Menu

Psalms 38:18 — Word Study

Depth

WLCכִּֽי־ עֲוֹנִ֥י אַגִּ֑יד אֶ֝דְאַ֗ג מֵֽחַטָּאתִֽי׃

BSAYeskîy

Word
Listen & take awayPsalms 38
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 18 is in this chapter.
Hebrew ↓ Download MP3 The Masoretic text of this chapter, read aloud. Read by Abraham Shmuelof, courtesy of Audio Scriptures International. Chapter divisions by the Academy of Ancient Languages..
Say the word Each Hebrew word carries its transliteration (Me.cha.ta.Ti) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Psalms 38:18quick helps
In a sentenceThe psalmist acknowledges his wrongdoing and expresses deep sorrow for his sin.
Who is speakingThe psalmist, reflecting on his personal struggles and relationship with God.
Where we areA moment of confession and introspection within a lament.
The hard wordעֲוֹנִ֥י
Take awayConfession brings awareness of sin and its consequences.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbצֶלַע The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
How rare are these words?in the Old Testament

Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.

Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.

Deep Study — Psalms 38:18

Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.

Context — A Lament of the Sufferinggenerated

17For I am ready to fall, and my pain is ever with me.
18Yes, I confess my iniquity; I am troubled by my sin.
19Many are my enemies without cause, and many hate me without reason.
20Those who repay my good with evil attack me for pursuing the good.

Psalm 38:18 is a heartfelt expression of the psalmist's anguish over his sin and iniquity. He openly confesses his wrongdoing, revealing a deep sense of sorrow and anxiety about the consequences of his actions. This verse is situated within a larger lament where the psalmist grapples with his suffering, as seen in the preceding and following verses, which highlight his physical and emotional distress.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Psalm 32:5Then I acknowledged my sin to You and did not hide my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,” and You forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah
2Psalm 51:3For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.
3Job 31:33if I have covered my transgressions like Adam by hiding my guilt in my heart,
4Job 33:27Then he sings before men with these words: ‘I have sinned and perverted what was right; yet I did not get what I deserved.
5Proverbs 28:13He who conceals his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them will find mercy.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 6 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word עֲוֹנִ֥י, 'a.vo.Nigenerated

The word עָוֹן (avon) refers to iniquity or moral evil, indicating a state of guilt or wrongdoing. It emphasizes the moral implications of sin and the associated consequences, both in this life and in relation to God.

As a noun in the construct state, it connects directly to the speaker, indicating personal ownership of the sin. The psalmist's use of this term highlights his awareness of his moral failings and the need for confession.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The finite verb אַגִּ֑יד ('a.Gid), meaning 'I tell', governs the main clause, while the phrases that follow elaborate on the speaker's confession and emotional state. The structure emphasizes the act of confession as central to the psalmist's experience.

The syntax places the confession first, highlighting its importance, while the emotional response follows, showing the connection between acknowledgment of sin and the resultant anxiety.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

In the Septuagint, the Hebrew עֲוֹן is rendered as ἁμαρτία (hamartia), which translates to 'sin'. This choice reflects a broader understanding of moral failure and its implications in the context of the psalmist's lament.

This translation indicates a shift from a focus on iniquity to a more general term for sin, which may suggest a wider application of the concept in the Greek-speaking Jewish community.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Psalm 38:18 captures the psalmist's deep sorrow as he confesses his sin and acknowledges his iniquity. He expresses anxiety over his wrongdoing, highlighting the emotional weight of his actions and their impact on his relationship with God.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does the psalmist mean by 'iniquity'?

The term 'iniquity' refers to moral evil or wrongdoing, indicating a state of guilt that affects one's relationship with God.

Why does the psalmist feel anxious?

The psalmist's anxiety stems from his awareness of sin and its consequences, which causes him to reflect on his moral state and relationship with God.

Is confession important in this verse?

Yes, confession is crucial as it signifies the psalmist's acknowledgment of his sin, which is a step towards seeking forgiveness and healing.

How does this verse relate to other passages about sin?

