What does רָעַע · יָטַב mean in the Bible?
e. bad (physically, socially or morally)".
Hebrew · H7489, H3190
לְהָרַע אוֹ לְהֵיטִיב
Properly, to spoil (literally, by breaking to pieces); figuratively, to make (or be ) good for nothing , i.e. bad (physically, socially or morally) · to be (causative) make well , literally (sound, beautiful) or figuratively (happy, successful, right)
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Words in this compound — expand to study each participant
רָעַעH7489properly, to spoil (literally, by breaking to pieces); figuratively, to make (or be ) good for nothing , i.e. bad (physically, socially or morally)
Pronunciationrāʿaʿ
To damage or spoil through breaking; harm escalates from physical destruction to moral/social corruption.
Open lexicon entry →יָטַבH3190to be (causative) make well , literally (sound, beautiful) or figuratively (happy, successful, right)
Pronunciationyāṭab
Moves from physical wholeness to moral/relational goodness; denotes both state and deliberate action toward flourishing.
Open lexicon entry →What does לְהָרַע אוֹ לְהֵיטִיב (lĕhāraʿ ʾô lĕhêṭîḇ) mean in the Bible?
רָעַע · יָטַב is a Hebrew phrase meaning "properly, to spoil (literally, by breaking to pieces); figuratively, to make (or be ) good for nothing , i.e. bad (physically, socially or morally)".
Full entry for לְהָרַע אוֹ לְהֵיטִיב (H7489, H3190) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How many biblical occurrences are listed for H7489, H3190?
H7489, H3190 is connected to 214 lexical occurrence verses in the lexicon data.
Evidence Summary
Hebrew phrase. properly, to spoil (literally, by breaking to pieces); figuratively, to make (or be ) good for nothing , i.e. bad (physically, socially or morally)
Source Gloss
properly, to spoil (literally, by breaking to pieces); figuratively, to make (or be ) good for nothing , i.e. bad (physically, socially or morally)
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups4Aligned forms63
Hiphilcausative active — the subject causes someone else to perform the action48×
Perfect2Kgs 21:11 · Exod 5:23 · Ps 74:3 · Ruth 1:21 · 1Chr 21:17 · Mic 4:6 · Num 16:15 · 1Kgs 17:20 · Exod 5:22 · Num 11:11 · Gen 43:6 · Gen 44:5 · Jer 16:12 · Jer 7:26 · Jer 38:9 · Mic 3:416×
Participle activeIsa 1:4 · Isa 14:20 · Isa 31:2 · Jer 20:13 · Jer 23:14 · Job 8:20 · Prov 17:4 · Ps 22:17 · Ps 26:5 · Ps 27:2 · Ps 37:9 · Ps 64:3 · Ps 92:12 · Ps 94:16 · Ps 119:11515×
ImperfectIsa 11:9 · Isa 65:25 · Jer 10:5 · Prov 4:16 · 1Sam 12:25 · Gen 19:7 · 1Sam 26:21 · Jer 25:6 · Gen 19:9 · Ps 44:3 · Zeph 1:1211×
Jussive1Chr 16:22 · Judg 19:23 · Ps 105:153×
Infinitive absolute1Sam 12:25 · Isa 1:162×
Infinitive constructJer 13:231×
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense11×
ImperfectDeut 15:10 · Job 34:24 · Deut 28:54 · Deut 28:56 · Neh 2:35×
Jussive2Sam 11:25 · Gen 21:122×
PerfectJer 40:4 · Num 22:342×
Sequential imperfectIsa 8:91×
Infinitive absoluteIsa 24:191×
Niphalpassive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action2×
ImperfectProv 11:15 · Prov 13:202×
Hithpolel1×
PerfectIsa 24:191×
Word Origins
לְהָרַע אוֹ לְהֵיטִיב is a primitive root - no further derivation.