ἀναμάρτητος (anamartētos)
anamartētos
sinless
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The adjective anamartētos describes a state of being completely free from sin or moral fault. Its structure is straightforward: it combines a negative prefix with a root related to missing or erring, literally meaning "not having missed the mark." In the New Testament, this term carries significant theological weight, pointing to absolute purity rather than mere improvement.
This word appears only once in the Greek New Testament, in John 8:46. Jesus uses it rhetorically when challenging his opponents, asking if any of them can prove him guilty of sin. The usage here emphasizes that his life was not just generally good, but entirely without blemish or error, distinguishing him uniquely from all others.
While the term exists in earlier Greek literature to mean "unerring" in a technical sense, the biblical application focuses on moral integrity. It serves as a precise descriptor for the sinless nature of Christ, affirming that he lived a life entirely consistent with God’s will and free from any transgression.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word anamartētos paints a picture of absolute moral purity, describing someone who has never missed the mark in their relationship with God. In John 8:46, Jesus uses this term to highlight His unique sinless nature, challenging His critics to find any fault in Him. This declaration is not merely about being a good person; it signifies a life entirely consistent with God’s will and free from any transgression.
For believers, this truth offers profound comfort. Because Christ lived a perfect life, He is able to serve as a flawless sacrifice for our sins. His sinlessness means that our failures do not disqualify us from His grace; instead, His perfection covers our imperfections. We can approach God with confidence, knowing that our High Priest understands human weakness yet remains without sin.
This assurance invites us to rest in the completeness of Christ’s work. We are not saved by our own moral achievements but by trusting in the One who is truly anamartētos. His purity transforms our standing before God, offering hope and peace that no human effort could ever provide.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- sinless1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἀναμάρτητος1×