This verse echoes themes found in other passages, such as Psalm 32:5 and Psalm 51:3, which also emphasize the importance of acknowledging one's sin before God.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. What are some ways I can acknowledge my own shortcomings and seek forgiveness?
  2. How does understanding my sin impact my relationship with God?
  3. In what ways can I express my sorrow for my wrongdoings?
  4. How can I support others in their journey of confession and healing?

The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it

The early Church Fathers referenced this verse in discussions about sin and repentance. Their quotations reflect on the nature of confession and the mercy of God.

Ambrose of MilanVerse 18. c. 339–397
If you see your servant confessing his own sins and offering himself voluntarily to punishment, will you be moved, forgive him, and doubt the mercy of the Lord? The judge himself,
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 38 →
Augustine of HippoExposition on Psalms 38 354–430
"And my sorrow is continually before me." What "sorrow" is that? Perhaps, a sorrow for my scourge. And, in good truth, my brethren, in good truth, let me say unto you, men do mourn for their scourges,
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 38 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Psalms 38:18 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

For I will declare mine iniquity,.... Either to men, to ease his mind, justify God in his proceedings with him, and for their caution and admonition: or rather to God, against whom he had sinned, and

Read John Gill on Psalms 38 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin. For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin.

Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 38 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Declare mine iniquity; either to thee; or publicly to the world, because my sin hath been public and scandalous. I will be sorry, Heb. I will be (or, I am; futures being oft so taken) solicitous or anxious; full of grief for what is past, and of cares and fears for the future; partly lest I should relapse into the same folly upon new temptations; and partly lest thou shouldst cut me off for my sins. Therefore pity, and pardon, and save me. For my sin; or, by reason of my sin, or upon that occasion.

Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 38 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Psalms 38:18 For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin.Ver. 18. For I will declare mine iniquity] To them that visit me in this disease, saith Aben Ezra, that they may pray for me, according to James 5:16; or rather to God, that he may pardon me and ease me. Or thus, When I declare, &c. Then

Read John Trapp on Psalms 38 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(18) Sorry.—The note of true penitence is here. The sorrow is for the sin itself, not for its miserable results.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 38 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 18. I will declare mine iniquity] I will confess it with the deepest humiliation and self-abasement.

Read AdamClarke on Psalms 38 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

18. For &c.] Sin, he confesses, is the cause of that suffering. I will be sorry] Or, I will be troubled. Jer. sollicitus ero: Psalms 5:1. contristabor.

Read Cambridge on Psalms 38 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

For I will declare mine iniquity - That is, he was not disposed to hide his sin. He would make no concealment of the fact that he regarded himself as a sinner.

Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 38 →

The verse in English, compared — 16 translations, and where they part company

Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.

Modern formal

BSBBerean Standard Bible2020

Yes, I confess my iniquity; I am troubled by my sin.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

For I will declare my iniquity. I will be sorry for my sin.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

Yes, I confess my iniquity; I am troubled by my sin.

NETBNew English Translation2006

Yes, I confess my wrongdoing, and I am concerned about my sins.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin.

RVARevised Version, American1894

For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

For I will declare my iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

When I declare my paine, and am sory for my sinne,

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

For I will declare mine iniquity, I am grieved for my sin.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

For mine iniquity I declare, I am sorry for my sin.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

For I declare my iniquity, || I am sorry for my sin.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

(38:19) For I will tell of my iniquity; I will be grieved because of my sin.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

I confess my guilt; I am concerned about my sin.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

I do confess my sins; I am terribly sorry for what I've done.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

I will make clear my wrongdoing, with sorrow in my heart for my sin.

Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.


The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank

This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.

כִּֽי(dm)clausenoun phrase · objectעֲוֺנִ֥iniquityיmyverbאַגִּ֑ידI.tellclauseverbאֶ֝דְאַ֗גI.am.anxiousprepositional phrase · prepositionalמֵֽfromnoun phraseחַטָּאתִֽsinיmy

Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.


