Mischievous to the Church. See on Luk 3:19. The usage of the Septuagint emphasizes the idea of active harmfulness. The word has, however, in some passages, the sense of niggardly or grudging, and the Hebrew word which is usually translated by πονηρός mischievous, is sometimes rendered by βάσκανος malignant, with a distinct reference to the “evil” or “grudging eye.” This sense may go to explain Mat 20:15, and possibly Mat 6:19, and Mat 7:11.