intensively from חָטָא; a criminal, or one accounted guilty; offender, sinful, sinner.
Transliteration:chaṭṭâʼ
Pronunciation:khat-taw'
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew term חַטָּא (chaṭṭâʼ, `{{H2400}}`) is an intensive noun derived from the verbal root חָטָא (chaṭaʼ, `{{H2398}}`), which fundamentally means "to miss the mark," "to err," or "to sin." The intensive form חַטָּא emphasizes a persistent or characteristic state of sinfulness, denoting one who is defined by their transgression. Its semantic range includes "a criminal," "one accounted guilty," "an offender," or more broadly, "a sinner." It describes not merely an isolated act of sin, but the *identity* or *disposition* of being habitually or profoundly in opposition to divine standards.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term חַטָּא (`{{H2400}}`) appears in several significant contexts, consistently referring to individuals or groups characterized by their sinfulness:
* **[[1 Samuel 15:18]]**: Here, the Lord instructs Saul, "Go and utterly destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are consumed." The Amalekites are designated as חַטָּאִים (chaṭṭaʼim), the plural form, signifying their entrenched wickedness and persistent enmity towards God's people, justifying the severe divine judgment against them. This usage highlights a collective identity of sin.
* **[[1 Kings 1:21]]**: Bathsheba appeals to King David, stating, "Otherwise it will come about that when my lord the king sleeps with his fathers, I and my son Solomon will be regarded as offenders." The term חַטָּאִים (chaṭṭaʼim) here implies being considered guilty or culpable, liable to punishment or disgrace, underscoring the political and social consequences of perceived transgression or failure to secure the rightful succession.
* **[[Isaiah 65:20]]**: In a prophetic vision of the new heavens and new earth, the text states, "for the youth will die at a hundred years, and the sinner will be accursed at a hundred years." The phrase "the sinner" (חַטָּא) here denotes one who, even in an era of extended life and blessing, persists in rebellion against God's renewed order, thereby still facing the ultimate consequence of sin—death and divine curse. This emphasizes the enduring connection between sin and mortality, even when life is prolonged.
* **[[Amos 9:10]]**: The prophet declares, "All the sinners of my people will die by the sword, those who say, 'Disaster will not overtake or confront us.'" This passage distinguishes between the faithful remnant within Israel and those who are characterized as חַטָּאֵי (chaṭṭaʼei), the construct plural of חַטָּא. These are the complacent, unrepentant individuals within the covenant community who will face divine retribution, demonstrating God's justice in separating the persistently unrighteous from the truly devoted.
### Related Words & Concepts
חַטָּא (`{{H2400}}`) is intimately connected to, yet distinct from, several other key biblical terms:
* **`{{H2398}}` (חָטָא - *chaṭaʼ*)**: The foundational verb "to miss the mark, to sin." חַטָּא is the intensive noun form, referring to the one who habitually performs this action.
* **`{{H2401}}` (חַטָּאת - *chaṭṭaʼth*)**: The noun meaning "sin" (the act or state of sin) or "sin offering." While חַטָּאת refers to the transgression itself or its expiation, חַטָּא refers to the *person* characterized by the transgression.
* **`{{H7563}}` (רָשָׁע - *rashaʼ*)**: Meaning "wicked, guilty one, criminal." Often found in parallel with or in similar contexts to חַטָּא, *rashaʼ* frequently emphasizes active rebellion, injustice, or godlessness, whereas חַטָּא focuses more on the state of having missed God's standard or having a sinful character.
* **`{{G268}}` (ἁμαρτωλός - *hamartōlos*)**: The common Greek equivalent in the Septuagint and New Testament, also meaning "sinner." Like חַטָּא, *hamartōlos* describes one whose life is characterized by sin, often in contrast to the righteous or the just.
### Theological Significance
The term חַטָּא (`{{H2400}}`) carries profound theological weight:
* **The Nature of Sin as a State:** חַטָּא underscores that sin is not merely a series of isolated actions but can become a defining characteristic or identity of an individual or a people. It speaks to a pervasive condition of being alienated from God's righteousness and standard.
* **Divine Justice and Judgment:** The designation of groups like the Amalekites or unfaithful Israelites as חַטָּאִים highlights God's righteous judgment against those whose lives are marked by persistent rebellion and transgression. It implies a deserved consequence for a life lived in opposition to divine will, emphasizing God's discernment and justice even among His own people.
* **Humanity's Predicament:** While specific groups are identified as חַטָּא, the underlying concept points to the universal human propensity to miss God's mark. This intensive form implicitly foreshadows the New Testament understanding of humanity's fallen state, where all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God ([[Romans 3:23]]).
* **The Need for Redemption:** The identification of individuals or groups as חַטָּא implicitly points to the dire need for divine intervention, forgiveness, and transformation. This state of being a "sinner" ultimately leads to spiritual death and separation from God, necessitating a redemptive act to reconcile humanity to its Creator.
### Summary
The Hebrew term חַטָּא (chaṭṭâʼ, `{{H2400}}`) is an intensive noun derived from the verb חָטָא (chaṭaʼ, `{{H2398}}`), signifying "one who misses the mark" or "a sinner." Unlike חַטָּאת (chaṭṭaʼth, `{{H2401}}`), which refers to the act of sin itself, חַטָּא designates the *person* characterized by a persistent or habitual state of transgression—a criminal, an offender, or one accounted guilty. Its biblical occurrences, such as in the condemnation of the Amalekites ([[1 Samuel 15:18]]) or the unfaithful within Israel ([[Amos 9:10]]), highlight the defining nature of sin as an identity leading to divine judgment. The term underscores the pervasive human condition of sinfulness and implicitly points to the profound need for divine redemption from this state of being a חַטָּא.
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