The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran

The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree on the core wording of the verse, with both recognizing the psalmist's confession of iniquity. The Dead Sea Scrolls provide a partial restoration but align closely with the Masoretic Text, affirming the authenticity of the confession and the emotional turmoil expressed.

Masoretic TextLeningrad Codex, c. AD 1008 — the text this page is built on

כִּֽי־ עֲוֹנִ֥י אַגִּ֑יד אֶ֝דְאַ֗ג מֵֽחַטָּאתִֽי׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
כִּֽי־ὅτιעֲוֹנִ֥יεἰςאַגִּ֑ידμάστιγαςאֶ֝דְאַ֗גἕτοιμοςמֵֽחַטָּאתִֽי׃μου

5 of the 5 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.

Dead Sea Scrolls — 4Q83a copy a thousand years older than the Leningrad Codex

כי אני לצלע [נכון] ומכאב׳י נגד׳י תמיד

5 words on the leather — 1 partly restored, 1 supplied entire by an editor.

Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.


The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with

This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.

Psalms 38:18כִּיforforכִּיעָוֹןiniquity myiniquity myעָוֹןנָגַדI tellI tellנָגַדדָּאַגI am anxiouI am anxiousדָּאַגחַטָּאָהfrom sin myfrom sin myחַטָּאָהחָטָאto sinto sinחָטָאעָוָהto twistto twistעָוָהאֲבַדto destroyto destroyאֲבַדיָדַעto knowto knowיָדַעפֶּ֫שַׁעtransgresstransgressionפֶּ֫שַׁעחַטָּאָהsinsinחַטָּאָהקָרָאto encountto encounter: mקָרָאאָתוֹןshe-assshe-assאָתוֹןמִן־fromfromמִן־שָׂעִרhairyhairyשָׂעִרעֵזgoatgoatעֵז
meets it a little oftener than chancemeets it far oftener than chancebuilt from the same roottwo words of the verse share ita word of this versea related word

Lexicons — every word in Psalms 38:18

One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.

Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.

for iniquity my I tell I am anxious from sin my
כִּֽי־ki- for H3588 Particle
4,483× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A conjunction used to show cause or connection, as in Genesis 2:23 where Adam says the woman is bone of his bone because she was taken out of him. It is often translated as 'for', 'because', or 'since'.
Tyndale gloss
for
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כִּי (ki) is a conjunction primarily meaning 'that,' 'for,' or 'when.' It indicates causal relationships and can express conditions like 'if' or 'though.' The word is versatile, appearing in various contexts to convey certainty, exception, or concession. Notably, it can combine with other particles to modify its meaning, such as in the phrase כִּי אם־ (ki im), meaning 'that if.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כִּי conj. that, for, when

that

Of time, when, of the past

elsewhere כִּי has a force approximating to if, though it usu. represents a case as more likely to occur than אִם

when or if, with a concessive force, i.e. though

Because, since

base

כִּי אם־

each part. retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause:

that if

for if

(About 140 t.) the two particles being closely conjoined, and relating to the same clause—

limiting the prec. clause, except

the if being neglected, and treated as pleonastic, so that the clause is no longer a limitation of the preceding clause but a contradiction of it: but rather, but

after an oath, surely

base

כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3588a כִּי that, for, when . that

. . Of time, when, of the past

. elsewhere כִּי has a force approximating to if, though it usu. represents a case as more likely to occur than אִם

. when or if, with a concessive force, i.e. though

. Because, since

H3588b כִּי אם־ . each part. retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause: . that if

. for if

. (About 140 t.) the two particles being closely conjoined, and relating to the same clause— . limiting the prec. clause, except

. the if being neglected, and treated as pleonastic, so that the clause is no longer a limitation of the preceding clause but a contradiction of it: but rather, but

. after an oath, surely

H3588c כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3588 kiy kee

a primitive particle (the full form of the prepositional

prefix) indicating causal relations of all kinds, antecedent

or consequent; (by implication) very widely used as a relative

conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by

other particles annexed:--and, + (forasmuch, inasmuch,

where-)as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else,

even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, +

nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then,

therefore, + (al- )though, + till, truly, + until, when,

whether, while, whom, yea, yet.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כִּי (ki) — for.

