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עֶוֶל

𐤏𐤅𐤋

ʻevel

H5766 noun

SILEX Entry

Root עול to act unjustly, to be perverse, to deal unfairly

Definition

An act, state, or condition of injustice, wrongdoing, or moral irregularity; refers to conduct that is unjust, corrupt, or not in alignment with social or divine norms. In some contexts, designates the result or effect of unjust action (an injustice or wrong committed). May describe both specific wrongful acts and a general pattern or state of moral defect or corruption.

Semantic Range

injustice, wrong, corruption, moral perversion, act of wickedness, violation of social or covenantal order, unjust gain, arbitrary or prejudiced action, pattern of corrupt behavior

Root / Etymology

Derived from the Hebrew root עול, typically conveying the idea of deviation from what is just or right, especially in social or legal contexts. The noun עֶוֶל reflects the abstraction of moral or ethical deviation, extending from concrete wrongful acts to general injustice or corruption. Related forms (e.g., עַוְלָה, עָוֶל) share this sense.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, עֶוֶל and its forms (such as עַוְלָה and עָוֶל) predominantly appear in legal or societal contexts, denoting violations of justice or established norms. The word is contrasted with צֶדֶק (ṣedeq, 'justice' or 'righteousness'), serving as its moral and judicial opposite. While English translations often use 'iniquity' or 'wickedness,' עֶוֶל has a primary focus on injustice (social, legal, ethical) rather than abstract 'evil.' In prophetic literature and wisdom texts, its use underscores societal corruption or the perversion of justice, particularly in the context of Israelite law and covenantal norms. Over time, the term expanded in poetry and later writings to encompass a wider moral sense, but it fundamentally retains a focus on behavior that subverts fairness or law, not merely internal disposition. Feminine forms such as עַוְלָה may indicate abstract quality ('injustice') or personification in poetic contexts. Later Hellenistic and post-biblical Hebrew use aligns with notions of wrongdoing, though direct equivalence to 'sin' (חֵטְא) should be avoided. English 'unjust' or 'injustice' best captures the base meaning; 'wickedness' can be misleadingly broad or moralized.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or עָוֶל; and (feminine) עַוְלָה; or עוֹלָה; or עֹלָה; from עֲוַל; (moral) evil; iniquity, perverseness, unjust(-ly), unrighteousness(-ly); wicked(-ness).

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

עול (ʿ-w-l) — to act unjustly, to be perverse, to deal unfairly

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H5759 עֲוִיל their nursing infants
H5760 עֲוִיל unjust man
H5763 עוּל to suckle
H5764 עוּל nursing infant of
H5765 עֲוַל from injustice

Word Forms

13 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H5766-02 עַוְלָ֖ה avelah HNcbsa iniquity injustice 21
H5766-01 עָ֨וֶל֙ avel HNcbsa iniquity injustice 16
H5766-03 עַוְלָ֖תָ/ה avelatah HNcbsa/Sh iniquity her injustice 3
H5766-04 בְּ/עַוְלָֽה beavelah HR/Ncbsa by iniquity in injustice 2
H5766-10 עוֹלֹ֪ת olot HNcbpa iniquities ascending-offerings 2
H5766-09 מֵ/עָ֖וֶל meavel HR/Ncbsa from iniquity from injustice 2
H5766-12 וְ/עַוְלָ֖ה veavelah HC/Ncbsa and unjust and injustice 2
H5766-07 בְּ/עֶ֨וֶל֙ beevel HR/Ncbsc in the iniquity of in injustice 1
H5766-13 וְ֝/עֹלָ֗תָ/ה veolatah HC/Ncbsa/Sh and-injustice injustice 1
H5766-11 וּ/בְ/עַוְל֥/וֹ uveavelo HC/R/Ncbsc/Sp3ms and in his iniquity and in his injustice 1

Occurrences in Scripture

54 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H5766-01 Leviticus 19:15 עָ֨וֶל֙ avel HNcbsa injustice injustice
H5766-01 Leviticus 19:35 עָ֖וֶל avel HNcbsa injustice injustice
H5766-01 Deuteronomy 25:16 עָֽוֶל avel HNcbsa injustice injustice
H5766-01 Deuteronomy 32:4 עָ֔וֶל avel HNcbsa injustice injustice
H5766-02 2 Samuel 3:34 עַוְלָ֖ה avelah HNcbsa wickedness injustice
H5766-02 2 Samuel 7:10 עַוְלָה֙ avelah HNcbsa iniquity injustice
H5766-02 Isaiah 59:3 עַוְלָ֥ה avelah HNcbsa injustice injustice
H5766-01 Jeremiah 2:5 עָ֔וֶל avel HNcbsa iniquity injustice
H5766-01 Ezekiel 3:20 עָ֔וֶל avel HNcbsa iniquity injustice
H5766-09 Ezekiel 18:8 מֵ/עָ֖וֶל meavel HR/Ncbsa from injustice from injustice
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