The Old Testament addresses sin extensively. But modern audiences might regard the language in the Old Testament as an archaic way of distinguishing the good from the bad. Some teachings about sin in the Old Testament may address historical or cultural contexts that seem distant or irrelevant to modern readers. This perception can make some people view these teachings as outdated. But that’s far from the truth because the underlying principles of sin presented in the Old Testament remain relevant today.
So, what’s the Hebrew word for sin?
The Hebrew word for sin is Chata. The term refers to believers who have gone astray or missing the mark. Its feminine noun form chatta’ah means punishment or guilt of sin. The Hebrew word chata points to sin as a departure from righteousness or failure to live up to God’s standards. The term “chata” has several counterparts, like “pasa” and “maʿal” with similar meanings.
The Meaning Of Chata
The spelling of chata from ancient pictographs (the earliest forms) reads Chet Tet Aleph. Chet represents a fence and could refer to separation or being cut off. Tet is the image of a serpent. It also refers to surround or conceal. Tet also translates to surrounding in a good way and shows that God always has a plan to protect His people and provide a chance for a fresh start. This plan was His son, the Messiah.
The original Hebrew pictograph of Aleph is an ox, which represents the strength and oneness of God. Aleph can also refer to God the Father or the head of the family. With this in mind, Chata’s interpretation could mean Christians are cut off from God the Father but have a chance for a new life despite missing the mark unintentionally.
Chet Tet Aleph also has numerical symbolism. Chet also translates to the number 8 and symbolizes a new beginning in the Scripture. Tet refers to the number 9 and points to a judgment of man. Aleph is number 1 and refers to God the Father.
What the Bible Says About Chata
Chata’s interpretation covers all unintentional and intentional sinful acts towards a person, nation, or God. The word’s origin may be traced back to the pastoral way of life in ancient Semitic culture. During this period, pathways were established to define boundaries between properties while allowing access to open pastures or water sources.
These pathways served as common routes for shepherds and other individuals and made navigating between different areas of land easy. Shepherds would occasionally deviate from the established path with their flock and encroach on another person’s land. In this case, Chata focuses on broader principles such as honesty, respect for property rights, and compassion for others.
The Bible first introduces a noun version of sin in Abel and Cain who illustrate the first murder—the killing of a sibling. The Scriptures portray sin as a result of failing to do what is right and a temptation worth resisting (Genesis 4:7).
The fact that sin is evil and against God’s will (Genesis 13:13) is also evident in the Sodom and Gomorrah context. While the people in Sodom sin in private, God the Father sees them and is aware of evil’s presence. “The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is truly significant, and their wrongdoing (chata) is exceedingly severe.” (Genesis 18:20).
When Moses went up the mountain to talk with God, the people of Israel got tired of waiting for him. So they asked Aaron to help them build a golden calf they could worship. After creating the calf, the people called it “the god of Israel” who brought them out of the land of Egypt (Exodus 32:4). When Moses returned and saw the golden calf, he was shocked, and he said to Aaron, “What did these people do to you, that you led them into such great sin?” In this case, the great sin is the worship of deities other than YHWH.
God had made it clear to the people of Israel that they should never make idols of silver or gold to worship “in place of me” (Exodus 20:23). The first three of the Ten Commandments warn against worshiping any god other than the one true God. While idolatry is the one great sin that all others come from, God is slow to anger and forgives wickedness, rebellion, and sin (Exodus 34:6-7).
God also had a Covenant with the people of Israel through Moses. This agreement teaches the Israelites about sin, including what it is and how to gain forgiveness. This formal agreement made the Mosaic Covenant the basis for determining sin. In this case, sin bears a judicial element where offenders who do not repent are condemned and punished.
An Overview of Related Terms
There are actions or behaviors in the Bible that are regarded as more severe than individual acts of sin: disloyalty or rebellion against God and His Laws or violating the covenant of the Lord (Joshua 23). The words Pesha and maʿal are stronger inferences to sin. They imply deliberate rebellion against God the Father and His law.
Pesha
The verb Pesha translates to deliberate rebellion against God or man. The Israelites rebelled against God (Ezekiel 2:3) and against David’s house (1 Kings 12:19 and 2 Kings 1:1). The word Sara closely relates to this verb. It refers to a stubborn departure from the right path.
“Why do you insist on being struck down? Why do you continue rebelling?” (Isaiah 1:5 and Deuteronomy 13:5).
Maʿal
This second variation is a noun referring to a lack of faith or treachery against God or man. An example of where the word can be found is: “I will forsake the land because they’ve demonstrated faithless actions” (Ezekiel 15:8).
Toebah
The Bible also uses the word “toebah” or “to’eva” (abomination) to infer a repulsive action that God or fellow man detests. For example, offering a flawed sheep as a sacrifice is an abomination to God (Deuteronomy 17:1). Similarly, engaging in abnormal sexual behavior could be labeled as an abomination (Leviticus 18:22).
Our Actions Define Us
Sin goes beyond external actions because what we release outside originates from inside. Our deviations, intentional or unintentional, directly link to our inner being. Dr. Keller considers sin “the despairing declination to point out our deepest identity with regards to serving God.” The author adds that sin is essentially the will to get an identity that’s far from Him.
Soren Kierkegaard echoes the same sentiments in a much simpler way: “Sin is building your identity on anything but God.” This means that even adoring our loved ones (a good deed in itself) more than God is a sin.
Conclusion
Believers can overlook the idea that sin is a fundamental condition. This confusion can hinder our understanding of salvation. The Hebrew word for sin “Chata” means “missing the mark” or “deviating from the right path.” Understanding sin in its original Hebrew language gives us insight into how we might recover or correct our paths and build stronger relationships with God after committing wrongdoing.
