23;   Psalms 119:150  Psalms 119:150;   Psalms 10:17 (adj.)   Psalms 59:5 (adj.) and   Psalms 55:3 (adv.).

(ii.) Apocr. [Note: Apocrypha, Apocryphal.] All in AV [Note: Authorized Version.] : Wis 12:10; Wis 12:20; Wis 16:14 (and RVm [Note: Revised Version margin.] ), * Sir 27:30; Sir 28:7 , * 1Ma 9:51; 1Ma 13:6 , 2Ma 4:50 .

(iii) NT. In RV [Note: Revised Version.] :  1 Corinthians 5:8;   1 Corinthians 14:20 ,   Ephesians 4:31 ,   Colossians 3:8 ,   Titus 3:6 ,   James 1:21 mg.,   1 Peter 2:1 (AV [Note: Authorized Version.] and RVm [Note: Revised Version margin.] ); ‘maliciousness’   Romans 1:29 ,   1 Peter 2:16 (AV [Note: Authorized Version.] and RVm [Note: Revised Version margin.] ‘malice’); ‘malicious’ *   3 John 1:10 AV [Note: Authorized Version.] .

2. Discussion is needless as to (i.), for the Heb. is clear. (See RV [Note: Revised Version.] .) All the other instances, however, except those marked * represent a Gr. word ( kakia ) which has a much wider meaning than ‘malice’ as now used. It may be ‘wickedness,’ as   Acts 8:22 ,   James 1:21; or ‘evil’ = ‘trouble,’   Matthew 6:34 .

3. The point is important, because ‘malice’ has acquired its exclusive meaning ‘spitefulness’ only since the 17th century. It indicated evil of any sort (cf. Pr.-Bk. [Note: Prayer Book.] as cited above, and for some striking examples see art. in Hastings’ DB [Note: Dictionary of the Bible.] ). This change accounts for RV [Note: Revised Version.] renderings of Apocr. [Note: Apocrypha, Apocryphal.] , and would perhaps have justified further emendation of AV [Note: Authorized Version.] .

4. The modern usage is a return to the classical malitia . Its relation to kakia was discussed by Cicero, who coined vitiositas as the nearest rendering; for whereas ‘malice’ indicated a particular fault, ‘vitiosity’ stood for all ( Tusc. Disp . iv. 34).

H. F. B. Compston.

Bridgeway Bible Dictionary

One destructive fruit of sinful human nature is malice – the desire to harm someone or the feeling of pleasure at someone’s misfortune ( Psalms 41:5;  Ezekiel 25:6;  Titus 3:3;  1 Peter 2:1). Malice is often the cause of false accusations ( Exodus 23:1;  Psalms 35:11;  Matthew 22:18; see Hatred ).

Unless people deal with their malice, it will bring God’s punishment upon them ( Romans 1:29;  Romans 2:2). It is an attitude that should have no place among God’s people ( 1 Corinthians 5:8;  Ephesians 4:31;  Colossians 3:8;  1 Peter 2:1). The way to overcome malice is through the proper exercise of Christian love ( 1 Corinthians 13:6; see Love ).

Webster's Dictionary

(1): ( n.) Any wicked or mischievous intention of the mind; a depraved inclination to mischief; an intention to vex, annoy, or injure another person, or to do a wrongful act without just cause or cause or excuse; a wanton disregard of the rights or safety of others; willfulness.

(2): ( n.) Enmity of heart; malevolence; ill will; a spirit delighting in harm or misfortune to another; a disposition to injure another; a malignant design of evil.

(3): ( v. t.) To regard with extreme ill will.

Charles Buck Theological Dictionary

Is a settled or deliberate determination to revenge or do hurt to another. It more frequently denotes the disposition of inferior minds to execute every purpose of mischief within the more limited circle of their abilities. It is a most hateful temper in the sight of God, strictly forbidden in his holy word,  Colossians 3:8-12 . disgraceful to rational creatures, and every way inimical to the spirit of Christianity,  Matthew 5:44 .

See Charity, Love

King James Dictionary

MAL'ICE, n. L.malitia, from malus, evil. Extreme enmity of heart, or malevolence a disposition to injure others without cause, from mere personal gratification or from a spirit of revenge unprovoked malignity or spite.

--Nor set down aught in malice.

MAL'ICE, To regard with extreme will. Not used.

Holman Bible Dictionary

 Romans 1:29 Titus 3:3 Ephesians 4:31-32 Colossians 3:8 1 Peter 2:1

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

is a settled or deliberate determination to revenge or do hurt to another. It more frequently denotes the disposition of inferior minds to execute every purpose of mischief within the more limited circle of their abilities. It is a most hateful temper in the sight of God, strictly forbidden in his holy Word (Colossians 3:812), disgraceful to rational creatures, and every way inimical to the spirit of Christianity ( Matthew 5:44). (See Malevolence).