עָוֺן (a.van)
a.van
iniquity: crime
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 152 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun avon describes a deep moral distortion, often translated as iniquity or guilt. Its root suggests something bent or twisted, pointing to the crooked nature of the act itself rather than just the mistake. This word appears frequently in prophetic books like Jeremiah and Isaiah, where it highlights the serious, structural brokenness of human behavior.
Avon carries a unique weight because it encompasses both the deed and its consequence. The lexicons note that it can mean the crime itself, but also the guilt incurred or the punishment that follows. This is visible in passages like Genesis 4:13, where Cain speaks of his punishment being too great, linking the action directly to its heavy cost.
The term also extends to collective responsibility, such as the "iniquity of the fathers" mentioned in Exodus 20:5. This usage shows how the distortion of one generation can create a burden for those who follow. Translators often choose "iniquity" to preserve this sense of inherent wrongness and its lasting impact on the community.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word avon points to a deep moral distortion, something bent or twisted within human behavior. It is more than a simple mistake; it describes the inherent wrongness of an act and the heavy burden that follows. When we read about this in Scripture, we see how actions create lasting consequences, sometimes affecting generations beyond the original choice.
Yet the same God who highlights this brokenness also offers a way forward. In Exodus 34:7, He describes Himself as forgiving iniquity and sin. This promise shows that while the weight of our choices is real, it is not final. The path to restoration begins with acknowledging the distortion and turning toward the One who can bear the cost.
This understanding invites us to look at our own lives with honesty. We do not have to carry the shame of past errors alone. By confessing what has been twisted and seeking forgiveness, we find peace in the knowledge that grace is available to those who seek it.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 152 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- [the] iniquity of20×
- iniquity/ their16×
- iniquity/ your13×
- iniquity11×
- [the] guilt of7×
- the/ iniquity6×
- iniquity/ his6×
- iniquities/ your5×
- iniquity/ my4×
- iniquity/ its4×
- iniquities/ their4×
- iniquities/ our4×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- עֲוֹ֣ן14×
- עֲוֹ֥ן6×
- עָוֹ֖ן4×
- עֲוֹנָ֖/ם4×
- עֲוֹנָ֑/ם4×
- עָוֹן֙3×
- עֲוֹנָ֔/ם3×
- עֲוֹנָ/ם֙3×
- עֲוֹנֵ/ךְ֙3×
- עֲוֹ֤ן3×
- עָוֹֽן\׃2×
- עָוֹ֣ן2×
Key Verses
-
Exodus 34:7
keeping loving kindness for thousands, forgiving iniquity and disobedience and sin; and who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, and on the children’s children, on the third and on the fourth generation.”
This verse defines God's character by pairing His justice with His willingness to forgive iniquity, showing that the burden of sin is not insurmountable.
-
Leviticus 16:21
Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions, even all their sins; and he shall put them on the head of the goat, and shall send him away into the wilderness by the hand of a man who is ready.
Here the high priest places the collective iniquities of Israel on the scapegoat, illustrating a tangible transfer of guilt away from the people.
-
Genesis 4:13
Cain said to Yahweh, “My punishment is greater than I can bear.
Cain’s complaint reveals how avon encompasses both the crime and the crushing weight of its consequence, which feels too great to bear.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does avon mean in the Bible?
How is avon different from chatat (sin)?
Why is iniquity sometimes linked to generations?
Every Occurrence (152 verses across 25 books)
Genesis 4 verses
Cain said to Yahweh, “My punishment is greater than I can bear.
Genesis 15:16In the fourth generation they will come here again, for the iniquity of the Amorite is not yet full.”
Genesis 19:15When the morning came, then the angels hurried Lot, saying, “Get up! Take your wife and your two daughters who are…
Genesis 44:16Judah said, “What will we tell my lord? What will we speak? How will we clear ourselves? God has found out the iniquity…