חַטָּאָה

an offence (sometimes habitual sinfulness), and its penalty, occasion, sacrifice

Definition

The Hebrew word חַטָּאָה (chaṭṭâʼâh) fundamentally means 'sin' or 'offense,' but its usage in the Old Testament is rich and multifaceted. Primarily, it denotes the act of missing the mark or failing in one's duty to God and others, as seen in the concept of sin crouching at the door in Genesis 4:7. It also refers to the guilt or penalty incurred by that act, as when Joseph's brothers speak of their guilt in Genesis 50:17. Furthermore, it is the central term for the 'sin offering,' a specific sacrifice (like the bull in Exodus 29:14) designed to atone for unintentional sins and purify the sanctuary.

Biblical Usage

חַטָּאָה is used extensively throughout the Old Testament, especially in the Pentateuch's legal and ritual texts (e.g., Exodus, Leviticus) concerning sacrifices and purification. It describes both individual acts of sin (Genesis 18:20) and collective, national guilt. In the Prophets, it often denotes the state of sinfulness requiring judgment. A key pattern is its dual use for both the offense itself and the prescribed sacrificial remedy for it, as in Leviticus 4-5, blurring the line between sin and its God-provided solution.

Etymology

Derived from the root verb חָטָא (H2398, chāṭāʼ), meaning 'to miss, go wrong, or sin.' This root conveys the idea of missing a goal or path. חַטָּאָה is the noun form, capturing the concrete result of that action—the 'missing,' the offense, and eventually, by extension, the offering that addresses it.

Semantic Range

This word is theologically central, defining humanity's fundamental problem before a holy God. It connects human failure directly to the sacrificial system, pointing to the need for atonement and foreshadowing Christ's ultimate sin offering (2 Corinthians 5:21). Understanding that the same word can mean 'sin' and 'sin offering' deepens the biblical concept of substitution—the guilt (חַטָּאָה) is transferred to the sacrifice (חַטָּאָה).

In ancient Israelite culture, sin was not merely a private moral failure but a tangible disruption of covenant relationship with God and community order, often with ritual consequences. The 'sin offering' (חַטָּאָה) was a prescribed ritual to cleanse both the person and the sacred space (the tabernacle) from contamination, reflecting a tangible view of sin's polluting effect.

עָוֹן (ʿāwōn, H5771) — emphasizes iniquity, guilt, or the crooked nature of sin. פֶּשַׁע (peshaʿ, H6588) — denotes rebellion or a willful, transgressive breach of relationship. אָשָׁם (ʾāshām, H817) — specifically refers to a guilt or trespass offering for specific violations, often involving restitution.

Word Details

Scripture References