חַטָּאָה

an offence, and the penalty or sacrifice forit

Definition

The Aramaic noun חַטָּאָה (chaṭṭâʼâh) refers to 'sin' or 'sin offering.' In its sole biblical occurrence in Ezra 6:17, it specifically denotes a 'sin offering' presented to God as part of the dedication ceremony for the rebuilt temple. This dual concept—encompassing both the offense itself and the prescribed sacrificial remedy—is central to its meaning. The word captures the idea that sin requires atonement, which in the Old Testament system was provided through the ritual sacrifice of an animal.

Biblical Usage

This word appears only once in the Old Testament, in the Aramaic portions of the book of Ezra. It is used in the context of temple worship and sacrificial ritual. In Ezra 6:17, the leaders offer twelve male goats 'as a sin offering' (לְחַטָּאָה, lechaṭṭâʼâh) for all Israel during the dedication of the second temple, following the decree of King Darius. This singular usage aligns with post-exilic restoration worship, emphasizing the re-establishment of proper atonement rituals.

Etymology

This is the Aramaic form corresponding directly to the Hebrew noun חֲטָאָה (chaṭâʼâh, H2401). Both words derive from the common Semitic root חטא (ḥṭʼ), which means 'to miss the mark' or 'to err.' In Aramaic, as in Hebrew, the noun developed to signify both the act of sin and the sacrificial offering made to expiate that sin, reflecting the intertwined concepts of transgression and its prescribed resolution.

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant as it appears in a key moment of Israel's restoration, linking the concept of communal sin with the necessity of divinely ordained atonement. Its use in Ezra 6:17 underscores that the proper worship of God, even in a newly rebuilt temple, must begin with addressing sin through sacrifice. This points forward to the ultimate sin offering in Christian theology, Jesus Christ, who fulfills this sacrificial system. Understanding this Aramaic term enriches reading by highlighting the continuity of the sin-and-atonement theme across Hebrew and Aramaic scriptures.

In its original Aramaic setting within the Persian Empire, this term reflects the ongoing Jewish religious practice under foreign rule. The sin offering (חַטָּאָה) was a well-established ritual within the Mosaic Law. Its performance at the temple's dedication signaled the community's commitment to maintaining their covenant relationship with God, despite living in a diaspora context. The cultural understanding directly tied ritual purity and national identity to the act of making atonement.

חֲטָאָה (chaṭâʼâh, H2401) — The direct Hebrew equivalent, used extensively throughout the Old Testament with the same dual meaning of 'sin' and 'sin offering.' עָוֹן (ʿāvôn, H5771) — Often translated 'iniquity,' denoting a more ingrained sense of guilt or perversity. פֶּשַׁע (peshaʿ, H6588) — Typically 'transgression' or 'rebellion,' emphasizing a willful breach of relationship.

Word Details

Scripture References