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    Sin (Hamartia)

    ἁμαρτία (hamartia)

    Missing the mark — falling short of God's standard of righteousness.

    Greek
    Strong's G266
    Pronunciation: hah-mar-TEE-ah
    Quick Answer

    Hamartia is the Greek word for sin, originally meaning 'to miss the mark.' It describes humanity's universal failure to meet God's perfect standard, encompassing both individual acts and the condition of fallenness.

    "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." — Romans 3:23 (KJV)

    Key Verses

    Romans 3:23

    “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”
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    Romans 6:23

    “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
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    1 John 1:9

    “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
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    Strong's Concordance

    Strong's G266 — Sin (Hamartia) (ἁμαρτία (hamartia))

    Browse the full lexicon entry and every KJV verse where ἁμαρτία (hamartia) appears.

    Open Strong's G266

    Etymology and Original Meaning

    Hamartia literally means 'missing the mark' — like an archer whose arrow falls short of the target. The target is God's glory, His perfect standard of righteousness. Sin is not merely breaking rules but falling short of what God designed humanity to be. It is a deviation from the purpose, character, and holiness God intended.

    Sin as a Universal Condition

    Paul's devastating diagnosis in Romans 3:23 is universal: 'all have sinned.' Sin is not limited to spectacular crimes — it includes pride, selfishness, unbelief, and indifference to God. Romans 1-3 demonstrates that both the morally rebellious and the morally respectable fall short. The human condition is not merely imperfect but fundamentally alienated from God.

    Sin's Consequences

    The wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23) — spiritual separation from God, physical mortality, and the threat of eternal judgment. Sin enslaves (John 8:34; Romans 6:16), deceives (Hebrews 3:13), and hardens the heart. Its effects ripple through relationships, communities, and creation itself, which 'groaneth and travaileth' under sin's curse (Romans 8:22).

    The Remedy for Sin

    The gospel is God's answer to sin. 'If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us' (1 John 1:9). Christ died for sins — the just for the unjust (1 Peter 3:18). He did not merely cover sin (as Old Testament sacrifices did) but took it away (John 1:29). Believers are freed from sin's penalty, progressively freed from its power, and will ultimately be freed from its presence.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What does sin mean in the Bible?

    Sin (hamartia) means 'missing the mark' — falling short of God's perfect standard. It encompasses individual wrong acts and the universal human condition of being alienated from God.

    Can sin be forgiven?

    Yes. 1 John 1:9 promises that if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive and cleanse us. Christ's death paid the full penalty for sin, making complete forgiveness available to all who believe.

    Which Bible verse uses the word "Sin (Hamartia)"?

    Romans 3:23 — "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (KJV). It also appears in Romans 6:23, 1 John 1:9.

    Why does the Greek word behind "Sin (Hamartia)" matter?

    Hamartia literally means 'missing the mark' — like an archer whose arrow falls short of the target. English uses one word, "Sin (Hamartia)", where the Greek ἁμαρτία (hamartia) carries the fuller sense: missing the mark — falling short of god's standard of righteousness.

    Related Words

    Sin
    Repentance
    Forgiveness
    Salvation

    Related Reading

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    Word Meaning

    Sin (Hamartia) (ἁμαρτία (hamartia))

    Missing the mark — falling short of God's standard of righteousness.

    Word Meaning

    Sin (חַטָּאָה (Chata'ah) / ἁμαρτία (Hamartia))

    Missing the mark; falling short of God's standard of perfection

    Strong's

    Strong's G266 — Sin

    חַטָּאָה (Chata'ah) / ἁμαρτία (Hamartia) • Missing the mark; falling short of God's standard of perfection

    Strong's

    Strong's H2398 — Sin (Chata)

    חָטָא (chata) • To miss the mark — falling short of God's standard and deviating from His intended path.

    Dream Meaning

    Biblical Meaning of Teeth Falling Out in a Dream (KJV)

    Loss of strength, spoken words, and unresolved fear.

    Commentary

    Mark 2:17 Commentary

    In-depth study • Jesus Calls Sinners

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