← H2398 H2400 →

חֵטְא

𐤇𐤈𐤀

chêṭᵉʼ

H2399 noun

SILEX Entry

Root חטא to miss the mark, to go wrong, to sin

Definition

Transgression, wrongdoing, or moral failure; primarily denotes an act or state of deviating from a norm or standard, especially in reference to divine command or social regulations. Frequently refers to 'sin' as a concrete act, its consequences, or, at times, the consequence or penalty incurred for the misconduct.

Semantic Range

sin, offense, crime, transgression, fault, guilt of wrongdoing, state of sinfulness, penalty for sin or transgression, consequence of a wrongful act

Root / Etymology

The noun חֵטְא derives from the root חטא, which fundamentally means 'to miss (a mark, goal), to go wrong, to sin.' The word is formed as a masculine noun, denoting the act (an instance) of missing or failing, usually understood within a moral, legal, or cultic context. The sense of penalty or consequence is contextually derived from the act itself, not intrinsic to the root.

Historical & Contextual Notes

חֵטְא is the most widely used term for 'sin' in the Hebrew Bible, carrying a broad semantic range that includes both deliberate and unintentional offenses against divine or human laws. In early Israelite literature (patriarchal and monarchic periods), it can refer to specific cultic or societal crimes as well as to abstract states of impurity or unworthiness before deity. In certain legal or ceremonial contexts, חֵטְא may denote both the act and its consequence (including guilt or the punishment incurred). Sometimes used collectively for the sin of a group, community, or nation. The translation 'sin' is conventional, but the term can be broader or narrower based on context—sometimes covering social wrongs, sometimes exclusively context of transgression against YHWH. Later biblical texts (exilic/post-exilic) may develop more abstract or theological understandings of חֵטְא. Distinguished from עָוֹן (avon, iniquity, guilt, often with a sense of distortion/perversity) and פֶּשַׁע (pesha, transgression, intentional rebellion). English 'sin' partially overlaps but lacks the breadth of possible nuance present in biblical usage.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from חָטָא; a crime or its penalty; fault, [idiom] grievously, offence, (punishment of) sin.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.

+ Add Bantu Hebrew Word

Root Family

חטא (ḥ-ṭ-ʾ) — to miss the mark, to go wrong, to sin

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H2398 חָטָא I will purge her of offense
H2400 חַטָּא offenders
H2401 חֲטָאָה a guilt-incurring misdeed
H2402 חַטָּאָה for wrongdoing
H2403 חַטָּאָה in wrongdoing

Word Forms

17 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H2399-08 חֵֽטְא chete HNcmsa sin a missing-of-the-mark 15
H2399-01 בְּ/חֶטְא֖/וֹ becheteo HR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms for his own sin in his transgression 3
H2399-10 חֶטְאֽ/וֹ cheteo HNcmsc/Sp3ms his sin his wrongdoing 2
H2399-02 חֲטָאַ֕/י chataay HNcmpc/Sp1cs my sins my sins 2
H2399-05 חֲטָאֵי/כֶ֤ם chataeykhem HNcmpc/Sp2mp your-sins your transgressions 1
H2399-15 וַ/חֲטָאֵ֥י vachataey HC/Ncmpc and-the-sins-of and transgressions of 1
H2399-07 חַטָּא֔וֹת chataot HNcmpa for sin offerings transgressions 1
H2399-17 בְ/חֶטְא֣/וֹ vecheteo HR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms in his own sin in his wrongdoing 1
H2399-13 מֵ/חֲטָאָ֑/י mechataay HR/Ncmpc/Sp1cs from my sin my transgressions 1
H2399-04 חֲטָאֵ֞י chataey HNcmpc the sins of sins of 1

Occurrences in Scripture

35 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H2399-02 Genesis 41:9 חֲטָאַ֕/י chataay HNcmpc/Sp1cs my faults my sins
H2399-08 Leviticus 19:17 חֵֽטְא chete HNcmsa sin a missing-of-the-mark
H2399-09 Leviticus 20:20 חֶטְאָ֥/ם cheteam HNcmsc/Sp3mp their sin their transgression
H2399-08 Leviticus 22:9 חֵ֔טְא chete HNcmsa sin a missing-of-the-mark
H2399-10 Leviticus 24:15 חֶטְאֽ/וֹ cheteo HNcmsc/Sp3ms his sin his wrongdoing
H2399-10 Numbers 9:13 חֶטְא֥/וֹ cheteo HNcmsc/Sp3ms his sin his wrongdoing
H2399-08 Numbers 18:22 חֵ֖טְא chete HNcmsa sin a missing-of-the-mark
H2399-08 Numbers 18:32 חֵ֔טְא chete HNcmsa sin a missing-of-the-mark
H2399-17 Numbers 27:3 בְ/חֶטְא֣/וֹ vecheteo HR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms in his own sin in his wrongdoing
H2399-08 Deuteronomy 15:9 חֵֽטְא chete HNcmsa sin a missing-of-the-mark
← H2398 Hebrew Lexicon H2400 →