Ponēros πονηρός

Ponēros (Greek πονηρός, Strong's G4190) is a Greek adjective meaning “evil/bad”. It occurs 79 times in 73 verses of the New Testament.

Definition

From the STEPBible Brief Lexicon of Greek (based on Abbott-Smith), STEPBible.org, CC BY 4.0.

Translated as

Topics

• Evil

Verses

Every verse with Ponēros, with the English words that translate it highlighted (KJV or BSB; other translations show the KJV here).

Matthew

• Matthew 5:11
  Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.
• Matthew 5:37
  But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ Anything more comes from the evil one.
• Matthew 5:39
  But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.But I tell you not to resist an evil person. If someone slaps you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also;
• Matthew 5:45
  That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
• Matthew 6:13
  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’
• Matthew 6:23
  But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
• Matthew 7:11
  If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?So if you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!
• Matthew 7:17
  Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.
• Matthew 7:18
  A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.
• Matthew 9:4
  And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?But Jesus knew what they were thinking and said, “Why do you harbor evil in your hearts?
• Matthew 12:34
  O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks.
• Matthew 12:35
  A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.The good man brings good things out of his good store of treasure, and the evil man brings evil things out of his evil store of treasure.
• Matthew 12:39
  But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:Jesus replied, “A wicked and adulterous generation demands a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.
• Matthew 12:45
  Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and dwell there; and the final plight of that man is worse than the first. So will it be with this wicked generation.”
• Matthew 13:19
  When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.When anyone hears the message of the kingdom but does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path.
• Matthew 13:38
  The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;The field is the world, and the good seed represents the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one,
• Matthew 13:49
  So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just,So will it be at the end of the age: The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous,
• Matthew 15:19
  For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, and slander.
• Matthew 16:4
  A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed.A wicked and adulterous generation demands a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.” Then He left them and went away.
• Matthew 18:32
  Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:Then the master summoned him and declared, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave all your debt because you begged me.
• Matthew 20:15
  Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?Do I not have the right to do as I please with what is mine? Or are you envious because I am generous?’
• Matthew 22:10
  So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.So the servants went out into the streets and gathered everyone they could find, both evil and good, and the wedding hall was filled with guests.
• Matthew 25:26
  His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:‘You wicked, lazy servant!’ replied his master. ‘You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed.

Mark

• Mark 7:22
  Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:greed, wickedness, deceit, debauchery, envy, slander, arrogance, and foolishness.
• Mark 7:23
  All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.All these evils come from within, and these are what defile a man.”

Luke

• Luke 3:19
  But Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him for Herodias his brother Philip’s wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done,But when he rebuked Herod the tetrarch regarding his brother’s wife Herodias and all the evils he had done,
• Luke 6:22
  Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake.Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil because of the Son of Man.
• Luke 6:35
  But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.
• Luke 6:45
  A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.The good man brings good things out of the good treasure of his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil treasure of his heart. For out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks.
• Luke 7:21
  And in that same hour he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind he gave sight.At that very hour Jesus healed many people of their diseases, afflictions, and evil spirits, and He gave sight to many who were blind.
• Luke 8:2
  And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils,as well as some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out,
• Luke 11:4
  And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.And forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.’”
• Luke 11:13
  If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?So if you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”
• Luke 11:26
  Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and dwell there. And the final plight of that man is worse than the first.”
• Luke 11:29
  And when the people were gathered thick together, he began to say, This is an evil generation: they seek a sign; and there shall no sign be given it, but the sign of Jonas the prophet.As the crowds were increasing, Jesus said, “This is a wicked generation. It demands a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.
• Luke 11:34
  The light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light; but when thine eye is evil, thy body also is full of darkness.Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are good, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are bad, your body is full of darkness.
• Luke 19:22
  And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow:His master replied, ‘You wicked servant, I will judge you by your own words. So you knew that I am a harsh man, withdrawing what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow?

John

• John 3:19
  And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.And this is the verdict: The Light has come into the world, but men loved the darkness rather than the Light because their deeds were evil.
• John 7:7
  The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me, because I testify that its works are evil.
• John 17:15
  I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.I am not asking that You take them out of the world, but that You keep them from the evil one.

