Define

• Not in right standing with Yah/God, describes actions, behaviors, or individuals that are contrary to God’s moral law, justice, or righteousness. It refers to those who sin, act unjustly, or fail to align with God’s standards of holiness and justice (e.g., Psalm 92:15, Romans 1:18, 1 John 5:17).-
• There is no single dedicated Hebrew adjective exactly “unrighteous,” but Scripture expresses the idea with:
  • rasha (רָשָׁע) – wicked, guilty, morally wrong (Prov 11:5; Ps 1:4–6).
  • ‘awal / ‘awlah (עַוַל/עַוְלָה) – unjust, wrong, iniquitous (Ps 92:15; Isa 10:1).
• adikos (ἄδικος) – unjust, wrong, not conforming to God’s standard (Luke 16:10–11; 1 Cor 6:9).
• Contrasts directly with δίκαιος (Righteous)

Related words

• chattā’āh (חַטָּאָה): Sin
• pesha‘ (פֶּשַׁע): Transgression, rebellion, often associated with the wicked (rāshā‘)
• anomia (ἀνομία) Lawlessness, iniquity, often parallel to unrighteousness
• Righteous
• Righteousness
• Unrighteous
• wicked
• Lawless (ἀνόμος – 2 Thess 2:8)
• ungodly (ἀσεβής – Jude 4)
• evil
• perverse

Additional Info

• The words ‘āwel and rāshā‘ appear frequently in Psalms and Proverbs, contrasting the righteous and unrighteous (e.g., Psalm 1:1–6). In the New Testament, adikos and adikia are common in Paul’s letters, emphasizing God’s judgment and grace (Romans 6:13, 2 Corinthians 6:14).
• The unrighteous:
  • Do not inherit the kingdom of God (1 Cor 6:9).
  • Oppose the righteous (Ps 37; Prov 29:27).
  • Love injustice (Ps 52:3).
  • Suppress the truth (Rom 1:18).
• “Unrighteous” is frequently a legal or moral category.

Connections

• Opposite of righteous (Prov 29:27).
• Often appears with injustice, deceit, violence (Gen 6:11–13).
• Leads to divine judgment (Rom 1:18).
• Connected to unrighteous gain (Ezek 22; Luke 16:9).

Unrighteous Characteristics

Anger
Lust
Murder
Way of Death