Exegetical Meaning

The Greek word *hamartia* refers to sin—not just individual sins or wrongdoings, but the concept of sin itself. The word originally meant "missing the mark," like an archer's arrow that fails to hit its target. In Scripture, this captures the idea that sin is fundamentally about missing God's standard for how we should live. It's not random rule-breaking; it's falling short of what God intends for us. The word encompasses everything from specific sinful acts to the deeper condition of being separated from God and His righteousness. Paul uses *hamartia* powerfully in Romans 3:23 when he says "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God"—here it means both the individual failures we commit and our collective human condition of separation from God. In John 1:29, John the Baptist calls Jesus "the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world," using *hamartia* to describe the burden of human wrongdoing that Jesus came to remove. You'll find this word translated simply as "sin" throughout the New Testament, though sometimes as "offense" or "transgression." The beauty of the original meaning—missing the mark—reminds us that sin isn't arbitrary; it's falling short of the target God has set for human flourishing and relationship with Him.

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Exegetical Meaning

an offence (sometimes habitual sinfulness), and its penalty, occasion, sacrifice, or expiation; also (concretely) an offender | Etymology: or חַטָּאת; from H2398 (חָטָא); | KJV: punishment (of sin), purifying(-fication for sin), sin(-ner, offering).

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