Topical Encyclopedia
The term "wickedly" in the Bible is used to describe actions, thoughts, or behaviors that are morally wrong, sinful, or in direct opposition to God's commandments. It is often associated with the deliberate and conscious choice to act in a manner that is contrary to the righteousness and holiness that God desires from His people.
Old Testament UsageIn the Old Testament, the Hebrew word often translated as "wickedly" is "רָשָׁע" (rasha), which conveys the idea of being guilty or criminal. The concept of acting wickedly is frequently addressed in the context of the covenant relationship between God and Israel. For instance, in
Deuteronomy 9:4, Moses warns the Israelites not to attribute their success in conquering the land to their own righteousness, but rather to recognize that it is because of the wickedness of the nations that God is driving them out: "When the LORD your God has driven them out before you, do not say in your heart, ‘The LORD has brought me in to possess this land because of my righteousness.’ No, it is on account of the wickedness of these nations that the LORD is driving them out before you."
The Psalms frequently contrast the ways of the wicked with the ways of the righteous.
Psalm 1:1-2, for example, highlights the blessedness of the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked: "Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, or set foot on the path of sinners, or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on His law he meditates day and night."
New Testament UsageIn the New Testament, the Greek word "πονηρῶς" (ponēros) is often used to describe wicked actions. The New Testament continues the theme of contrasting wickedness with righteousness, emphasizing the transformative power of the Gospel to turn individuals from wickedness to righteousness. In
Acts 3:26, Peter speaks to the people, saying, "When God raised up His servant, He sent Him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways."
The Apostle Paul, in his letters, frequently admonishes believers to avoid wickedness and to live lives that reflect their new identity in Christ. In
Ephesians 4:22-24, Paul instructs the believers to "put off your former way of life, your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be renewed in the spirit of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness."
Theological ImplicationsFrom a theological perspective, acting wickedly is not merely a matter of external behavior but is rooted in the condition of the human heart.
Jeremiah 17:9 states, "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?" This underscores the need for divine intervention and transformation through the Holy Spirit, as human efforts alone are insufficient to overcome the inherent sinfulness of the heart.
The Bible consistently calls for repentance and a turning away from wickedness, emphasizing that God's desire is for all to come to repentance and to live in accordance with His will. The call to forsake wickedness is a call to align oneself with God's purposes and to live a life that reflects His character and holiness.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(
adv.) In a wicked manner; in a manner, or with motives and designs, contrary to the divine law or the law of morality; viciously; corruptly; immorally.
Greek
91. adikeo -- to do wrong, actwickedly... to do wrong, act
wickedly. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: adikeo Phonetic
Spelling: (ad-ee-keh'-o) Short Definition: I act unjustly towards Definition: I
...Strong's Hebrew
7561. rasha -- to be wicked, actwickedly... 7560, 7561. rasha. 7562 . to be wicked, act
wickedly. Transliteration: rasha
Phonetic Spelling: (raw-shah') Short Definition: condemn.
...7489a. raa -- to be evil, bad
... Word Origin denominative verb from ra Definition to be evil, bad NASB Word Usage
act sowickedly (1), actwickedly (1), actedwickedly (1), acted...wickedly (1...
4209. mezimmah -- purpose, discretion, device
... devices (1), intent (1), plans (1), plot (1), plots (1), purpose (2), purposes
(1), schemer* (1), thoughts (1), vile deeds (1), wicked schemes (1),wickedly (1...
7564. rishah -- wickedness
... Word Origin from the same as rasha Definition wickedness NASB Word Usage evildoer*
(1), guilt (1),wickedly (1), wickedness (11). fault, wickedness....
7451b. ra -- evil, distress, misery, injury, calamity
... 7), calamity (4), disaster (2), evil (94), harm (2), harmful (1), hurt (1), ruin
(3), surely (1), trouble (2), unpleasant (1),wickedly (1), wickedness (1)....
5753. avah -- to bend, twist
... literally or figuratively (as follows) -- do amiss, bow down, make crooked, commit
iniquity, pervert, (do) perverse(-ly), trouble, X turn, dowickedly, do wrong...
