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](Strong's_Concordance)\ #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](Strong's_Concordance)\ #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](Strong's_Concordance)\ #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](Strong's_Concordance)\ #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](Strong's_Concordance)\ #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](Strong's_Concordance)\ #816]^). It carries the implication of offense or trespass.
tâ?âh
50 hits ^ [[Strong's](Strong's_Concordance)\ #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](Strong's_Concordance)\ #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](Strong's_Concordance)\ #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](Strong's_Concordance)\ #266]^ From G264; sin (properly abstract): - offence, sin (-ful).
parapt?ma
23 hits ^ [[Strong's](Strong's_Concordance)\ #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](Strong's_Concordance)\ #3847]^ From G3845; violation: - breaking, transgression.
asebeia
6 hits ^ [[Strong's](Strong's_Concordance)\ #763]^ From G765; impiety, that is, (by implication) wickedness: - ungodly (-liness). (Romans 1:18)
hamart?ma
4 hits ^ [[Strong's](Strong's_Concordance)\ #265]^ From G264; a sin (properly concrete): - sin.
Greek adjectives
pon?ros
76 hits ^ [[Strong's](Strong's_Concordance)\ #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](Strong's_Concordance)\ #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](Strong's_Concordance)\ #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](Strong's_Concordance)\ #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](Strong's_Concordance)\ #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](Strong's_Concordance)\ #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](Strong's_Concordance)\ #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](Strong's_Concordance)\ #3845]^ From G3844 and the base of G939; to go contrary to, that is, violate a command: - (by) transgress (-ion).