The meaning of Mischief in the Bible
(From International Standard Bible Encyclopedia)

mis'-chif: The word, in the sense of "hurt" or "evil" befalling, plotted against, or done to, anyone, represents a variety of Hebrew terms (e.g. 'acon, the King James Version Genesis 42:4; Genesis 44:29; Exodus 21:22; ra', I Samuel 23:9; II Samuel 16:8; I Kings 11:25, etc.; 'amal, Psalms 7:14, Psalms 7:16; Psalms 10:7, Psalms 10:14; Proverbs 24:2, etc.). Sometimes the Revised Version (British and American) changes the word, as to "evil" (Exodus 32:12, Exodus 32:22); in Acts 13:10, to "villany" (rhadiourgia).

In the Revised Version (British and American) Apocrypha the word is used for kaka, "evils," Additions to Esther 13:5 (compare Sirach 19:28); kakia, "evil," 1 Macc 7:23; and Latin malum, "evil," 2 Esdras 15:56. "Mischievous" is used, Additions to Esther 14:19, for ponereuomai, "to be evil." The use in the King James Version Apocrypha is considerably more extended (Sirach 11:33; 19:27; 27:27, etc.).

James Orr

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