Grafted Biblical Concept · Concept

Sin

חַטָּאת / related root חטאἁμαρτία · Hamartia · G266

Sin refers to human rebellion, failure, transgression, wrongdoing, or falling short of God's will.

151 Scripture references3 lexical sources14 supporting resources

Primary Study

Grafted Bible Dictionary

Definition

Sin refers to human rebellion, failure, transgression, wrongdoing, or falling short of God's will.
Different biblical terms emphasize different dimensions of sin.

Torah

The Torah distinguishes various forms of wrongdoing and provides mechanisms for:
• repentance
• restitution
• sacrifice
• purification
restoration of relationship following sin and repentance.">forgiveness

Sin as Rebellion

Sin is not merely making mistakes.
It includes violation of God's commands and rejection of His authority.

Yeshua

Yeshua's mission includes delivering people from sin.
See:
• Matthew 1:21
• Mark 2:5–12
• John 8:34–36

Paul

Yeshua whose mission focuses especially on proclaiming the gospel among Gentiles.">Paul presents sin as both individual action and an enslaving power.
Romans 5–8 is particularly important.

John

1 John 3:4 says:
"Sin is lawlessness."
This connects sin with rejection of divine instruction.

Universal Problem

Romans 3:23 declares:
"All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."
Editorial source: Grafted Bible Dictionary · Entry 74

Hebrew and Greek Word Study

Hebrew Word Study

חַטָּאת / related root חטא

Hebrew Bible Usage

View All Hebrew Occurrences

Greek Word Study

ἁμαρτία

hamartía · G0266

Hebrew Source

חַטָּאת / related root חטא

Unified Lexical Definition

ἁμαρτία, -ας, ἡ (ἁμαρτάνω, which see), [in LXX chiefly for חַטָּאת and cogn. forms, also for פֶּשַׁע ,עָוֹן, etc. ;] prop. a missing the mark; in cl. (see reff. to CR in MM, VGT, see word); __(a) guilt, sin (Plat., Arist., al.); __(b) more freq., from Æsch. down, a fault, failure. In NT (as LXX) always in ethical sense; __1. as a principle and quality of action, = τὸ ἁμαρτάνειν, a sinning, sin: Rom.5:12, 13 20; ὑφ᾽ ἁμαρτίαν εἶναι, Rom.3:9; ἐπιμένειν, Rom.6:1; ἀποθνήσκειν, νεκρὸν εἶναι τῇ ἁ., Rom.6:2, 11; τὴν ἀ. γινώσκειν, Rom.7:7; σῶμα τῆς ἁ., Rom.6:6; ἀπάτη τῆς ἁ., Heb.3:13; personified as a ruling principle, ἁ. βασιλεύει, κυριεύει, etc., Rom.5:21 6:12, 14 7:17, 20; δουλεύειν, Rom.6:6; δοῦλος τῆς ἁ., ib. 17; νόμος τῆς ἁ., Rom.7:23 8:2; δύναμις τῆς ἁ., 1Co.15:56 (cf. Gen.4:7). __2. As a generic term (disting. fr. the specific terms ἁμάρτημα, which see, etc.) for concrete wrongdoing, violation of the divine law, sin: Jhn.8:46, Jas.1:15, al.; ποιεῖν (τὴν) ἁ., Jhn.8:34, 2Co.11:7, 1Jn.3:8; εἴχειν ἁ., Jhn.9:41 15:22, 24 19:11, 1Jn.1:8; in pl. ἁμαρτίαι, sin in the aggregate, 1Th.2:16 (see Milligan, in l.); ποιεῖν ἁμαρτίας, Jas.5:15; πλῆθος ἁμαρτιῶν, Jas.5:20, 1Pe.4:8; ἄφεσις ἁμαρτιῶν, Mat.26:28, Mrk.1:4, al.; ἐν ἁμαρτίαις εἶναι, 1Co.15:17; collectively, αἴρειν τὴν ἁ. τ. κόσμου, Jhn.1:29; ἀποθνήσκειν ἐν τῇ ἁ., Jhn.8:21. __3. = ἁμάρτημα, a sinful deed, a sin: Mat.12:31, Act.7:60, 1Jn.5:16. SYN.: see: ἁμάρτημα. (AS) error; offence, sin; a principle or cause of sin; proneness to sin, sinful propensity; guilt or imputation of sin; a guilty subject, sin-offering, expiatory victim.

