The Hebrew verb rasha means to be wicked, to act wickedly, or in a judicial context, to pronounce someone guilty and condemn them. It is the verbal root of rasha (H7563, the noun 'wicked person') and describes active moral evil and legal condemnation.
Rasha describes not merely those who make mistakes but those who willfully choose evil — the wicked who deliberately oppose God's order. In legal texts, it means to render a verdict of guilty, to pronounce condemnation. In wisdom literature, the wicked are constantly contrasted with the righteous (tsaddiq).
Theologically, rasha underscores the moral seriousness of choosing evil. God does not condemn (rasha) the innocent (Exodus 23:7). The contrast between the righteous and the wicked is foundational to biblical ethics and eschatology.