INIQUITY IN THE BIBLE
The Data
Introduction
In a true study of the Bible there are made unexpected
discoveries of gems and precious truths. This study has been,
for me, most rewarding. But while I have gleaned many
thoughts, the original purpose of the study will shed light on
why it is organized as it is. In the fall of 2001 I was at a retreat
for gospel workers. A large portion of them were attending one
of the many small schools of evangelism that has sprung into
existence since 1990. I teach at one of those schools and was
curious to question the students from another one of them
regarding their classes.
At breakfast during the retreat I asked two that attended school
together what they remembered from a particular Bible class
for which they were about to take a final exam. One of the first
things mentioned was that there were three different definitions
of sin in the Bible, or more properly, three different words that
have different meanings, namely sin, transgression, and
iniquity. I had seen this idea before in the writings of a
prominent theologian in our denomination. I asked to see what
written material they had on the idea. One of them produced a
hand-out from the class that showed that in the original
languages it was clear to the reader, by the very meaning of the
words, the various intents of sin, transgression, and iniquity.
The paper alleged that sin is the violation of the law of God,
whether consciously or unconsciously. With this I could take no
exception. It also indicated that transgression is a willful
violation. While I had never studied the original languages, I
was sure enough from the English that God did treat willful and
unknown violations differently, and the idea that different
words were used to refer to them appealed to my judgment as a
likelihood.
But the paper went on to show that iniquity is a quality of our
sinful being, it is our natural bent to sinning. If the paper were
correct, you might say that iniquity is our propensity, our
tendency to do wrong; that it is our inheritance from Adam
from his original sin.
This gave me pause. Though the students were unconscious of
it, this definition of iniquity, if applied to the usage of the word
in the Bible, has very significant implications for our salvation,
for eschatology, and for our relation to the plain reading of the
Testimonies.
I decided to enter the study much as one would do an
experiment to test a theory regarding natural law. Here are two
opinions:
A) Iniquity refers to the guilt arising from particular acts of sin
or to classifications of sin
B) Iniquity refers to the guilt arising from our perverse nature,
or to that perverse nature itself.
These two theories, in my view, made different predictions
about how the word would be used in the scriptures. Most
apparent would be the relation of the word iniquity to sin. The
second theory would predict that we sin because we are
iniquitous. The first would predict that we are iniquities
because we sin. The first would make iniquity an act of the
will; the second would make iniquity passive.
The question, “does guilt arise from our very nature?” has
caused varied theological struggles in many churches including
our own. Our answer to the question may turn on our
understanding of iniquity. If the second definition is true, and if
iniquity in the Bible is forgiven and atoned for, then the answer
would be “yes, a man is guilty, a man sins, because he is a
sinner. He is not a sinner because he sins.”
A full 70% of the occurrences of the word iniquity in the Bible,
Old and New Testaments combined, come from the Hebrew
word avone, Strongs <05771>. The following facts are drawn
from the use of avone.
Iniquity is treasured up, in a metaphorical cup, and when it is
full, judgements come fast and hard. Gen. 15:16.
Iniquity is borne by the one committing a presumptuous, daring
sin. Num. 15:31, Lev. 26:43.
Iniquity is borne by the one sinning foolishly. 2 Samuel 24:10
Sin, iniquity, transgressions, are to be confessed and forgiven.
Ps. 32:5
Lot was in danger of being destroyed in the “iniquity” of
Sodom, a reference to its punishment, Gen. 19:15, or to the
cause of its punishment, as in Lam. 4:6. See also Gen. 4:13
where avone is rendered punishment and 2 Ki. 7:9 where it is
rendered as a punishing mischief.
Regarding Inheritance
Exodus 20:5 visiting the iniquity <avone> of the fathers upon
the children [in this context, the warning is “don’t sin lest
iniquity be visited on your offspring.” Mercy is visited on
offspring of righteous. What visiting iniquity means, visiting
mercy must be the antithesis.] See Ex 34:7, Deuteronomy 5:9
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1SP p. 257
God did not mean in this threatening that the children should
be compelled to suffer for their parents' sins, but that the
example of the parents would be imitated by the children. If the
children of wicked parents should serve God and do
righteousness, he would reward their right-doing. But the
effects of a sinful life are often inherited by the children. They
follow in the footsteps of their parents. Sinful example has its
influence from father to son, to the third and fourth generations.
