The Hebrew word ʻâvôn, represented by H5771, denotes perversity, moral evil, fault, and iniquity. It can also refer to the punishment associated with such acts. Appearing 230 times across 213 unique verses, H5771 is a significant term for understanding the nature and consequences of sin in the Bible.
The core meaning of H5771 is deeply rooted in the verbal root H5753 (ʻâvâh), which signifies "to bend, twist, or make crooked." This etymological connection reveals that H5771 is not merely a mistake or an error, but an intentional deviation from what is straight, right, or true. It speaks to a moral perversity, a distortion of God's righteous standards, implying an active turning away from the divine path. This inherent 'crookedness' is what renders an action or state as morally evil, creating a fundamental disharmony with God's perfect order.
Beyond the act itself, H5771 also encompasses the resultant guilt and culpability. It is the blameworthiness that accrues to an individual or community due to their twisted actions or character. This aspect of guilt is often portrayed as something one "bears" (e.g., Leviticus 5:1, Numbers 14:34), indicating a personal responsibility for the moral distortion and its inevitable consequences, which can include both temporal suffering and spiritual alienation.
In the biblical narrative, H5771 describes a state of moral corruption that creates a barrier between humanity and God, as stated in Isaiah 59:2: "your iniquities have separated between you and your God." This separation has dire consequences, leading to ruin Ezekiel 18:30 and even death Ezekiel 3:19. The concept carries both individual and corporate weight; God visits the iniquity of fathers on their children Exodus 20:5, yet each person is ultimately accountable for their own actions Ezekiel 18:20. Despite its severity, scripture consistently presents iniquity as something that can be forgiven Psalms 103:3 and pardoned Micah 7:18 by a merciful God.
The concept of "bearing H5771" is a recurring motif, emphasizing personal and collective accountability for moral corruption. Individuals are often described as bearing their own iniquity, signifying that they must face the consequences of their actions, whether it be disease, death, or exile, as seen when the Israelites were condemned to wander for forty years, "bear[ing] your iniquities" Numbers 14:34. This bearing of H5771 also extends to priestly duties, where priests were divinely appointed to "bear the iniquity of the holy things" and "bear the iniquity of your priesthood" Exodus 28:38, Numbers 18:1, indicating a responsibility for the sacred sphere and the people's offerings.
H5771 can describe a state that has reached a critical mass, necessitating divine judgment. The "iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full" Genesis 15:16 suggests a divinely appointed limit to wickedness, after which judgment becomes inevitable. Similarly, H5771 is something God "remembers" when bringing judgment Hosea 8:13, or that can be "found out" and exposed, leading to shame and punishment Jeremiah 2:22, Job 20:27. Conversely, the desire for God to "take away all iniquity" Hosea 14:2 highlights the profound human recognition of this burden and the longing for divine intervention.
Several related words provide a fuller picture of sin and its implications:
- H6588 peshaʻ (transgression): Defined as a revolt, rebellion, sin, transgression, or trespass. It is often used in parallel with H5771 to describe an act of rebellion against God's authority Isaiah 53:5.
- H2403 chaṭṭâʼâh (sin, sin offering): This word refers to an offence, its penalty, or the sacrifice required for its expiation. It frequently appears alongside H5771, highlighting both the act of sin and its prescribed remedy Exodus 34:7.
- H5766 ʻevel (iniquity): This term for moral evil, perverseness, and unrighteousness is used to describe what was not found in the lips of a faithful priest, who in turn led many away from H5771 ʻâvôn Malachi 2:6.
- H5753 ʻâvâh (to bend, twist, distort): This verb is the root from which H5771 is derived, emphasizing the fundamental nature of iniquity as a deviation from the straight or righteous path, a moral perversion or distortion.
The theological weight of H5771 is profound, shaping core biblical doctrines.
- A Barrier to God: The word defines the separation caused by sin. Isaiah 59:2 states that iniquities hide God's face so that He will not hear. This alienation is a direct result of moral perversity.
- Vicarious Atonement: The concept that one can bear the punishment for another's iniquity is powerfully illustrated. A servant figure is described as being "bruised for our iniquities" Isaiah 53:5, and the LORD lays on him "the iniquity of us all" Isaiah 53:6. This figure ultimately makes reconciliation for iniquity Daniel 9:24.
- Divine Forgiveness: Scripture repeatedly emphasizes God's character as one who pardons iniquity Numbers 14:18. In the new covenant, God promises, "I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more" Jeremiah 31:34.
- Consequences and Accountability: While God forgives, H5771 is linked to punishment. God "visits the iniquity of the fathers upon the children" Exodus 34:7. However, individual accountability is also stressed, with the principle that a son will not bear the iniquity of the father Ezekiel 18:20.
- The Burden of Iniquity: H5771 is frequently depicted as a heavy load or an overwhelming force that weighs down the individual or community. David laments, "For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me" Psalms 38:4, and later, "mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up" Psalms 40:12. This highlights the deep psychological and spiritual distress caused by guilt and the consequences of moral perversity.
- Purging and Cleansing: Beyond mere forgiveness, H5771 is also understood as something that needs to be actively purged or cleansed, often through divine intervention or sacrificial means. Isaiah's lips are touched by a live coal, and he is told, "thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged" Isaiah 6:7. Similarly, it is stated that "by this therefore shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged" Isaiah 27:9, indicating a process of purification necessary to restore a right relationship with God.
H5771 ʻâvôn is a foundational term in biblical Hebrew, encapsulating not merely an act of wrongdoing but the inherent perversity and distortion of moral character that underlies it. Derived from the root H5753 (ʻâvâh), meaning "to bend or twist," it signifies a deliberate deviation from God's righteous standards, resulting in a state of crookedness and moral evil. This concept extends beyond the offense itself to include the profound guilt and culpability that follows, often described as a heavy burden that one must "bear" Leviticus 5:1, Numbers 14:34.
Throughout the Old Testament, H5771 is a powerful descriptor of humanity's fallen state, serving as the primary cause of separation from a holy God, as dramatically illustrated in Isaiah 59:2. It leads to dire consequences, including ruin and death Ezekiel 3:19, and can even reach a "fullness" that invites divine judgment, as seen with the Amorites Genesis 15:16. While H5771 carries both individual and corporate weight, God's character as one who "visits the iniquity of the fathers upon the children" Exodus 34:7 is balanced by the principle of individual accountability Ezekiel 18:20.
The theological significance of H5771 is immense. It underscores the profound need for divine intervention, portraying iniquity as a burden that overwhelms the individual Psalms 38:4 and requires a supernatural act of cleansing and purging, as experienced by Isaiah Isaiah 6:7. Crucially, the scriptures present a merciful God who offers both forgiveness and pardon for H5771 Micah 7:18, promising a new covenant where iniquity will be remembered no more Jeremiah 31:34. This divine grace finds its ultimate expression in the concept of vicarious atonement, where a servant figure bears "the iniquity of us all" Isaiah 53:6, making reconciliation possible for this deep-seated moral perversity.
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