Evil אֱוִיל

Evil (Hebrew אֱוִיל, Strong's H191) is a Hebrew adjective meaning “fool(ish)”. It occurs 26 times in 26 verses of the Old Testament.

Definition

From the STEPBible Brief Lexicon of Hebrew (based on the abridged Brown-Driver-Briggs), STEPBible.org, CC BY 4.0.

Translated as

Topics

• Foolishness

Verses

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

Job

• Job 5:2
  For wrath killeth the foolish man, and envy slayeth the silly one.For resentment kills a fool, and envy slays the simple.
• Job 5:3
  I have seen the foolish taking root: but suddenly I cursed his habitation.I have seen a fool taking root, but suddenly his house was cursed.

Psalms

• Psalm 107:17
  Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted.Fools, in their rebellious ways, and through their iniquities, suffered affliction.

Proverbs

• Proverbs 1:7
  The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
• Proverbs 7:22
  He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks;He follows her on impulse, like an ox going to the slaughter, like a deer bounding into a trap,
• Proverbs 10:8
  The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a prating fool shall fall.A wise heart will receive commandments, but foolish lips will come to ruin.
• Proverbs 10:10
  He that winketh with the eye causeth sorrow: but a prating fool shall fall.He who winks the eye causes grief, and foolish lips will come to ruin.
• Proverbs 10:14
  Wise men lay up knowledge: but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction.The wise store up knowledge, but the mouth of the fool invites destruction.
• Proverbs 10:21
  The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom.The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of judgment.
• Proverbs 11:29
  He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind: and the fool shall be servant to the wise of heart.He who brings trouble on his house will inherit the wind, and the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.
• Proverbs 12:15
  The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to counsel.
• Proverbs 12:16
  A fool’s wrath is presently known: but a prudent man covereth shame.A fool’s anger is known at once, but a prudent man overlooks an insult.
• Proverbs 14:3
  In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them.The proud speech of a fool brings a rod to his back, but the lips of the wise protect them.
• Proverbs 14:9
  Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favour.Fools mock the making of amends, but goodwill is found among the upright.
• Proverbs 15:5
  A fool despiseth his father’s instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent.A fool rejects his father’s discipline, but whoever heeds correction is prudent.
• Proverbs 16:22
  Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it: but the instruction of fools is folly.Understanding is a fountain of life to its possessor, but the discipline of fools is folly.
• Proverbs 17:28
  Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.Even a fool is considered wise if he keeps silent, and discerning when he holds his tongue.
• Proverbs 20:3
  It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.It is honorable for a man to resolve a dispute, but any fool will quarrel.
• Proverbs 24:7
  Wisdom is too high for a fool: he openeth not his mouth in the gate.Wisdom is too high for a fool; he does not open his mouth in the meeting place.
• Proverbs 27:3
  A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty; but a fool’s wrath is heavier than them both.A stone is heavy and sand is a burden, but aggravation from a fool outweighs them both.
• Proverbs 27:22
  Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar among wheat with a pestle, yet will not his foolishness depart from him.Though you grind a fool like grain with mortar and a pestle, yet his folly will not depart from him.
• Proverbs 29:9
  If a wise man contendeth with a foolish man, whether he rage or laugh, there is no rest.If a wise man goes to court with a fool, there will be raving and laughing with no resolution.

Isaiah

• Isaiah 19:11
  Surely the princes of Zoan are fools, the counsel of the wise counsellors of Pharaoh is become brutish: how say ye unto Pharaoh, I am the son of the wise, the son of ancient kings?The princes of Zoan are mere fools; Pharaoh’s wise counselors give senseless advice. How can you say to Pharaoh, “I am one of the wise, a son of eastern kings”?
• Isaiah 35:8
  And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.And there will be a highway called the Way of Holiness. The unclean will not travel it— only those who walk in the Way— and fools will not stray onto it.

Jeremiah

• Jeremiah 4:22
  For my people is foolish, they have not known me; they are sottish children, and they have none understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.“For My people are fools; they have not known Me. They are foolish children, without understanding. They are skilled in doing evil, but they know not how to do good.”

Hosea

• Hosea 9:7
  The days of visitation are come, the days of recompence are come; Israel shall know it: the prophet is a fool, the spiritual man is mad, for the multitude of thine iniquity, and the great hatred.The days of punishment have come; the days of retribution have arrived— let Israel know it. The prophet is called a fool, and the inspired man insane, because of the greatness of your iniquity and hostility.

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).