If parents indulge in depraved appetites, they will, in almost
every case, see the same acted over in their children. The
children will develop 258 characters similar to those of their
parents; and unless they are renewed by grace, and overcome,
they are truly unfortunate. If parents are continually rebellious,
and inclined to disobey God, their children will generally
imitate their example. Godly parents, who instruct their
children by precept and example in the ways of righteousness,
will generally see their children following in their footsteps.
The example of God-fearing parents will be imitated by their
children, and their children's children will imitate the right
example their parents have set before them; and thus the
influence is seen from generation to generation.
Iniquity carried by a substitute, Iniquity of non-persons;
Carried by secondary guilty party
Exodus 28:38 that Aaron may bear the iniquity <avone> of the
holy things,
Exodus 28:43 that they bear not iniquity <avone>, and die:
Leviticus 10:17 God hath given it you to bear the iniquity
<avone> of the congregation,
Numbers 18:1 Thou and thy sons and thy father’s house with
thee shall bear the iniquity <avone> of the sanctuary: and thou
and thy sons with thee shall bear the iniquity <avone> of your
priesthood.
Numbers 30:15 that he hath heard them; then he shall bear her
iniquity <avone>.
Leviticus 16:21 And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the
head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities
<avone> of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions
in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and
shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the
wilderness: Leviticus 16:22 And the goat shall bear upon him
all their iniquities <avone> unto a land not inhabited: and he
shall let go the goat in the wilderness.
Isaiah 53:11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be
satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify
many; for he shall bear their iniquities <avone>.
Forgiven
Exodus 34:7 Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity
<avone> and transgression and sin, and that will by no means
clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity <avone> of the fathers
upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the
third and to the fourth generation. [See Numbers 14:18]
Exodus 34:9 pardon our iniquity <avone> and our sin, and take
us for thine inheritance.
Numbers 14:19 Pardon, I beseech thee, the iniquity <avone>
of this people
Iniquity Borne
Leviticus 5:1 then he shall bear his iniquity <avone>.
Leviticus 5:17, Leviticus 7:18; Leviticus 17:16; Leviticus 19:8;
Leviticus 20:17, 19; Leviticus 22:16 [not improperly in
ceremony]; Numbers 5:31; Numbers 18:23
Iniquity Confessed, and as the cause of Judgments while
Unconfessed
Leviticus 26:39-41 pine away in their [and their father’s]
iniquity <avone> [unless they confess their iniquity <avone>,
and the iniquity <avone> of their fathers, with their trespass, . .
. and they then accept of the punishment of their iniquity
<avone>:
An act of sin or wickedness
Numbers 5:15 bringing iniquity <avone> to remembrance.
Deuteronomy 19:15 One witness shall not rise up against a
man for any iniquity <avone>, or for any sin,
Joshua 22:17 Is the iniquity <avone> of Peor too little for us,
from which we are not [yet] cleansed
Joshua 22:20 and that man [Achan] perished not alone in his
iniquity <avone>.
1 Samuel 3:13-14 iniquity <avone> which he knows; because
his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not; . . .
that the iniquity <avone> of Eli’s house shall not be purged
with sacrifice
2 Samuel 3:8 Am I a dog’s head, that thou chargest me to day
with a fault concerning this woman?
2 Samuel 19:19 And said unto the king, Let not my lord
impute iniquity <avone> unto me, neither do thou remember
that which thy servant did perversely [05753, see on that word,
which is translated “iniquity” elsewhere] the day that my lord
the king went out of Jerusalem
As wrath accumulated for guilt
Job 14:17 My transgression is sealed up in a bag, and thou
sewest up mine iniquity <avone>.
Psalms 31:10 For my life is spent with grief, and my years
with sighing: my strength faileth because of mine iniquity
<avone>, and my bones are consumed.
Psalms 32:2 Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD
imputeth not iniquity <avone>, and in whose spirit there is no
guile.