1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since

1a) that

1a1) yea, indeed

1b) when (of time)

1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force)

1c) because, since (causal connection)

1d) but (after negative)

1e) that if, for if, indeed if, for though, but if

1f) but rather, but

1g) except that

1h) only, nevertheless

1i) surely

1j) that is

1k) but if

1l) for though

1m) forasmuch as, for therefore

כִּי [אם] (ki im) — that if: except.

1) except if

1a) but if

1b) even though

כִּי [עַל כֵּן] (ki [al ken]) — for as that: since.

1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since

1a) that

1a1) yea, indeed

1b) when (of time)

1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force)

1c) because, since (causal connection)

1d) but (after negative)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj — Particle
HTc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

for (ki (conjunction), le, from 'el (preposition), and various other words. In the New Testament also the words are various, chiefly gar, kai gar, hoti (conjunctions); anti apo eis dia (accusative), epi (dative and accusative), peri (genitive), pros (genitive and accusative), huper (genitive) (prepositions)): the English Revised Version and the American Standard Revised Version give in many cases more literal or more accurate renderings than those in the King James Version.

In the New Testament the most important preps. from a doctrinal point of view are anti, "face to face," "over against," "instead," "on behalf of," peri, "around," "about," "concerning," huper, "over," "on behalf of." The first has been claimed as stating the substitutionary nature of Christ's sacrifice as contrasted with huper and peri, more frequently used of it. But, although anti in the New Testament often means…

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
for iniquity my I tell I am anxious from sin my
עֲוֹנִ֥י'a.vo.Ni iniquity my H5771 Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
233× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means moral evil or sin, like the kind God sees in people's hearts. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Psalms. This concept is key to understanding human nature.
Tyndale gloss
iniquity: crime
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עָוֹן (avon) refers to iniquity, guilt, or the punishment associated with iniquity. It encompasses concepts of moral evil, such as perversity and depravity, and includes the consequences or punishment for these actions. The term appears in contexts like 2 Kings 7:9 and Psalm 51:5, highlighting its significance in discussions of sin and guilt.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עָוֹן n.m. iniquity, guilt, or punishment of iniquity

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5771 עָוֹן iniquity, guilt, or punishment of iniquity

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5771 `avon aw-vone'

or oavown (2 Kings 7:9; Psalm 51:5 (7)) {aw-vone'}; from

5753; perversity, i.e. (moral) evil:--fault, iniquity,

mischeif, punishment (of iniquity), sin.

see HEBREW for 07

see HEBREW for 05753

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עָוֺן (a.van) — iniquity: crime.

: crime

1) perversity, depravity, iniquity, guilt or punishment of iniquity

1a) iniquity

1b) guilt of iniquity, guilt (as great), guilt (of condition)

1c) consequence of or punishment for iniquity

עָוֺן (a.van) — iniquity: guilt.

: guilt

1) perversity, depravity, iniquity, guilt or punishment of iniquity

1a) iniquity

1b) guilt of iniquity, guilt (as great), guilt (of condition)

1c) consequence of or punishment for iniquity

עָוֺן (a.van) — iniquity: punishment.

: punishment

1) perversity, depravity, iniquity, guilt or punishment of iniquity

1a) iniquity

1b) guilt of iniquity, guilt (as great), guilt (of condition)

1c) consequence of or punishment for iniquity

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNcmsc/Sp1bs — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
HNcmsc/Sp1bs
for iniquity my I tell I am anxious from sin my
אַגִּ֑יד'a.Gid I tell H5046 Verb · Hiphil · imperfect first person common singular
371× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To tell or declare something openly, as in Genesis 3:11 where God asks Adam to tell the truth. It means to stand boldly and announce something to someone present. In Exodus 32:27, Moses tells the Levites to declare their actions to the people.
Tyndale gloss
to tell
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