Lexical Sources

TBESGSTEPBible TBESG (based primarily on Abbott-Smith)

ἁμαρτία, -ας, ἡ (ἁμαρτάνω, which see), [in LXX chiefly for חַטָּאת and cogn. forms, also for פֶּשַׁע ,עָוֹן, etc. ;] prop. a missing the mark; in cl. (see reff. to CR in MM, VGT, see word); __(a) guilt, sin (Plat., Arist., al.); __(b) more freq., from Æsch. down, a fault, failure. In NT (as LXX) always in ethical sense; __1. as a principle and quality of action, = τὸ ἁμαρτάνειν, a sinning, sin: Rom.5:12, 13 20; ὑφ᾽ ἁμαρτίαν εἶναι, Rom.3:9; ἐπιμένειν, Rom.6:1; ἀποθνήσκειν, νεκρὸν εἶναι τῇ ἁ., Rom.6:2, 11; τὴν ἀ. γινώσκειν, Rom.7:7; σῶμα τῆς ἁ., Rom.6:6; ἀπάτη τῆς ἁ., Heb.3:13; personified as a ruling principle, ἁ. βασιλεύει, κυριεύει, etc., Rom.5:21 6:12, 14 7:17, 20; δουλεύειν, Rom.6:6; δοῦλος τῆς ἁ., ib. 17; νόμος τῆς ἁ., Rom.7:23 8:2; δύναμις τῆς ἁ., 1Co.15:56 (cf. Gen.4:7). __2. As a generic term (disting. fr. the specific terms ἁμάρτημα, which see, etc.) for concrete wrongdoing, violation of the divine law, sin: Jhn.8:46, Jas.1:15, al.; ποιεῖν (τὴν) ἁ., Jhn.8:34, 2Co.11:7, 1Jn.3:8; εἴχειν ἁ., Jhn.9:41 15:22, 24 19:11, 1Jn.1:8; in pl. ἁμαρτίαι, sin in the aggregate, 1Th.2:16 (see Milligan, in l.); ποιεῖν ἁμαρτίας, Jas.5:15; πλῆθος ἁμαρτιῶν, Jas.5:20, 1Pe.4:8; ἄφεσις ἁμαρτιῶν, Mat.26:28, Mrk.1:4, al.; ἐν ἁμαρτίαις εἶναι, 1Co.15:17; collectively, αἴρειν τὴν ἁ. τ. κόσμου, Jhn.1:29; ἀποθνήσκειν ἐν τῇ ἁ., Jhn.8:21. __3. = ἁμάρτημα, a sinful deed, a sin: Mat.12:31, Act.7:60, 1Jn.5:16. SYN.: see: ἁμάρτημα. (AS)