Avoidable
Psalms 18:23 I was also upright before him, and I kept myself
from mine iniquity <avone>.
Psalms 25:11 For thy name’s sake, O LORD, pardon mine
iniquity <avone>; for it is great.
As Parallel to Sin or Evil
Psalms 38:18 For I will declare mine iniquity <avone>; I will
be sorry for my sin.
Psalms 51:2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity <avone>,
and cleanse me from my sin.
Psalms 51:5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity <avone>; and in
sin did my mother conceive me.
Proverbs 16:6 By mercy and truth iniquity <avone> is purged:
and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.
Isaiah 6:7 And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this
hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity <avone> is taken away,
and thy sin purged.
Ezra 9:13 And after all that is come upon us for our evil deeds,
and for our great trespass, seeing that thou our God hast
punished us less than our iniquities <avone> deserve
Psalms 90:8 Thou hast set our iniquities <avone> before thee,
our secret sins in the light of thy countenance.
Proverbs 5:22 His own iniquities <avone> shall take the
wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his
sins.
Isaiah 59:2 But your iniquities <avone> have separated
between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face
from you, that he will not hear.
Isaiah 59:12 For our transgressions are with us; and as for our
iniquities <avone>, we know them;
Jeremiah 5:25 Your iniquities <avone> have turned away these
things, and your sins have withholden good things from you.
Jeremiah 33:8 And I will cleanse them from all their iniquity
<avone>, whereby they have sinned against me; and I will
pardon all their iniquities <avone>, whereby they have sinned,
and whereby they have transgressed against me.
As Cause of the Executive Judgement
Isaiah 26:21 For, behold, the LORD cometh . . . to punish
[men] for their iniquity <avone>
Written in Books of Record (plural)
Psalms 51:9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine
iniquities <avone>
Psalms 103:3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities <avone>; who
healeth all thy diseases;
Isaiah 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was
bruised for our iniquities <avone>: the chastisement of our
peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
Psalms 130:3 If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities
<avone>, O Lord, who shall stand?
Iniquities and Salvation
Daniel 9:13 As it is written in the law of Moses, all this evil is
come upon us: yet made we not our prayer before the LORD
our God, that we might turn from our iniquities <avone>, and
understand thy truth.
Micah 7:19 He will turn again, he will have compassion upon
us; he will subdue our iniquities <avone>; and thou wilt cast all
their sins into the depths of the sea.
205 ‘Aven aw-ven’ is translated in the KJV 47 times as
iniquity, eight times as wicked(ness), six times as vanity,
and seventeen other times as twelve other words, namely
affliction, mischief, unrighteousness, evil, false, idol,
mourners, mourning, nought, sorrow, unjust, vain. Its
primary reference is to the trouble caused by sin,
whether as sorrow, further depravity, uselessness, or
affliction.
Proverbs 22:8 He that soweth iniquity <avlah> shall reap
vanity <aven>: and the rod of his anger shall fail. ** [Note,
here aven is not translated “iniquity” as it might have been had
it not been for the occurrence of avlah in the same passage as
being the seed and aven being the harvest. This relation
between the two words is instructive and deserving of
attention.] Hosea 10:13 Ye have plowed wickedness <05762>,
ye have reaped iniquity <avlah>; ye have eaten the fruit of lies:
because thou didst trust in thy way, in the multitude of thy
mighty men. [<05762> is translated “iniquity in of its two
occurrences in Ec. 3:16 where it is translated once
“wickedness” and once as “iniquity.”]
As Parallel to Perversity or Wickedness
Numbers 23:21 He hath not beheld iniquity <aven> in Jacob,
neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel: Deuteronomy 26:14
I have not eaten thereof in my mourning <aven>
Job 4:8 Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity <aven>,
and sow wickedness, reap the same.
Job 11:14 If iniquity <aven> be in thine hand, put it far away,
and let not wickedness dwell in thy tabernacles.
Job 31:3 Is not destruction to the wicked? and a strange
punishment to the workers of iniquity <aven>?
Job 34:8 Which goeth in company with the workers of iniquity
<aven>, and walketh with wicked men.
