What Is Sin?
Any thought, word, or act that falls short of God's holy standard, breaking relationship between humanity and God.
Meaning
The Hebrew word for sin, chata, literally means to miss the mark, an image of an arrow falling short of its target. The Greek New Testament word, hamartia, carries the same idea. Sin, in Christian teaching, is not limited to dramatic wrongdoing, it includes any failure to meet God's holy standard, in thought, word, action, or omission.
Genesis 3 describes the origin of sin in the choice of Adam and Eve to disobey God, an event Christian tradition treats as introducing sin and death into human experience broadly, not only for that first couple. Paul states plainly that all have sinned and fall short of God's glory, describing sin as a universal human condition rather than an occasional lapse.
Traditions differ on exactly how that first sin affects later generations. Augustine's teaching on original sin, that all humans inherit both a sinful nature and guilt from Adam, shaped Catholic theology and most Western Protestant thought. Eastern Orthodox Christianity generally teaches ancestral sin instead, holding that humanity inherits mortality and a corrupted, weakened condition from Adam, but not inherited guilt for his particular act, placing more emphasis on human free will in each person's own sin. Despite this difference, all major traditions agree sin separates humanity from God and requires God's grace to overcome.
In Scripture
Romans 3:23“for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God;”
Explore more terms in the Christian glossary, see how the traditions understand it on the denominations guide, or read related verses explained.
Sin: Frequently Asked
What is the biblical definition of sin?
The Hebrew and Greek words both carry the sense of missing a mark or target. Sin describes any failure to meet God's holy standard, in thought, word, or action, not only serious wrongdoing. Scripture treats it as a universal condition affecting every person, not isolated acts.
Do all Christians believe in original sin?
Most do, but they describe it differently. Western Christianity, shaped by Augustine, generally teaches humans inherit both a sinful nature and guilt from Adam. Eastern Orthodox Christianity teaches ancestral sin, inherited mortality and a weakened condition, without inherited personal guilt.
Is sin only about breaking rules?
No. Christian teaching describes sin fundamentally as a broken relationship with God, not merely rule-breaking. Specific wrong actions flow from that deeper separation. Restoring the relationship, through repentance and grace, is treated as more central than simply avoiding a list of prohibited behaviors.