Lemma
ἁμαρτία
Meaning
sin
View original lexicon entry
{
    "type": "abbott-smith",
    "slug": "g0266",
    "title": "ἁμαρτία",
    "source": "STEPBible TBESG (based primarily on Abbott-Smith)",
    "strong": "G0266",
    "language": "greek",
    "lemma": "ἁμαρτία",
    "transliteration": "hamartia",
    "pronunciation": "",
    "part_of_speech": "G:N-F",
    "meaning": "",
    "description": "",
    "definition": "ἁμαρτία, -ας, ἡ (ἁμαρτάνω, which see), [in LXX chiefly for חַטָּאת and cogn. forms, also for פֶּשַׁע ,עָוֹן, etc. ;] prop. a missing the mark; in cl. (see reff. to CR in MM, VGT, see word); __(a) guilt, sin (Plat., Arist., al.); __(b) more freq., from Æsch. down, a fault, failure. In NT (as LXX) always in ethical sense; __1. as a principle and quality of action, = τὸ ἁμαρτάνειν, a sinning, sin: Rom.5:12, 13 20; ὑφ᾽ ἁμαρτίαν εἶναι, Rom.3:9; ἐπιμένειν, Rom.6:1; ἀποθνήσκειν, νεκρὸν εἶναι τῇ ἁ., Rom.6:2, 11; τὴν ἀ. γινώσκειν, Rom.7:7; σῶμα τῆς ἁ., Rom.6:6; ἀπάτη τῆς ἁ., Heb.3:13; personified as a ruling principle, ἁ. βασιλεύει, κυριεύει, etc., Rom.5:21 6:12, 14 7:17, 20; δουλεύειν, Rom.6:6; δοῦλος τῆς ἁ., ib. 17; νόμος τῆς ἁ., Rom.7:23 8:2; δύναμις τῆς ἁ., 1Co.15:56 (cf. Gen.4:7). __2. As a generic term (disting. fr. the specific terms ἁμάρτημα, which see, etc.) for concrete wrongdoing, violation of the divine law, sin: Jhn.8:46, Jas.1:15, al.; ποιεῖν (τὴν) ἁ., Jhn.8:34, 2Co.11:7, 1Jn.3:8; εἴχειν ἁ., Jhn.9:41 15:22, 24 19:11, 1Jn.1:8; in pl. ἁμαρτίαι, sin in the aggregate, 1Th.2:16 (see Milligan, in l.); ποιεῖν ἁμαρτίας, Jas.5:15; πλῆθος ἁμαρτιῶν, Jas.5:20, 1Pe.4:8; ἄφεσις ἁμαρτιῶν, Mat.26:28, Mrk.1:4, al.; ἐν ἁμαρτίαις εἶναι, 1Co.15:17; collectively, αἴρειν τὴν ἁ. τ. κόσμου, Jhn.1:29; ἀποθνήσκειν ἐν τῇ ἁ., Jhn.8:21. __3. = ἁμάρτημα, a sinful deed, a sin: Mat.12:31, Act.7:60, 1Jn.5:16. SYN.: see: ἁμάρτημα. (AS)",
    "glosses": [
        "sin",
        "offence, sin(-ful)"
    ],
    "lexical_summary": [],
    "exhaustive_concordance": [],
    "brown_driver_briggs": [],
    "topical_lexicon": [],
    "occurrences": [],
    "references": [
        {
            "osis": "Rom.5.12, 13, 20",
            "display": "Rom.5:12, 13 20"
        },
        {
            "osis": "Rom.3.9",
            "display": "Rom.3:9;"
        },
        {
            "osis": "Rom.6.1",
            "display": "Rom.6:1;"
        },
        {
            "osis": "Rom.6.2, 11",
            "display": "Rom.6:2, 11"
        },
        {
            "osis": "Rom.7.7",
            "display": "Rom.7:7;"
        },
        {
            "osis": "Rom.6.6",
            "display": "Rom.6:6;"
        },
        {
            "osis": "Heb.3.13",
            "display": "Heb.3:13;"
        },
        {
            "osis": "Rom.5.21",
            "display": "Rom.5:21"
        },
        {
            "osis": "Rom.6.6",
            "display": "Rom.6:6;"
        },
        {
            "osis": "Rom.7.23; 8.2",
            "display": "Rom.7:23 8:2"
        },
        {
            "osis": "1Co.15.56",
            "display": "1Co.15:56"
        },
        {
            "osis": "Gen.4.7",
            "display": "Gen.4:7"
        },
        {
            "osis": "Jhn.8.46",
            "display": "Jhn.8:46"
        },
        {
            "osis": "Jas.1.15",
            "display": "Jas.1:15"
        },
        {
            "osis": "Jhn.8.34",
            "display": "Jhn.8:34"
        },
        {
            "osis": "2Co.11.7",
            "display": "2Co.11:7"
        },
        {
            "osis": "1Jn.3.8",
            "display": "1Jn.3:8"
        },
        {
            "osis": "Jhn.9.41; 15.22, 24; 19.11",
            "display": "Jhn.9:41 15:22, 24 19:11"
        },
        {
            "osis": "1Jn.1.8",
            "display": "1Jn.1:8"
        },
        {
            "osis": "1Th.2.16",
            "display": "1Th.2:16"
        },
        {
            "osis": "Jas.5.15",
            "display": "Jas.5:15;"
        },
        {
            "osis": "Jas.5.20",
            "display": "Jas.5:20"
        },
        {
            "osis": "1Pet.4.8",
            "display": "1Pe.4:8"
        },
        {
            "osis": "Mat.26.28",
            "display": "Mat.26:28"
        },
        {
            "osis": "Mrk.1.4",
            "display": "Mrk.1:4"
        },
        {
            "osis": "1Co.15.17",
            "display": "1Co.15:17;"
        },
        {
            "osis": "Jhn.1.29",
            "display": "Jhn.1:29;"
        },
        {
            "osis": "Jhn.8.21.",
            "display": "Jhn.8:21."
        },
        {
            "osis": "Mat.12.31",
            "display": "Mat.12:31"
        },
        {
            "osis": "Act.7.60",
            "display": "Act.7:60"
        },
        {
            "osis": "1Jn.5.16",
            "display": "1Jn.5:16"
        }
    ],
    "occurrence_count": 173,
    "url": "bible/greek/g0266",
    "source_url": "https://github.com/openscriptures/strongs",
    "source_license": "CC BY-SA"
}
A GREEK-ENGLISH LEXICOA Greek-English Lexicon to the New Testament

