To truly understand the truth, we must first turn to the oldest scriptures—the Old Hebrew Bible. Only by grasping its teachings can we fully comprehend the message of the New Testament. Jesus did not come to establish a new religion; He came to restore and heal what had been broken. His mission was to fulfill and complete God's plan, not to create something entirely separate. Understanding the roots of our faith in the Old Hebrew Bible is key to understanding the fullness of His purpose.

Understanding "Ra" (רַע) in Simple Terms

Understanding "Ra" (רַע) in the Hebrew Bible
In the Hebrew Bible, the word Ra (רַע) has a range of meanings, but it generally refers to something that is broken, corrupted, or not functioning as it should. It is important to understand that Ra does not always mean "evil" in the sense of a cosmic battle between good and bad forces. Instead, it often signifies disorder, calamity, or spiritual dysfunction that comes from human actions or disobedience to God’s will. Here’s a breakdown of how Ra is used in different contexts:

Ra as Moral Corruption (Genesis 6:5)

In Genesis 6:5, Ra'ath (רָעַת) refers to moral corruption—the wickedness of humanity before the flood. God saw that the thoughts and inclinations of the human heart were only evil (Ra) continually. This moral evil was the cause of the flood, as the world had become entirely corrupted and no longer aligned with God’s intended purpose. Here, Ra signifies spiritual decay and the brokenness of creation when people turn away from God’s will.

 Ra as Calamity or Disaster (Amos 3:6)

In Amos 3:6, Ra'ah (רָעָה) refers to calamity or disaster. This is not moral evil but a negative consequence—often a divine judgment. The verse emphasizes that no disaster comes without God’s involvement or permission. Ra'ah in this context means a calamity or misfortune that God brings to a people as a response to their disobedience. This shows that Ra in Hebrew thought is not an independent force of evil, but something that God allows or sends in response to human sin.

Ra as Corruption and Uselessness (Jeremiah 24:2)

In Jeremiah 24:2, the bad figs represent people who rejected God’s correction. Here, Ra refers to corruption or uselessness. The bad figs are spoiled, rotten, and no longer fulfill their intended purpose. Ra here signifies spiritual disorder and dysfunction, reflecting how people can become spiritually "worthless" when they choose to remain in their sinful state rather than follow God’s ways.

Ra as Disorder in Creation (Genesis 1:31)

In Genesis 1, after God created the world, He saw that everything was Tov (good). But by Genesis 6, humanity had become Ra, deviating from God’s design and creating disorder. The concept of Ra here highlights the disruption of the intended order in creation and the moral decay that follows when humanity rejects God’s ways.

Hebrew thought often viewed Ra as the consequence of rejecting God’s ways, rather than an independent force opposing good.

Theological Understanding of Ra

In Hebrew thought, Ra does not describe an independent force of evil, but rather a corruption or disorder in the world due to human choices. Ra represents what goes wrong when humanity turns away from God’s order, whether through moral corruption, calamity, or spiritual dysfunction.

Ra can refer to moral evil when people turn away from God’s commands (as in Genesis 6:5).
Ra can refer to calamity or disaster that God allows as a response to human sin (as in Amos 3:6).
Ra can refer to uselessness or corruption in things that no longer serve their purpose (as in Jeremiah 24:2).

Conclusion

In summary, Ra (רַע) in the Hebrew Bible represents disorder or corruption, whether in the form of moral evil, disasters, or spiritual dysfunction. It is the result of humanity’s rejection of God’s order, leading to brokenness and hardship. Understanding Ra as brokenness and spiritual decay helps us see that, in the Hebrew worldview, evil is not just an external force but the consequences of turning away from God’s intended path.