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The concept of “sin” lies at the heart of biblical theology as a rupture in humanity’s relationship with God. To grasp its depth, it is illuminating to explore the etymological roots of the words used for “sin” in the Bible, primarily in the Hebrew and Greek texts.
Hebrew: חַטָּאת (Chattat)
In the Hebrew Scriptures, the most common word translated as “sin” is chattat (חַטָּאת), derived from the root חָטָא (chata), meaning “to miss” or “to fail.” This verb often implies an act of deviation, particularly from a standard or goal, as seen in Judges 20:16, where it refers to missing a target with a sling.
Chattat frequently carries a cultic or moral connotation, referring not only to specific transgressions but also to the state of being separated from God due to disobedience. For example, Leviticus 4 uses the term to describe unintentional sins requiring sacrificial atonement. The imagery of “missing the mark” underscores the understanding of sin as a failure to align with God’s will.
Another Hebrew term, avon (עָוֹן), is often rendered “iniquity” and conveys the idea of perversity or guilt, while pesha (פֶּשַׁע) denotes transgression or rebellion, especially in covenantal contexts.
Together, these words highlight the multifaceted nature of sin: deviation, corruption, and willful defiance.
Greek: ἁμαρτία (Hamartia)
The New Testament predominantly uses the Greek word hamartia (ἁμαρτία) for sin. Like its Hebrew counterpart, it stems from an archery term meaning “to miss the mark.” In classical Greek, hamartia could also refer to errors in judgment or ignorance, but in the New Testament, it takes on profound theological significance.
Paul’s writings, such as Romans 3:23, employ hamartia to depict humanity’s universal failure to meet God’s standards. The term encapsulates both individual acts of sin and the broader condition of alienation from God.
Other Greek words enrich this understanding. Paraptoma (παράπτωμα), often translated as “trespass,” suggests a misstep or deviation from the right path. Anomia (ἀνομία), meaning “lawlessness,” highlights sin as active rebellion against divine law, reflecting yet another moral dimension of disobedience.
Theological implications
The etymological insights into these terms reveal a consistent biblical portrayal of sin as multifaceted: a failure to meet divine standards, a condition of estrangement, and an act of defiance.
By tracing these roots, one gains a clearer understanding of sin not merely as a list of transgressions but as a profound disruption in the human-divine relationship, necessitating redemption.
This article draws upon insights from the Etymological Dictionary of Biblical Hebrew: Based on the Commentaries of Samson Raphael Hirsch and the Etymological Dictionary of Greek (2010) by Robert Beekes. Commentaries are informed by these sources but are not exhaustive or definitive. Readers are encouraged to consult the original texts for deeper study and context.
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