7463a. raah -- evil, misery, distress, injury
... 6), misfortunes (1), pain (1), situation (1), sorrow (1), trouble (9), troubles
(1), very* (1), wicked (3), wicked deeds (1),wickedly (1), wickedness (39...
Library
SomeWickedly Act Independently of the Bishop.
... Chapter IV."Somewickedly act independently of the bishop. It is fitting,
then, not only to be called Christians, but to be so...
Zain.
... is "word.". 52. The next verse is, "The proud dealt exceedingwickedly: yet
have I not shrinked from Thy law" (ver.51). By the proud...
The Recovery and Revival of the Blessed Hope Itself.
... Many shall be purified, and made white and tried; but the wicked shall dowickedly:
and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand." [9...
Commandment Fourth. On Putting One's Wife Away for Adultery.
... for repentance is great wisdom. [173] For he who has sinned understands that he
actedwickedly in the... For he feels that he has sinned and actedwickedly.--Vat....
How those are to be Admonished who Abstain not from the Sins which...
... forsake them not are to be admonished to learn to consider anxiously that they cleanse
themselves in vain by their weeping, if theywickedly defile themselves...
National Sins and Miseries
... "Lo, I have sinned, and I have donewickedly: But these sheep, what have they done?"...
It behoves each of us to say, "Lo, I have sinned; I have donewickedly."....
Commandment Tenth. Of Grief, and not Grieving the Spirit of God...
... For every cheerful man does what is good, and minds what is good, and despises
grief; [215] but the sorrowful man always actswickedly....
Not Now, but Hereafter!
... of the Lord's displeasure, and I beg the modern Bildads and Zophars to reconsider
their position, lest they too should be found to be "speakingwickedly for God...
Infant Salvation
... observation. It has beenwickedly, lyingly, and slanderously said of Calvinists,
that we believe that some little children perish....
Commandments to Men.
... That We Ought Not to Be Over-Curious About Those Who LiveWickedly, But
to Be Intent Upon Our Own Proper Employment. IV. Thou shalt...
Thesaurus
Wickedly (34 Occurrences)... Multi-Version Concordance
Wickedly (34 Occurrences).
... (WEY). Genesis 19:7 He said,
"Please, my brothers, don't act so
wickedly. (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV).
...Iniquitously (6 Occurrences)
... (adv.) In an iniquitous manner; unjustly;wickedly.... Psalms 106:6 We have sinned with
our fathers, We have committed iniquity, we have donewickedly. (See JPS)....
Perversely (15 Occurrences)
... and make supplication to you in the land of those who carried them captive,
saying,'We have sinned, and have done perversely; we have dealtwickedly;' (WEB...
Acted (98 Occurrences)
... against me. (DBY). 2 Samuel 22:22 For I have kept the ways of Yahweh, and
have notwickedly departed from my God. (See NAS). 2 Samuel...
Pervert (18 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). Job 34:12 Yes surely, God will
not dowickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert justice....
Dealt (130 Occurrences)
... and make supplication to you in the land of those who carried them captive,
saying,'We have sinned, and have done perversely; we have dealtwickedly;' (WEB...
Plead (64 Occurrences)
... and make supplication to you in the land of those who carried them captive,
saying,'We have sinned, and have done perversely; we have dealtwickedly;' (See...
Supplication (71 Occurrences)
... and make supplication to you in the land of those who carried them captive,
saying,'We have sinned, and have done perversely; we have dealtwickedly;' (WEB...
Omri (16 Occurrences)
... The testimony of 1 Kings 16:25, 26, that he "dealtwickedly above all that were
before him," coupled with the reference to "the statutes of Omri" in Micah 6:16...
Repent (74 Occurrences)
... and make supplication to you in the land of those who carried them captive,
saying,'We have sinned, and have done perversely; we have dealtwickedly;' (WEB...
Resources
Who was Eli in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgWas the American Revolution a violation of Romans 13:1-7? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does the Bible say about bestiality? | GotQuestions.orgWickedly: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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