bad: evil
ra denotes what is morally wrong, harmful, or set in contrast to what is good.
The term most often marks wrongful conduct, intentions, or conditions opposed to good; it also describes harm or an adverse outcome and occurs in stated contrasts between good and its opposite.
Senses in use
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Wrongful conduct, intent, or condition · dominant
In 2 Kings 21:9, the masculine singular absolute form describes what Manasseh led the people to do, and the APB renders the clause “to do evil.” In Ezekiel 11:2 it qualifies what the men devise, while Isaiah 59:7 places it with thoughts, violence, and bloodshed; Amos 5:15 commands rejection of it in contrast to loving good.
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Harm, trouble, or adverse outcome · common
In Genesis 48:16, the form occurs in a request for redemption from all that is adverse; the APB renders this “from all evil.” Genesis 44:34 speaks of what would come upon a father, Jeremiah 39:12 directs that no harm be done, and Job 2:10 sets receiving adversity alongside receiving good.
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The negative side of a good-and-bad contrast · common
In Genesis 2:9 and Genesis 2:17, the masculine singular absolute form occurs in the phrase concerning knowledge of good and its opposite. Deuteronomy 1:39 says the children had not known good and bad, while Isaiah 7:15 describes refusing the negative alternative and choosing the good.
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Unfavorable message or forecast · occasional
In 1 Kings 22:8, the masculine singular absolute form characterizes what the king expects Micaiah to prophesy about him, contrasted with good; the APB renders “only evil.” The same contrast recurs in 1 Kings 22:18 and 2 Chronicles 18:17, where the expected prophecy is not pleasant but adverse.
In the Anselm Project Bible: Across these verses, the APB commonly uses “evil,” while also using “harm,” “adversity,” and “bad” where the clause concerns injury or an adverse result. Because the APB is a whole-verse translation, those English choices show the verse-level presentation rather than fixed equivalents.