yetzer hara

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English

Etymology

From Hebrew יֵצֶר הַרַע.

Noun

yetzer hara (uncountable)

  1. (Judaism) The human inclination toward evil.
    • 2001, David L. Lieber, Jules Harlow, Etz Hayim: Torah and Commentary, page 11:
      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.