ἁμάρτημα (hamartēma)
hamartēma
sin
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 5 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun hamartēma refers to a specific sinful act or deed, translating the Greek verb for missing the mark into a concrete action. In the New Testament, it appears in just five verses, often highlighting the gravity of particular transgressions rather than sin as an abstract condition. For instance, Mark 3:28-29 uses it to describe blasphemy against the Spirit as a distinct, unforgivable offense, while 1 Corinthians 6:18 lists fleeing sexual immorality alongside other specific sins.
This word carries significant theological weight in Romans 3:25, where Paul describes Christ’s sacrifice as a propitiation through faith in His blood. Here, hamartēma underscores the tangible nature of human failure that requires atonement. The term is distinct from broader words for lawlessness or weakness; it points directly to the wrongful deed itself, serving as a clear label for actions that violate divine law.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
This word points to a specific act of missing the mark, rather than an abstract state of being sinful. It reminds us that our choices have weight and consequence. When we look at how this term is used, we see it often highlights serious transgressions, such as the unforgivable blasphemy against the Spirit in Mark 3:29 or the call to flee sexual immorality in 1 Corinthians 6:18.
Yet, there is profound hope here. Romans 3:25 shows that Christ’s sacrifice was made specifically to deal with these concrete sins. God did not leave our specific failures unaddressed; He provided a way for them to be forgiven through faith in His blood. This means no particular deed is beyond the reach of His grace.
Understanding this word helps us take our actions seriously while resting in the sufficiency of Christ’s work. We are invited to confess our specific wrongs and trust that they are covered by His atoning sacrifice, allowing us to walk forward with a clear conscience and renewed purpose.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 5 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- sins.1×
- sins —1×
- sins1×
- sin;1×
- sin1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἁμάρτημα1×
- ἁμαρτήματος·1×
- ἁμαρτήματα.¶1×
- ἁμαρτήματα1×
- ἁμαρτημάτων1×
Key Verses
-
Mark 3:29
but whoever may blaspheme against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation.”
This verse uses the word to define a specific, persistent rejection of God's Spirit that stands apart from other forgivable sins.
-
Romans 3:25
whom God sent to be an atoning sacrifice through faith in his blood, for a demonstration of his righteousness through the passing over of prior sins, in God’s forbearance;
Here the term identifies the tangible sins that Christ’s blood addresses as a demonstration of God’s righteousness.
Every Occurrence (5 verses across 3 books)
Mark 3 verses
“Most certainly I tell you, all sins of the descendants of man will be forgiven, including their blasphemies with which…
Mark 3:29but whoever may blaspheme against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation.”
Mark 4:12that ‘seeing they may see and not perceive, and hearing they may hear and not understand, lest perhaps they should turn…