Sin

Greek and Hebrew words for Sin


Biblical words for sin

Hebrew

The Old Testament uses 6 different nouns and 3 verbs to describe sin:

râ?âh

This term is used more than 600 times and is most often translated as "evil" or "bad" (^[Strong's\ #7451]^). It carries the implication of something that is contrary to God's nature.

cha??â'âh

This term is used almost 300 times and is most often translated as "sin" or "offense" (^[Strong's\ #2403]^). It carries the implication of that which is deserving of punishment.

râshâ?

This term is used more than 250 times and is most often translated as "wicked" (^[Strong's\ #7563]^). It carries the implication of something that is morally wrong.

?âvôn

This term is used more than 200 times and is most often translated as "iniquity" ^[Strong's\ #5771]^). It carries the implication of being perverse, crooked or twisted.

pesha?

This term is used almost 100 times and is most often translated as "transgression" (^[Strong's\ #6588]^). It carries the implication of rebellion.

'âsham

This term is used more than 30 times and is most often translated as "guilty" (^[Strong's\ #816]^). It carries the implication of offense or trespass.

tâ?âh

50 hits ^[Strong's\ #8582]^ A primitive root; to vacillate, that is, reel or stray (literally or figuratively); also causatively of both: - (cause to) go astray, deceive, dissemble, (cause to, make to) err, pant, seduce, (make to) stagger, (cause to) wander, be out of the way.

pâsha?

41 hits ^[Strong's\ #6586]^ A primitive root (rather identical with H6585 through the idea of expansion); to break away (from just authority), that is, trespass, apostatize, quarrel: - offend, rebel, revolt, transgress (-ion, -or).

shâgâh

21 hits ^[Strong's\ #7686]^ A primitive root; to stray (causatively mislead), usually (figuratively) to mistake, especially (morally) to transgress; by extension (through the idea of intoxication) to reel, (figuratively) be enraptured: - (cause to) go astray, deceive, err, be ravished, sin through ignorance, (let, make to) wander.

Greek nouns

hamartia

174 hits ^[Strong's\ #266]^ From G264; sin (properly abstract): - offence, sin (-ful).

parapt?ma

23 hits ^[Strong's\ #3900]^ From G3895; a side slip (lapse or deviation), that is, (unintentional) error or (wilful) transgression: - fall, fault, offence, sin, trespass. (Galatians 6:1)

parabasis

7 hits ^[Strong's\ #3847]^ From G3845; violation: - breaking, transgression.

asebeia

6 hits ^[Strong's\ #763]^ From G765; impiety, that is, (by implication) wickedness: - ungodly (-liness). (Romans 1:18)

hamart?ma

4 hits ^[Strong's\ #265]^ From G264; a sin (properly concrete): - sin.

Greek adjectives

pon?ros

76 hits ^[Strong's\ #4190]^ From a derivative of G4192; hurtful, that is, evil (properly in effect or influence, and thus differing from G2556, which refers rather to essential character, as well as from G4550, which indicates degeneracy from original virtue); figuratively calamitous; also (passively) ill, that is, diseased; but especially (morally) culpable, that is, derelict, vicious, facinorous; neuter (singular) mischief, malice, or (plural) guilt; masculine (singular) the devil, or (plural) sinners: - bad, evil, grievous, harm, lewd, malicious, wicked (-ness). See also G4191. (Matthew 5:45)

kakos

51 hits ^[Strong's\ #2556]^ Apparently a primary word; worthless (intrinsically such; whereas G4190 properly refers to effects), that is, (subjectively) depraved, or (objectively) injurious: - bad, evil, harm, ill, noisome, wicked. (Romans 13:3)

adikos

12 hits ^[Strong's\ #94]^ From G1 (as a negative particle) and G1349; unjust; by extension wicked; by implication treacherous; specifically heathen: - unjust, unrighteous. (I Corinthians 6:9)

anomos

10 hits ^[Strong's\ #459]^ From G1 (as a negative particle) and G3551; lawless, that is, (negatively) not subject to (the Jewish) law; (by implication a Gentile), or (positively) wicked: - without law, lawless, transgressor, unlawful, wicked. (I Timothy 1:9)

enochos

10 hits ^[Strong's\ #1777]^ From G1758; liable to (a condition, penalty or imputation): - in danger of, guilty of, subject to. (Matthew 5:21)

Greek verbs

hamartan?

43 hits ^[Strong's\ #264]^ Perhaps from G1 (as a negative particle) and the base of G3313; properly to miss the mark (and so not share in the prize), that is, (figuratively) to err, especially (morally) to sin: - for your faults, offend, sin, trespass. (I Corinthians 6:18)

plana?

39 hits ^[Strong's\ #4105]^ From G4106; to (properly cause to) roam (from safety, truth, or virtue): - go astray, deceive, err, seduce, wander, be out of the way. (I Corinthians 6:9)

parabain?

4 hits ^[Strong's\ #3845]^ From G3844 and the base of G939; to go contrary to, that is, violate a command: - (by) transgress (-ion).