{"id":20887,"date":"2023-01-22T12:31:45","date_gmt":"2023-01-22T20:31:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hoshanarabbah.org\/blog\/?p=20887"},"modified":"2023-01-26T06:49:41","modified_gmt":"2023-01-26T14:49:41","slug":"did-elohim-create-evil-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hoshanarabbah.org\/blog\/2023\/01\/22\/did-elohim-create-evil-3\/","title":{"rendered":"Did Elohim Create Evil?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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What or who is the source of evil on the earth?<\/strong> Is it God (YHVH Elohim), the devil or something else? This is a legitimate and honest question since so much evil exists all around us. If YHVH Elohim is the Creator of everything, then does this mean that he also created evil? If so, then how can this be, since the Bible reveals that YHVH is all good, loving, holy, righteous and sinless and perfect? If not, then who or what is the source of evil? It is important to understand the source and origin of evil, for the answer reflects either positively or negatively on the innate character of Elohim and the validity of the Bible, which promotes itself as the inspired Word of Elohim.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The answers to the question of who created evil seem like an unanswerable conundrums to many people. In attempt to resolve this issue, too many people have thrown up their hands in frustration only to become agnostics or even atheists. In reality, the answer is quite simple, and no one\u2019s faith needs to be shaken much less obliterated as we will discover below. Frankly, to answer this seeming perplexing question, it is necessary to stop thinking like finite humans, start thinking outside the paradigmatic box of our physical earthly existence and understand the concept of evil from a biblical, heavenly and logical perspective. It is then that the answer as to the source and origin of evil neatly reveals itself as we are about to discover below. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The belief that YHVH Elohim created evil is often based on a single passage in the Bible. In Isaiah 45:7 we read, <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI [YHVH speaking] form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I, YHVH, do all these things.\u201d (KJV, emphasis added)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Based on this verse, some people believe that all the evil that occurs in the world is YHVH\u2019s fault. The stickler, however, is this: If he is the creator of evil, how can everything about him and all that he does also be good?  Because of the belief that YHVH created everything including evil, some people have refused to serve and obey YHVH and questioned or even rejected his Truth as found in the Bible. After all, they reason, how can we believe much less serve a God who claims to be good, yet who is also the creator and purveyor of evil? These are valid considerations that need addressing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addressing this issue, let\u2019s first ask a simple question. What does the Bible mean when YHVH says, \u201cI create evil,\u201d? For a better understanding of this seeming enigmatic phrase in Isaiah, let us look at how some other English Bibles translate this same verse. As we are about to discover, there is not a unanimous consensus among Bible translators as to the exact meaning of the biblical Hebrew word for evil<\/em>. We will soon see that the biblical definition of evil<\/em> is perhaps broader than at first thought. This alone can change one\u2019s perspective dramatically regarding one\u2019s understanding of the concept of evil<\/em>. Perhaps our perspective is limited resulting in our coming to wrong conclusions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I form the light and create darkness, I make peace and create calamity [Heb. ra<\/em>]; I, the LORD, do all these things.\u2019 (NKJV, emphasis added)<\/p>

I form the light and create the darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster [Heb. ra<\/em>]; I the LORD, do all these things. (NIV, emphasis added)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

I form light and create darkness, I make well-being and create calamity [Heb. ra<\/em>], I am the LORD, who does all these things. (ESV, emphasis added)<\/p>

I form light, I create darkness; I make well-being, I create woe [Heb. ra<\/em>]; I, ADONAI, do all these things. (CJB, emphasis added)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Based on how other Bibles translate the Hebrew word for evil<\/em>, this begs an important question. What is the biblical Hebrew word for evil<\/em> and what is its definition in light of the fact that different Bibles translate the Hebrew word for evil<\/em> so differently? The Hebrew word in question is ra <\/em>or ra\u2019ah<\/em> It is the generic Hebrew word meaning \u201cevil\u201d, but, as we see below, it can mean much more than \u201cevil\u201d (as quoted from the Online Bible Deluxe Software Program):\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n