Pronunciation Guide: hah-mar-toh-LOSS

Basic Definition

Strong’s G268: ἁμαρτωλός (hamartōlos) describes one who is devoted to sin, a person who lives in opposition to the divine will. In its biblical context, it denotes someone who has missed God’s standard of righteousness, either through deliberate rebellion or religious and moral indifference. The term carries both the sense of active transgression and the state of being separated from God.

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Etymology and Morphology

• Part of Speech: Adjective and Substantive Noun
• Root: From ἁμαρτάνω (hamartanō, “to miss the mark, to sin”)
• Language Origin: Classical Greek
• Primary Usage: Narrative, teaching sections, parables
• Literary Context: Most frequent in Gospels and Pauline epistles

ἁμαρτωλός Morphology:

• ἁμαρτωλός (nominative singular) – a sinner
• ἁμαρτωλοῦ (genitive singular) – of a sinner
• ἁμαρτωλῷ (dative singular) – to/for a sinner
• ἁμαρτωλόν (accusative singular) – a sinner (direct object)
• ἁμαρτωλοί (nominative plural) – sinners
• ἁμαρτωλῶν (genitive plural) – of sinners
• ἁμαρτωλοῖς (dative plural) – to/for sinners
• ἁμαρτωλούς (accusative plural) – sinners (direct object)

Origin & History

The term ἁμαρτωλός emerged from the classical Greek concept of ἁμαρτία (hamartia), which originally meant “missing the mark” in archery or spear-throwing contexts. Aristotle used it in his “Poetics” to describe a tragic flaw or error in judgment that leads to a character’s downfall. The term evolved from this literal meaning to encompass moral and ethical failure.

In Hellenistic literature, the word gained stronger moral connotations. Plutarch used it in his “Moralia” to describe those who failed to live up to societal virtues. The Septuagint translators adopted this term to translate the Hebrew רָשָׁע (rasha), significantly deepening its theological implications within Jewish religious thought.

Expanded Definitions & Translation Options

• One who lives in opposition to divine law
• A person characterized by sinful behavior
• Someone separated from God’s righteousness
• One who consistently misses God’s standard

ἁμαρτωλός Translation Options:

• “Sinner” – Most common translation, emphasizing the state of being in sin
• “Sinful person” – Useful when emphasizing the adjectival quality
• “The wicked” – Appropriate in contexts emphasizing moral opposition to God
• “Wrongdoer” – Helpful in contexts focusing on behavioral aspects rather than spiritual state
• “One who misses the mark” – Useful for teaching contexts to explain the original meaning

Biblical Usage

In the New Testament, ἁμαρτωλός appears frequently in contexts that reveal God’s heart for redemption. Its first appearance in Matthew 9:10 shows the Messiah dining with “tax collectors and sinners,” establishing a pattern of divine grace extended to those society deemed unredeemable.

The term takes on special significance in Luke’s Gospel, where it appears more frequently than in any other New Testament book. Luke emphasizes Yeshua’s mission to seek and save the lost, particularly in parables and encounters that demonstrate divine mercy toward those labeled as ἁμαρτωλοί.

Key verses include:

• “While Yeshua was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners [ἁμαρτωλοί] came and ate with him and his disciples.” Matthew 9:10
• “This man receives sinners [ἁμαρτωλοὺς] and eats with them.” Luke 15:2
• “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners [ἁμαρτωλῶν], Messiah died for us.” Romans 5:8
• “This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Messiah Yeshua came into the world to save sinners [ἁμαρτωλοὺς].” 1 Timothy 1:15
• “For you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly than sinners [ἁμαρτωλοὶ].” James 3:1

Cultural Insights

In Second Temple Judaism, ἁμαρτωλός carried strong social and religious implications. The term was often used by the Pharisees to designate those who did not observe the Torah according to their interpretations. This included not only gentiles but also Jews who didn’t maintain ritual purity or associate with the right social circles. The tax collectors were particularly labeled as ἁμαρτωλοί because they worked for Rome and were seen as traitors to their people.

This cultural context makes Yeshua’s interactions with ἁμαρτωλοί all the more revolutionary. By eating with them, He was doing more than showing kindness – He was extending table fellowship, a sign of acceptance and spiritual inclusion that scandalized the religious establishment but demonstrated the heart of God’s kingdom.

Theological Significance

The use of ἁμαρτωλός in the New Testament reveals a profound tension between divine justice and mercy. While the term acknowledges the reality of human sinfulness and our separation from God, it simultaneously serves as a backdrop for displaying the magnificence of divine grace. This is particularly evident in Paul’s writings, where he uses the term to highlight the transformative power of the gospel.

The concept plays a crucial role in soteriology, emphasizing that salvation is not for the self-righteous but for those who acknowledge their status as ἁμαρτωλοί before God. This understanding forms the foundation for the doctrine of justification by faith, where God declares righteous those who trust in Him despite their sinful state.

The term also reveals God’s heart for restoration. When Yeshua is criticized for associating with ἁμαρτωλοί, His response reveals that these are precisely the people He came to save, demonstrating that no one is beyond the reach of divine grace.

Personal Application

Understanding ἁμαρτωλός challenges us to examine our own hearts in two crucial ways. First, it calls us to honest self-reflection about our own status as those who have missed God’s mark, fostering genuine humility and gratitude for God’s grace. This recognition becomes the foundation for authentic worship and discipleship.

Secondly, it compels us to adopt God’s heart toward others who might be labeled as ἁμαρτωλοί in our own contexts. Just as Yeshua crossed social and religious boundaries to extend grace, we are called to be agents of His redemptive love to those whom society might consider beyond hope.

Related Words

• ἁμαρτία (hamartia) – sin, missing the mark; refers to the act or result of sinning – See G266
• ἁμαρτάνω (hamartanō) – to sin, miss the mark; the verb form expressing the action of sinning – See G264
• ἁμάρτημα (hamartēma) – a sin, error; refers to specific acts of sin – See G265
• παραβάτης (parabatēs) – transgressor; one who steps across the line – See G3848

Did you Know?

• The archery metaphor behind ἁμαρτωλός continues to influence modern Greek, where the verb ἁμαρτάνω is still used for missing targets or making mistakes, maintaining its ancient connection to “missing the mark.”
• In Byzantine Greek, ἁμαρτωλός became so closely associated with spiritual transformation that monasteries would often name themselves “Monastery of the Sinners,” emphasizing their role as places of repentance and renewal.
• The frequency of ἁμαρτωλός in Luke’s Gospel (17 times) compared to Matthew (5 times) and Mark (6 times) reflects Luke’s special emphasis on God’s mercy toward outsiders and the marginalized.

Remember This

ἁμαρτωλός reminds us that our greatest qualification for God’s grace is our acknowledgment of our need for it, for it was while we were yet sinners that Messiah demonstrated His love for us.