Words · Greek Words · Lesson 3, word 2 of 5
ἁμαρτίαhamartia
Sin: wrongdoing and the power that produces it.
Why this word is here. The New Testament's main word for sin (Romans 3:23, 6:23, 1 John 1:8); famous for the most-quoted etymology in popular preaching, which this entry corrects.
What it means
Abbott-Smith: properly, 'a missing the mark', that is the word's classical Greek background, where it can mean a fault or failure quite generally. 'In the New Testament (as in the Septuagint) always in the ethical sense': sin as a principle and quality of action (sin personified in Romans 5-7 as a ruling, enslaving power) and sin as concrete wrongdoing, violation of the divine law.
In the Septuagint hamartia chiefly renders Hebrew hatta't, sin and sin-offering, so its biblical content comes from Israel's law and sacrifices, not from Greek archery.
Where you meet it
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Romans 3:23 (BSB)
Anchor verse 'All have sinned (hamart- verb) and fall short of the glory of God.' The verb form of this word, in the Bible's most quoted diagnosis.
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6:23 (BSB)
'The wages of sin (hamartia) is death.' Sin as an employer paying out, in Paul's slavery-and-wages argument.
Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.
John 8:34 (BSB)
'Everyone who commits sin (hamartia) is a slave to sin.' Jesus uses the word for both act and bondage in one line.
If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
1 John 1:8 (BSB)
'If we say that we have no sin (hamartia), we deceive ourselves.' John's test of honesty for believers themselves.
Why it matters
Hamartia names what the gospel answers: not a streak of bad luck but guilt before God and slavery to a power, which is why the remedy is both forgiveness and liberation. Romans 5-8 cannot be followed without watching this one word get personified as a king, an employer and a master.
Watch out
Here is the correction this section exists for. 'Hamartia means missing the mark, like an archer missing the target, so sin is basically falling short, a near miss' is the etymological fallacy with a sermon built on it. Abbott-Smith states the classical sense and then the rule for the New Testament: always ethical, always sin against God. A near miss at a target is a mistake; hamartia in Romans is rebellion that enslaves and kills. The archery picture, preached carelessly, makes sin sound smaller than the Bible says it is.
In this lesson
- dikaiosyne (δικαιοσύνη): Righteousness: conformity to God's will, gift and demand.
- soteria (σωτηρία): Salvation: deliverance, preservation, safety, rescue.
- basileia (βασιλεία): A king's reign first, then his realm: the kingdom of God.
- koinonia (κοινωνία): Fellowship: sharing in common, partnership, a real contribution.
Sources
- Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon (1889)
- STEP Bible lexicon data (Abbott-Smith)
- SBL Greek New Testament (SBLGNT)
Review status: in-theological-review. Every Contend page passes a human theological review against the Statement of Faith before it is published as approved teaching. This section is in that queue.