error; offence, sin; a principle or cause of sin; proneness to sin, sinful propensity; guilt or imputation of sin; a guilty subject, sin-offering, expiatory victim.

View original lexicon entry
{
    "type": "greenfield",
    "slug": "greenfield-6800e5c56f0d",
    "title": "Ἁμαρτία",
    "source": "A Greek-English Lexicon to the New Testament",
    "strong": "G0266",
    "language": "greek",
    "lemma": "Ἁμαρτία",
    "transliteration": "hamartía",
    "pronunciation": "",
    "part_of_speech": "",
    "meaning": "",
    "description": "",
    "definition": "error; offence, sin; a principle or cause of sin; proneness to sin, sinful propensity; guilt or imputation of sin; a guilty subject, sin-offering, expiatory victim.",
    "glosses": [
        "offence, sin(-ful)"
    ],
    "lexical_summary": [],
    "exhaustive_concordance": [],
    "brown_driver_briggs": [],
    "topical_lexicon": [],
    "occurrences": [],
    "references": [],
    "occurrence_count": 173,
    "url": "bible/greenfield/greenfield-6800e5c56f0d",
    "source_url": "https://github.com/openscriptures/strongs",
    "source_license": "CC BY-SA"
}
STRONG'SStrong’s Hebrew and Greek Lexicon

a sin (properly abstract)

View original lexicon entry
{
    "strongs": "G0266",
    "language": "greek",
    "lemma": "ἁμαρτία",
    "transliteration": "hamartía",
    "pronunciation": "",
    "part_of_speech": "",
    "glosses": [
        "offence, sin(-ful)"
    ],
    "definitions": [
        "a sin (properly abstract)"
    ],
    "administrator_commentary": "",
    "source": {
        "dataset": "Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Lexicon",
        "provider": "Open Scriptures",
        "url": "https://github.com/openscriptures/strongs",
        "license": "CC BY-SA"
    },
    "version": 1,
    "updated_at": "2026-08-05T10:41:56-05:00",
    "strong": "G0266"
}

New Testament Usage

173 occurrences

First listed reference: Rom.5.12, 13, 20

View All Greek Occurrences

Sources: STEPBible TBESG (based primarily on Abbott-Smith) · A Greek-English Lexicon to the New Testament · Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Lexicon

