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ἁμαρτάνω

hamartánō

G264 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To miss, to fall short of an objective, to make a mistake; in extended usage, to fail to adhere to expected norms, to do wrong, or to act contrary to accepted standards, especially in moral or social contexts. In certain contexts, used to refer specifically to moral wrongdoing or sin, but not exclusively so.

Semantic Range

to miss the mark, to make a mistake, to be mistaken, to do wrong, to fail in duty, to do wrong morally, to sin, to transgress

Root / Etymology

The verb ἁμαρτάνω derives from the root ἁμαρτ-; its earliest form conveys the idea of 'missing' or 'failing.' Traditional etymology connects it with a combination of ἀ- (a-, negative prefix) and the base of μερος (part, share), but this is linguistically uncertain. The core notion is 'to miss the mark.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, ἁμαρτάνω regularly means 'to miss' (as in missing a physical target, e.g., with a weapon) or more generally 'to fail' or 'to make a mistake.' In literary and historical sources, it often refers to errors of judgment or conduct, not limited to moral failure. In Hellenistic and Koine usage, especially in the Septuagint and New Testament, the term develops a more pronounced moral dimension, frequently corresponding to Hebrew חָטָא (ḥaṭṭāʼ) and used for actions that deviate from divine law or community norms. In these contexts, it can refer both to specific acts and to a general state of falling short. English translations commonly render it as 'sin,' but this can obscure the breadth of the original Greek, which ranges from inadvertent mistakes to willful or systemic wrongdoing. ἁμαρτάνω does not carry exclusively religious meaning in Greek literature and can indicate secular, social, or interpersonal failings depending on context. Contrast with παραβαίνω (parabainō, 'to transgress'), which typically implies a more explicit violation or overstepping of a defined boundary.

Translation Consistency

primary "sin" 17 occurrences

'Sin' is the most natural, common English rendering for ἁμαρτάνω in biblical contexts and matches the majority of P2 occurrences (e.g. 'sinned', 'sinning'). It captures the primary moral sense while remaining flexible enough for non-moral 'missing the mark' contexts to be handled by context-specific phrasing during translation. Using 'sin' ensures consistent, readable English across all forms.

Alternatives (26 occurrences):
"sinned" (12x) "sinning" (7x) "missed" (1x) "those having missed the mark" (1x) "who sinned" (1x) "might miss the mark" (1x) "having missed" (1x) "those who erred" (1x) "missing the mark" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

perhaps from Α (as a negative particle) and the base of μέρος; properly, to miss the mark (and so not share in the prize), i.e. (figuratively) to err, especially (morally) to sin:--for your faults, offend, sin, trespass.

Root Family

ἁμαρτάνω (hamartanō) — to miss, to fail, to err, to do wrong

Root ἁμαρτ- to miss, to fail, to err, to do wrong

Word Forms

23 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G264-23 ἥμαρτον emarton V AOR ACT IND 1P SG I have sinned I missed I sinned 8
G264-02 ἁμαρτάνει amartanei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG sins he misses the mark he sins 6
G264-04 ἁμαρτάνετε amartanete V PRS ACT IND 2P PL sin You are missing the mark sin 3
G264-21 ἥμαρτεν emarten V AOR ACT IND 3P SG sinned he failed sinned 3
G264-11 ἁμάρτῃ amarte V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P SG sins may miss may sin 2
G264-16 ἁμαρτήσῃ amartese V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P SG he sins he might miss he might sin 2
G264-01 ἁμάρτανε amartane V PRS ACT IMP 2P SG sin miss the mark sin 2
G264-08 ἁμαρτάνοντες amartanontes V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL sinning those missing the mark sinning 2
G264-14 ἁμαρτήσαντος amartesantos V AOR ACT PTCP GEN M SG who sinned of the one who missed of the one who sinned 1
G264-13 ἁμαρτησάντων amartesanton V AOR ACT PTCP GEN M PL when they sinned of those who erred of those who erred 1

Occurrences in Scripture

43 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G264-16 Matthew 18:15 ἁμαρτήσῃ amartese V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P SG sins he might miss he might sin
G264-17 Matthew 18:21 ἁμαρτήσει amartesei V FUT ACT IND 3P SG shall sin he/she/it will miss will sin
G264-23 Matthew 27:4 ἥμαρτον emarton V AOR ACT IND 1P SG I have sinned I missed I sinned
G264-23 Luke 15:18 ἥμαρτον emarton V AOR ACT IND 1P SG I have sinned I missed I sinned
G264-23 Luke 15:21 ἥμαρτον emarton V AOR ACT IND 1P SG I have sinned I missed I sinned
G264-11 Luke 17:3 ἁμάρτῃ amarte V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P SG sins may miss may sin
G264-16 Luke 17:4 ἁμαρτήσῃ amartese V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P SG he sins he might miss he might sin
G264-01 John 5:14 ἁμάρτανε amartane V PRS ACT IMP 2P SG sin miss the mark sin
G264-01 John 8:11 ἁμάρτανε amartane V PRS ACT IMP 2P SG sin miss the mark sin
G264-21 John 9:2 ἥμαρτεν emarten V AOR ACT IND 3P SG sinned he failed sinned
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