Meanings
nounyetzer hara (uncountable)
- JudaismuncountableThe human inclination toward evil.
According to the Midrash, this [that which God said was "very good" in Gen. 1] includes the egocentric drive, the yeitzer ha-ra, sometimes described as the "evil impulse". Without it, no one would build a house, establish a business, marry, or raise a family.
2001, David L. Lieber, Jules Harlow, Etz Hayim: Torah and Commentary, page 11
Origin
- Hebrewיֵצֶר הַרַע
- Englishyetzer hara
From Hebrew יֵצֶר הַרַע.
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Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
APA
yetzer hara. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/yetzer%20hara
MLA
“yetzer hara.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/yetzer%20hara. Accessed November 4, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “yetzer hara,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/yetzer%20hara.
Source: yetzer hara on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.