Lexical Summary chataah: Sin, sin offering, guilt Original Word: חֲטָאָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance sin offering Feminine of chet'; an offence, or a sacrifice for it -- sin (offering). see HEBREW chet' NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom chata Definition sin, sin offering NASB Translation sin (7), sin offering (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs חֲטָאָה noun feminine sin, sin-offering (?) — 1 sin, chiefly in the phrase גְדֹלָה ׳ח great sin Genesis 20:9 (E) Exodus 32:21,30,31 (JE), 2 Kings 17:21; ׳כְּסוּי ח Psalm 32:1 he whose sin is covered is blessed; but the prayer of the wicked becomes sin when he is judged Psalm 109:7. 2 sin-offering (according to most) עולה וחטאה Psalm 40:7 whole burnt-offering and sin-offering (so Vrss Thes MV SS and others, but < whole burnt-offering with sin see Br MP 329). Topical Lexicon Scope of Meaning and Nuance The term חֲטָאָה is used for both the act of missing God’s mark (sin) and, by extension, the sin-offering presented to address that failure. In each context it retains the idea of a breach that must be reckoned with—either by honest confession and divine forgiveness or by substitutionary sacrifice. Occurrences Emphasizing “Great Sin” Five of the eight references cluster around the formula “great sin,” highlighting moments when an entire community teetered on the edge of covenant rupture. • Genesis 20:9 – Abimelech rebukes Abraham: “How have I sinned against you, that you have brought upon me and my kingdom a great sin?”. Even a pagan king recognizes accountability before the covenant God. Sin and Forgiveness Psalm 32:1 celebrates the opposite reality: “Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.” The same noun that spelled doom in Exodus now rests under covering grace. David’s beatitude anticipates New Testament citation in Romans 4:7, revealing God’s consistent plan to impute righteousness apart from works. Sin Offering and Heart Obedience Psalm 40:6 adds a sacrificial nuance: “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire… burn offerings and sin offerings You did not require.” The psalmist recognizes that ritual, though instituted by God, is powerless without heartfelt surrender. The appearance of חֲטָאָה here points forward to the ultimate sin offering—Christ—whose obedience fulfilled what animals could only foreshadow (Hebrews 10:5-10). Judicial Condemnation Psalm 109:7 portrays the opposite end of the spectrum: “When he is tried, let him be found guilty, and may his prayer be regarded as sin.” The prayer of the wicked becomes an offense, demonstrating that unrepentant hearts can even corrupt the language of devotion. Historical Trajectory From patriarchal times (Genesis) through wilderness wanderings (Exodus), monarchic schism (2 Kings), and the worship poetry of Israel (Psalms), חֲטָאָה charts Israel’s history of rebellion and the Lord’s relentless pursuit of reconciliation. Each epoch records both the peril of sin and the promise of atonement. Theological Threads 1. Universality: Whether Gentile king, covenant nation, or individual psalmist, all stand under the verdict of חֲטָאָה. Ministry Implications • Preaching must retain the vocabulary of sin to proclaim the necessity of grace. Christological Fulfillment Every thread converges at the cross: “God made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us” (2 Corinthians 5:21). The dual sense of חֲטָאָה—sin and sin-offering—finds its ultimate expression as Jesus bears our guilt and becomes the sacrifice, satisfying justice and extending mercy. Conclusion חֲטָאָה exposes humanity’s deepest need and simultaneously hints at God’s gracious remedy. From “great sin” to “sins covered,” Scripture presents a coherent story: sin acknowledged, atonement provided, blessing bestowed. The church today inherits this narrative, proclaiming forgiveness through the once-for-all sin offering of the Lamb of God. Forms and Transliterations וַ֝חֲטָאָ֗ה וחטאה חֲטָאָ֣ה חֲטָאָ֥ה חֲטָאָֽה׃ חטאה חטאה׃ לַֽחֲטָאָֽה׃ לחטאה׃ chataAh ḥă·ṭā·’āh ḥăṭā’āh la·ḥă·ṭā·’āh LachataAh laḥăṭā’āh vachataAh wa·ḥă·ṭā·’āh waḥăṭā’āhLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 20:9 HEB: וְעַל־ מַמְלַכְתִּ֖י חֲטָאָ֣ה גְדֹלָ֑ה מַעֲשִׂים֙ NAS: a great sin? You have done KJV: a great sin? thou hast done INT: on and my kingdom sin A great things Exodus 32:21 Exodus 32:30 Exodus 32:31 2 Kings 17:21 Psalm 32:1 Psalm 40:6 Psalm 109:7 8 Occurrences |
    |