Synonyms for Sin.

See definition for αμαρτια 266

See definition for αμαρτημα 265

See definition for ασεβεια 763

See definition for παρακοη 3876

See definition for ανομια 458

See definition for παρανομια 3892

See definition for παραβασις 3847

See definition for παραπτωμα 3900

See definition for αγνοημα 51

See definition for ηττημα 2275

αμαρτια meant originally the missing of a mark. When applied

to moral things the idea is similar, it is missing the true end of

life, and so it is used as a general term for sin. It means both

the act of sinning and the result, the sin itself.

αμαρτημα means only the sin itself, not the act, in its particular

manifestations as separate deeds of disobedience to a divine law.

ασεβεια is ungodliness, positive and active irreligion, a

condition of direct opposition to God.

παρακοη is strictly failing to hear, or hearing carelessly and

inattentively. The sin is in this failure to hear when God speaks, and

also in the active disobedience which ordinarily follows.

ανομια is lawlessness, contempt of law, a condition or action

not simply without law, as the etymology might indicate, but contrary

to law. The law is usually by implication the Mosaic law.

παρανομια occurs only once, 2Pe 2:16, and is practically

equivalent to ανομια.

παραβασις is transgression, the passing beyond some assigned

limit. It is the breaking of a distinctly recognized commandment. It

consequently means more than αμαρτια.

παραπτωμα is used in different senses, sometimes in a milder

sense, denoting an error, a mistake, a fault; and sometimes meaning a

trespass, a willful sin.

αγνοημα occurs only once, Heb 9:7. It indicates error,

sin which to a certain extent is the result of ignorance.

ηττημα denotes being worsted, defeated. In an ethical sense

it means a failure in duty, a fault.

All these different words may occasionally but not usually be used

simply to describe the same act from different points of view. The

fundamental meanings of these words may well be summed up in the

language of Trench:

Sin "may be regarded as the missing of a mark or aim: it is then

αμαρτια or αμαρτημα; the overpassing or transgressing of

a line: it is then παραβασις; the disobedience to a voice: in

which case it is παρακοη; the falling where one should have

stood upright: this will be παραπτωμα; ignorance of what one

ought to have known: this will be αγνοημα; diminishing of

that which should have been rendered in full measure, which is

ηττημα; non-observance of a law, which is ανομια or

παρανομια."