I wanted to look up what the word sinner means in Hebrew and Greek so that I can share it with you.
All scriptures are taken from NKJV unless otherwise marked.
What Does The Word ‘Sinner’ Mean In Hebrew?
chata- to sin.
As a verb, chata means “to miss, sin, be guilty, forfeit, or purify.”
The word’s basic meaning and chief usage are to indicate moral failure toward both God and man and the consequences of such actions. It’s also used to speak of those who pervert justice.
“Israel has sinned, and they have also transgressed My covenant which I commanded them. For they have even taken some of the accursed things, and have both stolen and deceived; and they have also put it among their own stuff.”
– Joshua 7:11
Humans are supposed to turn from sin (a path/lifestyle or act of deviating from God’s direction), confess it, and be purified from it (Numbers 8:7).
chatta’ah- offence; sin offering.
This term can be used to speak of sin against man but is mostly used to describe a sin against God. Many passages use this word for the idea of punishment for sin.
Related: What Does The Word ‘Repent’ Mean In Hebrew And Greek?
What Does The Word ‘Sinner’ Mean In Greek?
hamartolos- sinful.
“For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”
– Mark 8:38
“Therefore some of the Pharisees said, “This Man is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath.”
Others said, “How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?” And there was a division among them.“
– John 9:16
Conclusion
In conclusion, a sinner is someone who sins. They’re either living in continuous sin or have sins that they have not repented of yet.
That’s what the word sinner means in Hebrew and Greek. I pray you found this article helpful. If so, please share this content. Also, feel free to share any thoughts in the comments below. Thanks for reading!
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Thanks,l would like to ask a question are Christians sinners who have repented.
Hey Graham,
We’re all sinners, even Christians who have repented. “Christians”, if that’s what you prefer to call them, are people who have had a spiritual revelation that Jesus Christ is the Messiah predicted in the Old Testament and the only way to Heaven. Yes, they’ve repented, but they’ve believed in Jesus Christ as the Savior and ruler over all.
Christians are people. Therefore, they sin. But when you have a strong relationship with God, you’ll feel His direction and sense when you’re doing something that may get you into trouble.
The commandments of God are there to protect us. The Bible teaches us how to live a life that’s not only glorifying to God, but fulfilling to us. I’ve lived a life full of sin before I came to Christ. The two lives aren’t even comparable. I’m the happiest I’ve ever been.
“He who heeds the word wisely will find good,
And whoever trusts in the Lord, happy is he.”
– Proverbs 16:20