נָגַד (nagad) is a Hebrew verb meaning to declare or tell, with implications of being conspicuous or manifesting something. It covers a range of meanings including to announce, report, and make known, often through spoken word. The entries indicate that it can also mean to expose or predict, and in the Hophil form, it refers to something being told or reported.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[נָגַד] 363 vb. be conspicuous

Hiph. declare, tell

Hoph. be told, announced, reported

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5046 נָגַד be conspicuous . declare, tell

. be told, announced, reported

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5046 nagad naw-gad'

a primitive root; properly, to front, i.e. stand boldly out

opposite; by implication (causatively), to manifest;

figuratively, to announce (always by word of mouth to one

present); specifically, to expose, predict, explain,

praise:--bewray, X certainly, certify, declare(-ing),

denounce, expound, X fully, messenger, plainly, profess,

rehearse, report, shew (forth), speak, X surely, tell, utter.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נָגַד (na.gad) — to tell.

1) to be conspicuous, tell, make known

1a) (Hiphil) to tell, declare

1a1) to tell, announce, report

1a2) to declare, make known, expound

1a3) to inform of

1a4) to publish, declare, proclaim

1a5) to avow, acknowledge, confess

1a5a) messenger (participle)

1b) (Hophal) to be told, be announced, be reported

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HVhi1cs — Verb · Hiphil · imperfect first person common singular
HVhi1cs
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

See TALE.

for iniquity my I tell I am anxious from sin my
אֶ֝דְאַ֗ג'ed.'Ag I am anxious H1672 Verb · Qal · imperfect first person common singular
7× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb means to be anxious or afraid, like worrying about something. It is used in the Bible to describe fear or concern. The KJV translates it as be afraid or sorrow.
Tyndale gloss
be anxious
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

דָּאַג (da'ag) is a primitive root meaning to be anxious or concerned. It encompasses feelings of fear and dread, as well as the act of taking thought or being careful. The entries consistently highlight its emotional and mental aspects without significant disagreement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

דָּאַג vb. be anxious, concerned, fear

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1672 דָּאַג be anxious, concerned, fear

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1672 da'ag daw-ag'

a primitive root; be anxious:--be afraid (careful, sorry),

sorrow, take thought.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

דָּאַג (da.ag) — be anxious.

1) to fear, be anxious, be concerned, be afraid, be careful

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to be anxious, be concerned

1a2) to fear, dread

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HVqi1cs — Verb · Qal · imperfect first person common singular
HVqi1cs
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
for iniquity my I tell I am anxious from sin my
מֵֽחַטָּאתִֽי׃Me.cha.ta.Ti from sin my H2403 Preposition · noun common feminine singular construct · suffix
295× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word describes sin, guilt, or punishment for sin, and also the sacrifice or purification made to atone for it. It is used in the Bible to describe the consequences and solutions for sin. The KJV translates it as 'punishment' or 'sin'.
Tyndale gloss
sin
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

חַטָּאָה (chatta'ah) refers to sin and encompasses various aspects such as the condition of sin, guilt, punishment, and sin-offering. It can denote both the act of sinning and the consequences, including purification from ceremonial uncleanness. The term is built from the root word for offense and is used in contexts relating to sin and its expiation.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חַטָּאָה n.f. sinful thing, sin, Ex 34:7 (J E) Is 5:18.

done

חַטָּאת n.f. sin, sin-offering

sin

condition of sin, guilt of sin

punishment for sin

sin-offering

purification from sins of ceremonial uncleanness

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2403a חַטָּאָה sin, sin-offering(?) . sin

. sin-offering

H2403b חַטָּאת sin, sin-offering . sin

. condition of sin, guilt of sin

. punishment for sin

. sin-offering

. purification from sins of ceremonial uncleanness

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2403 chatta'ah khat-taw-aw'

or chattacth {khat-tawth'}; from 2398; an offence (sometimes

habitual sinfulness), and its penalty, occasion, sacrifice, or

expiation; also (concretely) an offender:--punishment (of

sin), purifying(-fication for sin), sin(-ner, offering).

see HEBREW for 02398

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חַטָּאָה (chat.ta.ah) — sin.

sin, sinful thing

חַטָּאת (chat.tat) — sin.

