Unmasking Evil: When "Ra" Hides in Plain Sight

In a previous post, I uncovered something extraordinary: the Hebrew word רַע (ra), meaning “evil,” is used exactly 666 times in the Old Testament. That’s not folklore — that’s a word count backed by the Hebrew text. You can read that post here.

But here's where it gets even more real: not every appearance of ra is translated as "evil."

The Bible uses a variety of English words to disguise or soften the blow. It’s still the same Hebrew root — but the English makes it sound like everything from a stomach bug to a sour mood.

Evil by Any Other Name…

The translators didn’t always use “evil.” Instead, they gave us:

• Bad
• Wicked
• Ill-favored
• Trouble
• Mischief
• Grievous
• Hurt
• Noisome
• Sore
• Naughty
• Unkind
• Unpleasant

Let that soak in: when you read about “mischief,” “naughty,” or even “ill-favored” in the King James Bible, you're seeing the same word used to describe the spiritual rot of sin, disobedience, and rebellion — *ra*.

📖 Example Scriptures

• Genesis 41:3 – “...seven other cows came up... ill-favored and lean-fleshed.” (Ra used to symbolize famine and judgment)
• Deuteronomy 30:15 – “I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil.” (A spiritual dividing line)
• Psalm 91:3 – “...from the noisome pestilence.” (Ra as deadly disease)
• Jeremiah 18:11 – “...Behold, I frame evil against you…” (Ra in judgment prophecy)
• Jeremiah 24:2 – “One basket had very good figs, even like the figs that are first ripe: and the other basket had very naughty figs…” (Ra as moral rejection)

Same root. Same meaning. Different mask.

The devil doesn’t always show up wearing horns. Sometimes he just whispers, “It’s not that bad.”

Tying it Together with Revelation 13

Revelation 13:18 told us to count. Not to speculate. Not to spiritualize. To literally count the number.

And when we did, we found that evil is woven into the Bible — all the way through 666 verses. But even more powerful? It stops after Nehemiah. Right before Esther. Right before Babylon gets called out. Right before a remnant rises.

God gave us a code. And He gave us eyes to see it.

Want to go deeper? Get the full list of 666 verses and see for yourself:

📄 View Full Verse List (PDF)

Written by: Nana Creamer