ἁμαρτία

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: Romans 5:12, 13, 20; ὑφ᾽ ἁμαρτίαν εἶναι, Romans 3:9; ἐπιμένειν, Romans 6:1; ἀποθνήσκειν, νεκρὸν εἶναι τῇ ἁ., Romans 6:2, 11; τὴν ἀ. γινώσκειν, Romans 7:7; σῶμα τῆς ἁ., Romans 6:6; ἀπάτη τῆς ἁ., Hebrews 3:13; personified as a ruling principle, ἁ. βασιλεύει, κυριεύει, etc., Romans 5:21 6:12, 14 7:17, 20; δουλεύειν, Romans 6:6; δοῦλος τῆς ἁ., ib. 17; νόμος τῆς ἁ., Romans 7:23; 8:2; δύναμις τῆς ἁ., 1 Corinthians 15:56 (cf. Genesis 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: John 8:46, James 1:15, al.; ποιεῖν (τὴν) ἁ., John 8:34, 2 Corinthians 11:7, 1 John 3:8; εἴχειν ἁ., John 9:41; 15:22, 24; 19:11, 1 John 1:8; in pl. ἁμαρτίαι, sin in the aggregate, 1 Thessalonians 2:16 (see Milligan, in l.); ποιεῖν ἁμαρτίας, James 5:15; πλῆθος ἁμαρτιῶν, James 5:20, 1 Peter 4:8; ἄφεσις ἁμαρτιῶν, Matthew 26:28, Mark 1:4, al.; ἐν ἁμαρτίαις εἶναι, 1 Corinthians 15:17; collectively, αἴρειν τὴν ἁ. τ. κόσμου, John 1:29; ἀποθνήσκειν ἐν τῇ ἁ., John 8:21.

3. = ἁμάρτημα, a sinful deed, a sin: Matthew 12:31, Acts 7:60, 1 John 5:16.

Synonyms: see: ἁμάρτημα.