What is the biblical definition of "sin"?

Jewishvirtuallibrary.org, Sheldon S., Dhr. Seven, Ashley Wells (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

Shame on you for asking! Guilt!

In biblical Hebrew there are about 20 different words that denote "sin."

It may be inferred, therefore, that the ancient Israelites had more concepts expressing various nuances of sin than Western thought and theology.

A study of the biblical concept of sin, therefore, cannot disregard the diversity of words denoting sin.

These different words must be examined in their own contexts, that is, in the formulas and literary units in which they occur.

Some sins sound sexy. So what then?

An analytic study of the three most commonly used terms --

1. ḥeṭʾ
2. peshaʿ, and
3. avon (ʿawon)

has been undertaken by R. Knierim. As these are often found together (Ex. 34:7; Lev. 16:21; Num. 14:18; Isa. 59:12; Jer. 33:8; Ezek. 21:29; Micah 7:18–19; Ps. 32:1, 5; 51:3–7; 59:4–5; Job 7:20–21; 13:23; Dan. 9:24; cf. Isa. 1:2, 4; Ezek. 33:10, 12), even in poetic parallelism, there cannot be an appreciable difference of meaning among them, yet they are not simply synonymous.

Here's a simplified animation of a complex subject: Karma in Jewish terms

The root ḥṭʾ occurs in the Bible 459 times. The original meaning of the verb ḥaṭaʾ is "to miss" something [as in to "miss the mark" of a target with an arrow in an archery contest], "to fail."

Jews denounce Israel's crimes against humanity.

This can be seen from Genesis 31:39; Leviticus 5:15–16; Numbers 14:40; Judges 20:16; Psalms 25:8; Proverbs 8:36; 19:2; and Job 5:24, which indicates that sin as denoted by ḥṭʾ was originally viewed as a failure, a lack of perfection in carrying out an obligation or duty.

The root ḥṭʾ signifies a failure of mutual relations and corresponds, then, to the modern idea of "offense" rather than to that of "sin," which is a theological concept.

One who fulfills the claims of a relation or an agreement is righteous, ẓaddik (ẓaddiq); one who does not, offends (ḥṭʾ l-) his partner. More

REFERENCES: Ex. 34:7; Lev. 16:21; Num. 14:18; Isa. 59:12; Jer. 33:8; Ezek. 21:29; Micah 7:18–19; Ps. 32:1, 5; 51:3–7; 59:4–5; Job 7:20–21; 13:23; Dan. 9:24; cf. Isa. 1:2, 4; Ezek. 33:10, 12). Genesis 31:39; Leviticus 5:15–16; Numbers 14:40; Judges 20:16; Psalms 25:8; Proverbs 8:36; 19:2; and Job 5:24.

• Karma in Buddhism (wiki)
• The Hebrew View of Sin (jstor.org)
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