Words Describing Sin

One area we are ALL experts in is sin. We know what it is, what it does, what it means, how harmful it is to us and those around us. However, do we truly UNDERSTAND what sin is? To help us with our understanding we are going to look at the various words from both the OT and NT that describe sin. We will begin with...

Old Testament Words Describing Sin:

We’ll start off slow. The first word is:

Sin - failure to carry out a specific command.

Exodus 20:20 “20 And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not.”

Deuteronomy 19:15 “15 One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.”

Iniquity - refers to the character of an action to which one would be both guilty and punishable.

Numbers 15:30–31 “30 But the soul that doeth ought presumptuously, whether he be born in the land, or a stranger, the same reproacheth the Lord; and that soul shall be cut off from among his people. 31 Because he hath despised the word of the Lord, and hath broken his commandment, that soul shall utterly be cut off; his iniquity shall be upon him.”

Leviticus 17:16 “16 But if he wash them not, nor bathe his flesh; then he shall bear his iniquity.”

Transgression - rebellion against the law, deliberate disregard to God’s command

1 Kings 12:9 “9 And he said unto them, What counsel give ye that we may answer this people, who have spoken to me, saying, Make the yoke which thy father did put upon us lighter?”

2 Kings 3:5 “5 But it came to pass, when Ahab was dead, that the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel.”

Trespass - offenses toward others - Lev. 6:1-6.

Unrighteousness - deeds against the will and character of God Leviticus 19:15 “15 Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honour the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour.”

Evil - corrupt character, morally wrong

Genesis 4:12 “12 When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth.”

Genesis 6:12 “12 And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.”

Error - to wander or go astray

Ecclesiastes 5:6 “6 Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands?”

Proverbs 20:25 “25 It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, And after vows to make inquiry.”

Job 19:4 “4 And be it indeed that I have erred, Mine error remaineth with myself.”

Wickedness - opposite of righteousness

Proverbs 15:9 “9 The way of the wicked is an abomination unto the Lord: But he loveth him that followeth after righteousness.”

Ezekiel 18:23 “23 Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord God: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?”

Disobedience - stubbornness or violence

1 Kings 13:21 “21 And he cried unto the man of God that came from Judah, saying, Thus saith the Lord, Forasmuch as thou hast disobeyed the mouth of the Lord, and hast not kept the commandment which the Lord thy God commanded thee,”

1 Kings 13:26 “26 And when the prophet that brought him back from the way heard thereof, he said, It is the man of God, who was disobedient unto the word of the Lord: therefore the Lord hath delivered him unto the lion, which hath torn him, and slain him, according to the word of the Lord, which he spake unto him.”

Nehemiah 9:26 “26 Nevertheless they were disobedient, and rebelled against thee, and cast thy law behind their backs, and slew thy prophets which testified against them to turn them to thee, and they wrought great provocations.”

Ungodliness - similar to wickedness, refers to active opposition in withholding one’s dues to God Psalm 1:1 “1 Blessed is the man That walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor standeth in the way of sinners, Nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.”

Now let’s look at some:

New Testament Words Describing Sin:

Let me point out that we are going to see some of the same ENGLISH words repeated, but remember, the OT and NT were written originally two distinct languages: Hebrew (OT) an Greek (NT). Therefore we MUST understand that just because we see the same ENGLISH words, it doesn’t mean they have the same meaning. The first word...

Sin - to miss the mark (target)

Matthew 12:31 “31 Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.”

Acts 7:60 “60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.”

Disobedience - Failure to hear or heed to what God says. Romans 5:19 “19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.”

Iniquity - lawlessness or acts against God’s law

Matthew 7:23 “23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”

Matthew 25:28 “28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.”

Matthew 24:12 “12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.”

Romans 6:19 “19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.”

Transgression - overstepping the bounds God has set

Romans 4:15 “15 Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.”

Romans 5:14 “14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.”

1 Timothy 2:14 “14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.”

Unrighteousness - same as OT, actions against God’s will and character Romans 1:18 “18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;”

Trespass - deviation from what is right

Matthew 6:14–15 “14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: 15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

Romans 5:15–18 “15 But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. 16 And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. 17 For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) 18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.”

Error - to go astray 1 Peter 2:25 “25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.”

Wickedness - reference to the fruits of the sin nature

Matthew 7:21–23 “21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”

Acts 3:26 “26 Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.”

The Greek word for “wickedness” is “Poneros” from which we get our term “pornography”

Ungodliness - impiety in deed and desire, refers to the basic state of the unsaved

Romans 1:18 “18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;”

2 Timothy 2:16 “16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.”

Lawlessness - seeking one’s own gratification 1 Corinthians 9:21 “21 To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.”

Unbelief - Failure to trust God

Matthew 13:58 “58 And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.”

Mark 6:6 “6 And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching.”

Romans 3:3 “3 For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?”

1 Timothy 1:13 “13 Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.”

Hebrews 3:12 “12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.”

BTW - this is the only “unforgivable” sin. To refuse to believe the truth of God that He sent His Son to be your Savior, there is no hope for that person who rejects Jesus!