Biblical Usage

Concordance and Scripture Usage

150Exact Lemma1Translation Match343Conceptual Relationship
Writings / Wisdom · 1
Gospels · 37
Acts · 8
Epistles · 102
Romans 3:9Exact LemmaRomans 3:20Exact LemmaRomans 4:7Exact LemmaRomans 4:8Exact LemmaRomans 5:12Exact LemmaRomans 5:13Exact LemmaRomans 5:20Exact LemmaRomans 5:21Exact LemmaRomans 6:1Exact LemmaRomans 6:2Exact LemmaRomans 6:6Exact LemmaRomans 6:7Exact LemmaRomans 6:10Exact LemmaRomans 6:11Exact LemmaRomans 6:12Exact LemmaRomans 6:13Exact LemmaRomans 6:14Exact LemmaRomans 6:16Exact LemmaRomans 6:17Exact LemmaRomans 6:18Exact LemmaRomans 6:20Exact LemmaRomans 6:22Exact LemmaRomans 6:23Exact LemmaRomans 7:5Exact LemmaRomans 7:7Exact LemmaRomans 7:8Exact LemmaRomans 7:9Exact LemmaRomans 7:11Exact LemmaRomans 7:13Exact LemmaRomans 7:14Exact LemmaRomans 7:17Exact LemmaRomans 7:20Exact LemmaRomans 7:23Exact LemmaRomans 7:25Exact LemmaRomans 8:2Exact LemmaRomans 8:3Exact LemmaRomans 8:10Exact LemmaRomans 11:27Exact LemmaRomans 14:23Exact Lemma1 Corinthians 15:3Exact Lemma1 Corinthians 15:17Exact Lemma1 Corinthians 15:56Exact Lemma2 Corinthians 5:21Exact Lemma2 Corinthians 11:7Exact LemmaGalatians 1:4Exact LemmaGalatians 2:17Exact LemmaGalatians 3:22Exact LemmaEphesians 2:1Exact LemmaColossians 1:14Exact Lemma1 Thessalonians 2:16Exact Lemma1 Timothy 5:22Exact Lemma1 Timothy 5:24Exact Lemma2 Timothy 3:6Exact LemmaHebrews 1:3Exact LemmaHebrews 2:17Exact LemmaHebrews 3:13Exact LemmaHebrews 4:15Exact LemmaHebrews 5:1Exact LemmaHebrews 5:3Exact LemmaHebrews 7:27Exact LemmaHebrews 8:12Exact LemmaHebrews 9:26Exact LemmaHebrews 9:28Exact LemmaHebrews 10:2Exact LemmaHebrews 10:3Exact LemmaHebrews 10:4Exact LemmaHebrews 10:6Exact LemmaHebrews 10:8Exact LemmaHebrews 10:11Exact LemmaHebrews 10:12Exact LemmaHebrews 10:17Exact LemmaHebrews 10:18Exact LemmaHebrews 10:26Exact LemmaHebrews 11:25Exact LemmaHebrews 12:1Exact LemmaHebrews 12:4Exact LemmaHebrews 13:11Exact LemmaJames 1:15Exact LemmaJames 2:9Exact LemmaJames 4:17Exact LemmaJames 5:15Exact LemmaJames 5:16Exact LemmaJames 5:20Exact Lemma1 Peter 2:22Exact Lemma1 Peter 2:24Exact Lemma1 Peter 3:18Exact Lemma1 Peter 4:1Exact Lemma1 Peter 4:8Exact Lemma2 Peter 1:9Exact Lemma2 Peter 2:14Exact Lemma1 John 1:7Exact Lemma1 John 1:8Exact Lemma1 John 1:9Exact Lemma1 John 2:2Exact Lemma1 John 2:12Exact Lemma1 John 3:4Exact Lemma1 John 3:5Exact Lemma1 John 3:8Exact Lemma1 John 3:9Exact Lemma1 John 4:10Exact Lemma1 John 5:16Exact Lemma1 John 5:17Exact Lemma
Revelation · 3

Reference Works

Bible Dictionary, Encyclopedia, and Names

Unified Dictionary Summary

Sin refers to human rebellion, failure, transgression, wrongdoing, or falling short of God's will.

Hitchcock’s Bible Names Dictionary (1869)
bush

Sources: Hitchcock’s Bible Names Dictionary (1869)