Acts

• Acts 17:5
  But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.The Jews, however, became jealous. So they brought in some troublemakers from the marketplace, formed a mob, and sent the city into an uproar. They raided Jason’s house in search of Paul and Silas, hoping to bring them out to the people.
• Acts 18:14
  And when Paul was now about to open his mouth, Gallio said unto the Jews, If it were a matter of wrong or wicked lewdness, O ye Jews, reason would that I should bear with you:But just as Paul was about to speak, Gallio told the Jews, “If this matter involved a wrongdoing or vicious crime, O Jews, it would be reasonable for me to hear your complaint.
• Acts 19:12
  So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and the diseases and evil spirits left them.
• Acts 19:13
  Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.Now there were some itinerant Jewish exorcists who tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those with evil spirits. They would say, “I bind you by Jesus, whom Paul proclaims.”
• Acts 19:15
  And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?Eventually, one of the evil spirits answered them, “Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?”
• Acts 19:16
  And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.Then the man with the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. The attack was so violent that they ran out of the house naked and wounded.
• Acts 25:18
  Against whom when the accusers stood up, they brought none accusation of such things as I supposed:But when his accusers rose to speak, they did not charge him with any of the crimes I had expected.
• Acts 28:21
  And they said unto him, We neither received letters out of Judea concerning thee, neither any of the brethren that came shewed or spake any harm of thee.The leaders replied, “We have not received any letters about you from Judea, nor have any of the brothers from there reported or even mentioned anything bad about you.

Romans

• 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.

1 Corinthians

• 1 Corinthians 5:13
  But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.”

Galatians

• Galatians 1:4
  Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:who gave Himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,

Ephesians

• Ephesians 5:16
  Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
• Ephesians 6:13
  Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.Therefore take up the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you will be able to stand your ground, and having done everything, to stand.
• Ephesians 6:16
  Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

Colossians

• Colossians 1:21
  And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciledOnce you were alienated from God and were hostile in your minds, engaging in evil deeds.

1 Thessalonians

• 1 Thessalonians 5:22
  Abstain from all appearance of evil.Abstain from every form of evil.

2 Thessalonians

• 2 Thessalonians 3:2
  And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith.And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men; for not everyone holds to the faith.
• 2 Thessalonians 3:3
  But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one.

1 Timothy

• 1 Timothy 6:4
  He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,he is conceited and understands nothing. Instead, he has an unhealthy interest in controversies and semantics, out of which come envy, strife, abusive talk, evil suspicions,

2 Timothy

• 2 Timothy 3:13
  But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.while evil men and imposters go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.
• 2 Timothy 4:18
  And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.And the Lord will rescue me from every evil action and bring me safely into His heavenly kingdom. To Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

Hebrews

• Hebrews 3:12
  Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.See to it, brothers, that none of you has a wicked heart of unbelief that turns away from the living God.
• Hebrews 10:22
  Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

James

• James 2:4
  Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
• James 4:16
  But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.As it is, you boast in your proud intentions. All such boasting is evil.

1 John

• 1 John 2:13
  I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father.I am writing to you, fathers, because you know Him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I have written to you, children, because you know the Father.
• 1 John 2:14
  I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.I have written to you, fathers, because you know Him who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.
• 1 John 3:12
  Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did Cain slay him? Because his own deeds were evil, while those of his brother were righteous.
• 1 John 5:18
  We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.We know that anyone born of God does not keep on sinning; the One who was born of God protects him, and the evil one cannot touch him.
• 1 John 5:19
  And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.We know that we are of God, and that the whole world is under the power of the evil one.

2 John

• 2 John 1:11
  For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.Whoever greets such a person shares in his evil deeds.

3 John

• 3 John 1:10
  Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church.So if I come, I will call attention to his malicious slander against us. And unsatisfied with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers and forbids those who want to do so, even putting them out of the church.

Revelation

• Revelation 16:2
  And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image.So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth, and loathsome, malignant sores broke out on those who had the mark of the beast and worshiped its image.

Notes

1. Definition and verse list from STEPBible's tagged Hebrew Old Testament (TAHOT) and Greek New Testament (TAGNT) and Brief Lexicons, STEPBible.org, CC BY 4.0.
2. English renderings from the public-domain KJV with Strong's numbers (eBible.org) and the Berean Standard Bible interlinear (public domain).