Evil

Evil is all that is wicked and opposed to God. God is good and tempts no one; evil entered the world through the devil and human sin, God rules over it and turns it to good, he will finally destroy it, and his people are to hate evil and overcome it with good.

Where evil comes from

• Genesis 3:6
  And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.When the woman saw that the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eyes, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom, she took the fruit and ate it. She also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate it.
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• Romans 5:12
  Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, so also death was passed on to all men, because all sinned.
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• James 1:13-15
  ¹³Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone. ¹⁴But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.But each one is tempted when by his own evil desires he is lured away and enticed. ¹⁵Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
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• John 8:44
  Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out his desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, refusing to uphold the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, because he is a liar and the father of lies.
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• Mark 7:21-23
  ²¹For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,For from within the hearts of men come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, ²²Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:greed, wickedness, deceit, debauchery, envy, slander, arrogance, and foolishness. ²³All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.All these evils come from within, and these are what defile a man.”
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God is not the author of evil

• Habakkuk 1:13
  Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he?Your eyes are too pure to look upon evil, and You cannot tolerate wrongdoing. So why do You tolerate the faithless? Why are You silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves?
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• Deuteronomy 32:4
  He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.He is the Rock, His work is perfect; all His ways are just. A God of faithfulness without injustice, righteous and upright is He.
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• 1 John 1:5
  This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.And this is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you: God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.
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• Job 34:10
  Therefore hearken unto me, ye men of understanding: far be it from God, that he should do wickedness; and from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity.Therefore listen to me, O men of understanding. Far be it from God to do wrong, and from the Almighty to act unjustly.
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God rules over evil

• Genesis 50:20
  But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.As for you, what you intended against me for evil, God intended for good, in order to accomplish a day like this—to preserve the lives of many people.
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• Romans 8:28
  And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.
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• Isaiah 45:7
  I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord do all these things.I form the light and create the darkness; I bring prosperity and create calamity. I, the LORD, do all these things.
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• Job 1:21-22
  ²¹And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.saying: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD.” ²²In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.In all this, Job did not sin or charge God with wrongdoing.
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• Acts 2:23
  Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:He was delivered up by God’s set plan and foreknowledge, and you, by the hands of the lawless, put Him to death by nailing Him to the cross.
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How long, O Lord

• Habakkuk 1:2-3
  ²O Lord, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save!How long, O LORD, must I call for help but You do not hear, or cry out to You, “Violence!” but You do not save? ³Why dost thou shew me iniquity, and cause me to behold grievance? for spoiling and violence are before me: and there are that raise up strife and contention.Why do You make me see iniquity? Why do You tolerate wrongdoing? Destruction and violence are before me. Strife is ongoing, and conflict abounds.
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• Psalm 73:3
  For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
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• Psalm 37:1-2
  ¹Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.Do not fret over those who do evil; do not envy those who do wrong. ²For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.For they wither quickly like grass and wilt like tender plants.
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• Ecclesiastes 8:11
  Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.When the sentence for a crime is not speedily executed, the hearts of men become fully set on doing evil.
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• 2 Peter 3:9
  The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise as some understand slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance.
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The end of evil

• Revelation 21:4
  And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.‘He will wipe away every tear from their eyes,’ and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away.”
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• Revelation 20:10
  And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.And the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur, into which the beast and the false prophet had already been thrown. There they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
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• Psalm 37:9-10
  ⁹For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.For the evildoers will be cut off, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land. ¹⁰For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.Yet a little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found.
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Overcoming evil

• Romans 12:21
  Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
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• Romans 12:9
  Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.Love must be sincere. Detest what is evil; cling to what is good.
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• 3 John 1:11
  Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God.
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• Isaiah 5:20
  Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who turn darkness to light and light to darkness, who replace bitter with sweet and sweet with bitter.
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• Psalm 97:10
  Ye that love the LORD, hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked.Hate evil, O you who love the LORD! He preserves the souls of His saints; He delivers them from the hand of the wicked.
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• 1 Thessalonians 5:22
  Abstain from all appearance of evil.Abstain from every form of evil.
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See also

• Sin
• Satan
• Suffering
• Sovereignty of God
• Justice

Notes

1. Verses are quoted in the translation chosen in the Translation menu at the top of the page. See Translations for sources and copyright notices.
2. Each reference links to the full chapter so the verse can be read in context.