A Biblical and Theological Dictionary
the transgression of the law, or want of conformity to the will of God, 1 John iii, 4. Original sin is that whereby our whole nature is corrupted, and rendered contrary to the nature and law of God; or, according to the ninth article of the church of England, “It is that whereby man is very far gone from original righteousness, and is, of his own nature, inclined to evil.” This is sometimes called, “indwelling sin,” Rom. vii. The imputation of the sin of Adam to his posterity, is also what divines call, with some latitude of expression, original sin. Actual sin is a direct violation of God’s law, and generally applied to those who are capable of committing moral evil; as opposed to idiots or children, who have not the right use of their powers. Sins of omission consist in leaving those things undone which ought to be done. Sins of commission are those which are committed against affirmative precepts, or doing what should not be done. Sins of infirmity are those which arise from ignorance, surprise, &c. Secret sins are those committed in secret, or those of which, through blindness or prejudice, we do not see the evil, Psalm xix, 7–12. Presumptuous sins are those which are done boldly against light and conviction. The unpardonable sin is, according to some, the ascribing to the devil the miracles which Christ wrought by the power of the Holy Ghost. This sin, or blasphemy, as it should rather be called, many scribes and Pharisees were guilty of, who, beholding our Lord do his miracles, affirmed that he wrought them by Beelzebub, the prince of devils, which was, in effect, calling the Holy Ghost Satan, a most horrible blasphemy; and, as on this ground they rejected Christ, and salvation by him, their sin could certainly have no forgiveness, Mark iii, 22–30. No one therefore could be guilty of this blasphemy, except those who were spectators of Christ’s miracles. There is, however, another view of this unpardonable offence, which deserves consideration: The sin or blasphemy against the Holy Ghost, says Bishop Tomline, is mentioned in the first three Gospels. It appears that all the three evangelists agree in representing the sin or blasphemy against the Holy Ghost as a crime which would not be forgiven; but no one of them affirms that those who had ascribed Christ’s power of casting out devils to Beelzebub, had been guilty of that sin, and in St. Luke it is not mentioned that any such charge had been made. Our Saviour, according to the account in St. Matthew and St. Mark, endeavoured to convince the Jews of their error; but so far from accusing them of having committed an unpardonable sin in what they had said concerning him, he declares that “whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him;” that is, whatever reproaches men may utter against the Son of man during his ministry, however they may calumniate the authority upon which he acts, it is still possible that hereafter they may repent and believe, and all their sins may be forgiven them; but the reviling of the Holy Ghost is described as an offence of a far more heinous nature: “The blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.” “He that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness.” “Unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven.” It is plain that this sin against the Holy Ghost could not be committed while our Saviour was upon earth, since he always speaks of the Holy Ghost as not being to come till after his ascension into heaven. A few days after that great event, the descent of the Holy Ghost enabled the Apostles to work miracles, and communicated to them a variety of other supernatural gifts. If men should ascribe these powers to Beelzebub, or in any respect reject their authority, they would blaspheme the Holy Ghost, from whom they were derived; and that sin would be unpardonable, because this was the completion of the evidence of the divine authority of Christ and his religion; and they who rejected these last means of conviction, could have no other opportunity of being brought to faith in Christ, the only appointed condition of pardon and forgiveness. The greater heinousness of the sin of these men would consist in their rejecting a greater body of testimony; for they are supposed to be acquainted with the resurrection of our Saviour from the dead, with his ascension into heaven, with the miraculous descent of the Holy Ghost, and with the supernatural powers which it communicated; circumstances, all of which were enforced by the Apostles when they preached the Gospel; but none of which could be known to those who refused to acknowledge Jesus as the Messiah during his actual ministry. Though this was a great sin, it was not an unpardonable one, it might be remedied by subsequent belief, by yielding to subsequent testimony. But, on the other hand, they who finally rejected the accumulated and complete evidence of Jesus being the Messiah, as exhibited by the inspired Apostles, precluded themselves from the possibility of conviction, because no farther testimony would be afforded them, and consequently, there being no means of repentance, they would be incapable of forgiveness and redemption. Hence it appears that the sin against the Holy Ghost consisted in finally rejecting the Gospel as preached by the Apostles, who confirmed the truth of the doctrine which they taught “by signs and wonders, and divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost,” Heb. ii, 4. It was unpardonable, because this was the consummation of the proofs afforded to the men of that generation of the divine mission of Christ. This sin was manifestly distinct from all other sins; it indicated an invincible obstinacy of mind, an impious and unalterable determination to refuse the offered mercy of God. It would appear from this, that those only committed or could commit this irremissible offence, who were witnesses of the mighty works wrought by the Holy Spirit in the Apostles after Christ’s ascension and the day of pentecost. Our Lord’s declaration appears chiefly to respect the Jews. This view will serve to explain those passages in the Epistle to the Hebrews, in which the hopeless case of Jewish apostates is described. But see BLASPHEMY.

Sources: A Biblical and Theological Dictionary

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