: sin

1) sin, sin offering

1a) sin

1b) condition of sin, guilt of sin

1c) punishment for sin

1d) sin-offering

1e) purification from sins of ceremonial uncleanness

חַטָּאת (chat.tat) — sin: sin offering.

: sin_offering

1) sin, sin offering

1a) sin

1b) condition of sin, guilt of sin

1c) punishment for sin

1d) sin-offering

1e) purification from sins of ceremonial uncleanness

חַטָּאת (chat.tat) — sin: punishment.

: punishment/purification

1) sin, sin offering

1a) sin

1b) condition of sin, guilt of sin

1c) punishment for sin

1d) sin-offering

1e) purification from sins of ceremonial uncleanness

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HR/Ncfsc/Sp1bs — Preposition · noun common feminine singular construct · suffix
HR/Ncfsc/Sp1bs
Sources on this page. Lexicons and dictionaries imported from the CrossWire SWORD modules — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, Dodson, the Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones, Robinson and Packard, Webster and Cawdrey. Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (Harper, 1889 — Grimm’s Wilke’s Clavis Novi Testamenti, translated, revised and enlarged by Joseph Henry Thayer) is public domain and is set here from the Internet Archive page scan greekenglishlex00grim; it is uncorrected OCR, marked as such on the entry itself, and the Strong’s numbers — which Thayer’s own edition does not carry — were matched by lemma against the other modules on this page. Trench’s Synonyms of the New Testament (Macmillan, 1880) and Moulton and Milligan’s Vocabulary of the Greek Testament (Hodder & Stoughton, 1930, which entered the United States public domain on 1 January 2026) are set from Internet Archive page scans synonymsofnewtes00treniala and vocabularyofgree00mouluoft, and are likewise uncorrected OCR matched to Strong’s numbers by lemma. Trench treats a group of words at once, so the same essay stands on the page of each word it compares. The Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary is © 1993 and is used here by permission for non-commercial use, www.teknia.com/greek-dictionary. The full Liddell-Scott-Jones and the Hebrew word data (TAHOT) come from STEPBible.org, CC BY 4.0. Brown-Driver-Briggs is the OpenScriptures digitisation, public domain. Syntax analysis is the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (biblicalhumanities.org); the concordance and morphology are built from the tagged Nestle 1904 text. Septuagint occurrences use the Open Scriptures Septuagint lemma index, derived from CCAT (University of Pennsylvania) and the Rahlfs 1935 dataset by Eliran Wong, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 — used here on a non-commercial ministry site. Greek of Josephus and Barnabas from the Perseus Digital Library, CC BY-SA 4.0. Commentaries and the Ante-Nicene Fathers are public-domain texts hosted on this site. Everyday Greek from the Duke Databank of Documentary Papyri, CC BY 3.0, with dates and provenance from the Heidelberger Gesamtverzeichnis. Philo and the Apostolic Fathers from Open Greek and Latin (First1KGreek), CC BY-SA 4.0. The apparatus and the fifth Greek column are the SBL Greek New Testament, © 2010 SBL and Logos Bible Software, CC BY 4.0. The Latin is the Clementine Vulgate (public domain); the Syriac New Testament is the ETCBC edition (MIT licence). The Hebrew behind the Greek is computed here from the Septuagint index and TAHOT, not taken from any aligned edition. The translation spread and the per-word edition marks come from the Translators Amalgamated Greek NT (STEPBible, CC BY 4.0); clause roles from the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (CC BY-SA 4.0); place identifications and their confidence from OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding (CC BY 4.0), with map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors. Gospel parallels are computed here from shared uncommon vocabulary, not taken from any printed harmony. Cross references are the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and the subject headings are Nave’s Topical Bible, both public domain. Works under Creative Commons licences are used unchanged apart from markup removal.

Everything we make is available for free because of a generous community of supporters.

Donate