Bible Dictionary
FOUL
Foul means defiled, impure, wicked, muddied, or polluted. It can describe unclean spirits, contaminated waters, stormy weather, or a face marked by intense weeping.
Definition
Foul means defiled, impure, wicked, muddied, polluted, or affected by stormy weather. As a verb it can mean to trample or muddle, especially waters, and it may describe a face reddened by weeping. As an adjective it can describe an unclean spirit or foul weather.
Biblical Usage
Scripture speaks of foul or unclean spirits, polluted or muddied rivers and streams, stormy weather, and a face made red by weeping. The Revised Version often replaces foul with unclean, red, stormy, or other more specific terms.
Historical Bible Dictionaries
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>foul (raphas; akdthartos):</p><p>The verb "to foul" (defile) occurs as the translation of raphas, "to trample" or "muddle" (streams) (Eze 32:2; 34:18); of chalmar, "to burn," "to be red" (Job 16:16, "My face is foul with weeping," the American Standard Revised Version and the English Revised Version, margin "red"); of mirpas, "a treading" (Eze 34:19). The adjective is the translation of akathartos, "unclean," "impure," "wicked" (Mr 9:25; Re 18:2, "foul spirit," the Revised Version (British and American) "unclean"), and of cheimon, "winter," "stormy or foul weather" (Mt 16:3). the Revised Version (British and American) has "The rivers shall become foul" (Isa 19:6) instead of the King James Version "They shall turn the rivers far away," the English Revised Version "The rivers shall stink."</p><p>W. L. Walker</p>