What is the distinction between sin, iniquity, transgression?

[KirkPsalm]

7 g keeping steadfast love for thousands, [1] h forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but i who will by no means clear the guilty, j visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.”

Remember, not looking for the meaning of this paticular passage. You see "sin, inequity, transgression " used in the Bible often and I am curious as to what make then distinct from each other.

 

[Gregory Thompson]

Here's to start:

Iniquity H5771 - ʿāôn - Strong's Hebrew Lexicon (nkjv)
Transgression H6588 - pešaʿ - Strong's Hebrew Lexicon (nkjv)
Sin H2403 - ḥaṭṭā'āṯ - Strong's Hebrew Lexicon (nkjv)

Each link includes the verses with that word in it.

 

[Jonaitis]

7 g keeping steadfast love for thousands, [1] h forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but i who will by no means clear the guilty, j visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.”

Remember, not looking for the meaning of this paticular passage. You see "sin, inequity, transgression " used in the Bible often and I am curious as to what make then distinct from each other.

Sin is an umbrella term for any discontinuity with God. It simply means to "miss the mark." So it could be, for example, any lack of conformity to His righteousness; or, it can be any transgression of His Law; or, it could be one's state of mind.

Transgression is the actual violation of God's commandments.

Iniquity is the guilt or provocation of one's transgressions.

So when you commit transgressions, you incur iniquity. Sometimes "sin" is used interchangeably with those two words, depending on the context and the way it is framed.

 

[ViaCrucis]

In the Septuagint these words are translated as anomia, adikia, and harmatia, literally "lawlessness", "unrighteousness", and "sin". Iniquity is rendered as anomia, to be without law, to twist and pervert justice; transgression is adikia, to be without righteousness, unrighteousness; and sin is the usual Greek word for sin, harmatia, "error", aka "to miss the mark". All accurately convey the meaning of the original Hebrew words.

As @Jonaitis said, sin is an umbrella term, it covers all bases. Iniquity and transgression describe ways one sins; to pervert justice/righteousness through lawlessness, and to transgress or trespass or violate the Law respectively. They are, in ways, merely shades of meaning all talking about the same thing. Sin is sin. We transgress, we pervert, we fail to do what we ought to do and we do what we shouldn't do, we fail, we error, we miss the mark--and so we are guilty. Condemned under the Law on account of our sin. So St. Paul says in Romans 3:23 that without distinction (both Jews and Gentiles) have sinned and fallen short of God's glory, fallen short of God's judgment/opinion and the proper worship and honor to be given Him.

-CryptoLutheran

 

[eleos1954]

7 g keeping steadfast love for thousands, [1] h forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but i who will by no means clear the guilty, j visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.”

Remember, not looking for the meaning of this paticular passage. You see "sin, inequity, transgression " used in the Bible often and I am curious as to what make then distinct from each other.

The biblical writers used different words to refer to sin in its many forms ... but they are all forms of sin. What is sin? Transgression of the Law. All are guilty .... except Jesus .... that is why all need Him as Savior, only by the shedding of His sinless blood can one be reconciled with God and have peace. Jesus is the embodiment of the law (Romans 10:4)

Colossians 1:20

Amplified Bible
For Christ is the end of the law [it leads to Him and its purpose is fulfilled in Him], for [granting] righteousness to everyone who believes [in Him as Savior].

No He didn't do away with the law .... the law is fulfilled in Him and He imputes or imparts His righteousness to those who believe in Him as their Savior.

Pretty amazing !!!!!

Thank you Jesus !!!!!!!! Amen!

 

[KirkPsalm]

Thank you for your responses. I will also be doing some of the work myself. My take away from this thread is the meaning of iniquity, i did not understand it so much as the quilt of sin but more the action of sin. I might heard someone say a place was a "cesspool of iniquity". Now it seems a place like that may better be described as a cesspool of transgression or sin.

Continuing with the meaning of the iniquity Lev. 5:17 helps. It says, "If anyone sins, doing any of the things that by the Lord's commandments ought not to be done, though he did not know it, then realizes his guilt, he shall bear his iniquity".

Thank you