עָוֺן
𐤏𐤅𐤍
ʻâvôn
H5771 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Primary lexical meaning: guilt, iniquity, wrongdoing. The term encompasses both the act of moral transgression and its consequent liability or state of guilt. It refers to behavior or actions that deviate from an established norm (typically, ethical or legal), and may also denote the resulting state of being held responsible for such acts, including the consequences or punishment. The semantic range extends from the act of wrongdoing itself, to the condition of guilt, and to the consequences or punishment that follow from such actions, depending on context.
Semantic Range
iniquity, transgression, guilt, guilt-burden, liability for wrongdoing, punishment for wrongdoing, collective guilt, state of being under moral or legal condemnation
Root / Etymology
From the root עוה, which carries the basic sense of 'to twist, bend, distort.' The noun עָוֺן is derived from this root and reflects the idea of that which is distorted or deviates from what is right or straight—a transgression or perversion. Over time, the nominal form came to denote both the act (wrongdoing, iniquity) and its result (guilt, punishment).
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, עָוֺן is a principal term for moral wrongdoing, often in contexts emphasizing the severity or persistence of the offense, especially as a breach of covenantal expectations or divine instruction. Unlike חֵטְא (ḥēt), which can refer to unintentional sin or error, עָוֺן frequently signifies deliberate or serious transgressions, with an accent both on the act's twistedness and on its ongoing effects. Moreover, עָוֺן can describe not just an individual's wrongdoing but collective or inherited guilt (e.g., 'the iniquity of the fathers'). In postexilic and later texts, the association with legal or ritual responsibility increases. English translations such as 'iniquity' or 'guilt' often capture core elements but may miss the word's simultaneous emphasis on both deed and penalty. Over time, interpretation of עָוֺן's breadth influenced theological discussions about hereditary or communal guilt.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
or עָווֹן; (2 Kings 7:9; Psalm 51:5 (אֲבַד)), from עָוָה; perversity, i.e. (moral) evil; fault, iniquity, mischeif, punishment (of iniquity), sin.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
עוה (ʿ-w-h) — to twist, bend, distort, act perversely
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H4596 | מְעִי | ruin-heap of |
| H5753 | עָוָה | she acted crookedly |
| H5757 | עַוִּי | and the Avvites |
| H5758 | עִוְיָא | and your perversions |
| H5773 | עַוְעֶה | moral distortions |
Word Forms
58 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5771-01 |
עֲוֺ֥ן | aon | HNcbsc |
iniquity | distortion-guilt | 67 |
H5771-03 |
עֲוֺנָ֥/ם | aonam | HNcbsc/Sp3mp |
their iniquity | their iniquity | 26 |
H5771-27 |
בַּ/עֲוֺנֽ/וֹ | baaono | HR/Ncbsc/Sp3ms |
in his iniquity | in his guilt | 10 |
H5771-13 |
עֲוֺנֹת֙ | aonot | HNcbpc |
iniquities | iniquities of | 9 |
H5771-12 |
עֲוֺנֽ/וֹ | aono | HNcbsc/Sp3ms |
his iniquity | his twisted-guilt | 9 |
H5771-22 |
בַּ/עֲוֺ֥ן | baaon | HR/Ncbsc |
for the iniquity | in the guilt of | 8 |
H5771-05 |
עֲוֺנֵ/ךְ֙ | aonekhe | HNcbsc/Sp2fs |
your iniquity | your guilt | 8 |
H5771-11 |
עֲוֺנִ֖/י | aoni | HNcbsc/Sp1cs |
my iniquity | my twisted-guilt | 7 |
H5771-18 |
עֲוֺנֹ֣תֵי/כֶ֔ם | aonoteykhem | HNcbpc/Sp2mp |
your iniquities | your twisted wrongdoings | 7 |
H5771-02 |
עֲוֺנָ֥/הּ | aonah | HNcbsc/Sp3fs |
her iniquity | her guilt | 6 |
Occurrences in Scripture
232 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5771-11 |
Genesis 4:13 | עֲוֺנִ֖/י | aoni | HNcbsc/Sp1cs |
my iniquity | my twisted-guilt |
H5771-01 |
Genesis 15:16 | עֲוֺ֥ן | aon | HNcbsc |
iniquity | distortion-guilt |
H5771-22 |
Genesis 19:15 | בַּ/עֲוֺ֥ן | baaon | HR/Ncbsc |
in the punishment | in the guilt of |
H5771-01 |
Genesis 44:16 | עֲוֺ֣ן | aon | HNcbsc |
the iniquity | distortion-guilt |
H5771-01 |
Exodus 20:5 | עֲוֺ֨ן | aon | HNcbsc |
iniquity | distortion-guilt |
H5771-01 |
Exodus 28:38 | עֲוֺ֣ן | aon | HNcbsc |
iniquity | distortion-guilt |
H5771-01 |
Exodus 28:43 | עָוֺ֖ן | aon | HNcbsa |
iniquity | distortion-guilt |
H5771-01 |
Exodus 34:7 | עָוֺ֛ן | aon | HNcbsa |
iniquity | distortion-guilt |
H5771-01 |
Exodus 34:7 | עֲוֺ֣ן | aon-2 | HNcbsc |
iniquity | distortion-guilt |
H5771-38 |
Exodus 34:9 | לַ/עֲוֺנֵ֥/נוּ | laaonenu | HR/Ncbsc/Sp1cp |
our iniquity | our twisted-guilt |