Lexicon
κακός
kakos
G2556G
G:A Greek

evil/harm: evil

50
Occurrences
19
Books
Greek
Language

kakos denotes what is morally wrong, harmful, or bad, whether in deeds, persons, desires, or adverse effects.

The attested use most often identifies what is opposed to good in conduct, intentions, and moral evaluation; it also describes harmful effects or adverse experiences and characterizes people, workers, company, and other entities as bad. The forms occur in contrasts with good, in warnings against retaliation and wrongdoing, and in descriptions of injury or affliction.

Senses in use

  1. Wrong conduct or what is opposed to good · dominant

    Neuter forms repeatedly mark what people are not to desire, do, repay, or imitate. In Romans 13:10 the APB renders the clause “Love does not work evil to the neighbor,” while 1 Peter 3:9 and 1 Thessalonians 5:15 frame it in the prohibition against returning it for it; Romans 7:19 contrasts the evil done with the good desired.

  2. Harm, injury, or adverse experience · occasional

    In several clauses the neuter form concerns damage or distress rather than a described moral act. In Acts 16:28 the APB renders Paul’s warning “Do no harm to yourself,” Acts 28:5 says that he “suffered no harm,” and 2 Timothy 4:14 reports that Alexander “did me much harm.”

  3. Bad people, qualities, or associated things · occasional

    Masculine and feminine plural or singular forms characterize persons and things within their clauses. Matthew 21:41 speaks of “evil men,” Philippians 3:2 of “evil workers,” and 1 Corinthians 15:33 describes “bad company”; Matthew 24:48 similarly characterizes a slave.

In the Anselm Project Bible: The APB commonly uses “evil” in moral contrasts and descriptions of conduct, but also uses “harm” where the clause concerns injury and “bad” for company. These renderings confirm the clause-level presentation rather than supplying a separate definition for each occurrence.

Passages featuring this word

Across Scripture