חַטָּאָה (chat.ta.ah)
chat.ta.ah
sin; sin: sin offering; sin: punishment
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 234 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun chattha’ah refers to a "sinful thing" or the act of missing a mark, but in Scripture it carries a broader scope than modern usage. It describes not only the moral failure itself but also the resulting state of guilt and the concrete punishment that follows. The word appears frequently in legal texts, where it often denotes the specific ritual offering required to address ceremonial uncleanness or unintentional transgressions.
A key feature of this term is its dual function: it names both the offense and the means of purification. In Leviticus and Numbers, chattha’ah frequently refers to the sin offering, a sacrifice designed to cleanse the sanctuary and the worshiper from the defilement caused by sin. This usage highlights a theological view where sin creates a tangible stain that requires a specific remedy, rather than merely an abstract wrong.
The word also encompasses the consequences of wrongdoing. In narratives like those in Kings, it can signify the punishment incurred by the nation or individual for their actions. By linking the act, the offering, and the penalty, chattha’ah presents sin as a comprehensive reality that affects ritual purity, legal standing, and communal well-being, requiring both acknowledgment and resolution.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
This word covers more than just a moral mistake. It describes a state of being that requires attention and resolution. In the ancient texts, it often points to a specific ritual offering designed to cleanse the community from defilement. This shows that sin is treated as a tangible reality with consequences, not merely an abstract idea.
The narrative in Genesis 4 offers a striking image of this concept. Sin is described as crouching at the door, eager for its victim but subject to human rule. This suggests that while the condition of sin is real and present, it does not have ultimate authority over those who choose to resist it.
Understanding this term helps us see the seriousness of wrongdoing alongside the provision for restoration. The detailed laws in Leviticus show a God who cares about purity and provides a way forward. It invites us to acknowledge our failures honestly and trust in the means of forgiveness that are available.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 234 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- to/ a sin offering33×
- the/ sin offering28×
- a sin offering19×
- [the] sins of15×
- sin/ his12×
- sins/ your11×
- sins/ their10×
- sin9×
- sin/ my6×
- [is] a sin offering6×
- sin/ your5×
- from/ sin/ his5×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- לְ/חַטָּֽאת\׃16×
- חַטָּ֖את13×
- לְ/חַטָּ֑את9×
- חַטָּ֑את7×
- הַֽ/חַטָּאת֙6×
- חַטָּֽאת\׃5×
- חַטָּ֔את5×
- לְ/חַטָּ֔את4×
- לְ/חַטַּ֖את4×
- חַטֹּ֤אות4×
- חַטָּאת֖/וֹ4×
- הַֽ/חַטָּ֑את4×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 4:7
If you do well, won’t it be lifted up? If you don’t do well, sin crouches at the door. Its desire is for you, but you are to rule over it.”
This verse personifies sin as a wild animal crouching at the door, illustrating its dangerous desire to dominate while emphasizing human responsibility to rule over it.
-
Leviticus 4:3
if the anointed priest sins so as to bring guilt on the people, then let him offer for his sin which he has sinned a young bull without defect to Yahweh for a sin offering.
Here the word specifically denotes the ritual sacrifice required when a leader sins, highlighting how the offering addresses the guilt brought upon the people.
-
Exodus 32:30
On the next day, Moses said to the people, “You have sinned a great sin. Now I will go up to Yahweh. Perhaps I shall make atonement for your sin.”
Moses identifies the idolatry as a great sin and prepares to make atonement, showing the communal weight of this specific type of transgression.
-
Leviticus 4:20
He shall do this with the bull; as he did with the bull of the sin offering, so he shall do with this; and the priest shall make atonement for them, and they shall be forgiven.
The text links the ritual action directly to the result, stating that the priest makes atonement so that the people may be forgiven.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Hebrew word chattha’ah mean?
How is this word different from other words for sin?
Where does this word appear most frequently?
Every Occurrence (234 verses across 24 books)
Genesis 4 verses
If you do well, won’t it be lifted up? If you don’t do well, sin crouches at the door. Its desire is for you, but you…
Genesis 18:20Yahweh said, “Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous,
Genesis 31:36Jacob was angry, and argued with Laban. Jacob answered Laban, “What is my trespass? What is my sin, that you have hotly…
Genesis 50:17‘You shall tell Joseph, “Now please forgive the disobedience of your brothers, and their sin, because they did evil to…