Psalms 28:3 Draw me not away with the wicked, and with the
workers of iniquity <aven>
Psalms 92:7 When the wicked spring as the grass, and when all
the workers of iniquity <aven> do flourish; it is that they shall
be destroyed for ever:
Psalms 94:16 Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? or
who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity
<aven>?
Psalms 94:23 And he shall bring upon them their own iniquity
<aven>, and shall cut them off in their own wickedness; yea,
the LORD our God shall cut them off.
Psalms 101:8 I will early destroy all the wicked of the land;
that I may cut off all wicked <aven> doers from the city of the
LORD.
As Belligerent or Presumptuous Sin
1 Samuel 15:23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and
stubbornness is as iniquity <aven>
Psalms 5:5 The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest
all workers of iniquity <aven>.
Psalms 6:8 Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity <aven>;
for the LORD hath heard the voice of my weeping.
Psalms 36:4 He deviseth mischief <aven> upon his bed; he
setteth himself in a way that is not good;
Psalms 59:2 Deliver me from the workers of iniquity <aven>,
and save me from bloody men.
Proverbs 6:18 An heart that deviseth wicked <aven>
imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief
Isaiah 1:13 Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an
abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling
of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity <aven>, even
the solemn meeting.
Micah 2:1 Woe to them that devise iniquity <aven>, and work
evil upon their beds! when the morning is light, they practise it,
because it is in the power of their hand.
As Inheritance
Job 21:19 God layeth up his iniquity <aven> for his children:
he rewardeth him, and he shall know it.
As Foolishness, or as Contrasted with Wisdom
Psalms 14:4 Have all the workers of iniquity <aven> no
knowledge?
Psalms 36:3 The words of his mouth are iniquity <aven> and
deceit: he hath left off to be wise
Psalms 53:4 Have the workers of iniquity <aven> no
knowledge?
Isaiah 41:29 Behold, they are all vanity <aven>; their works
are nothing: their molten images are wind and confusion.
In Relation to Salvation
Psalms 66:18 If I regard iniquity <aven> in my heart, the Lord
will not hear me:
Psalms 119:133 Order my steps in thy word: and let not any
iniquity <aven> have dominion over me.
Proverbs 30:20 Such is the way of an adulterous woman; she
eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no
wickedness <aven>.
Isaiah 29:20 For the terrible one is brought to nought, and the
scorner is consumed, and all that watch for iniquity <aven> are
cut off:
Isaiah 55:7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the
unrighteous <aven> man his thoughts: and let him return unto
the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God,
for he will abundantly pardon.
Isaiah 58:9 Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer;
thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away
from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger,
and speaking vanity <aven>;
Jeremiah 4:14 O Jerusalem, wash thine heart from wickedness,
that thou mayest be saved. How long shall thy vain <aven>
thoughts lodge within thee?
As Trouble
Psalms 90:10 The days of our years are threescore years and
ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is
their strength labour and sorrow <aven>; for it is soon cut off,
and we fly away.
Proverbs 12:21 There shall no evil <aven> happen to the just:
but the wicked shall be filled with mischief.
Habakkuk 3:7 I saw the tents of Cushan in affliction <aven>:
avlah ‘avlah av-law’ (with several other forms); Translated in
the KJV 36 times as iniquity, seven times as wickedness, and
another 12 times variously as nine other words. Its primary
meaning is wrong as injustice, as “violent deeds of injustice” or
of unjust speech.
As Injustice in judiciary or human legal matters
Leviticus 19:15, 35
Psalms 82:2 How long will ye judge unjustly <avlah>, and
accept the persons of the wicked? Selah.
As an abominable action
Deuteronomy 25:16 all that do unrighteously <avlah>, are an
abomination unto the LORD thy God.
Psalms 53:1 Corrupt are [fools] and have done abominable
iniquity <avlah>: there is none that doeth good.
As contrasted with God’s Justice
Deuteronomy 32:4 He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all
his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity
<avlah>, just and right is he.
2 Chronicles 19:7 for there is no iniquity <avlah> with the
LORD our God, nor respect of persons
Job 34:10 Therefore hearken unto me, ye men of
understanding: far be it from God, that he should do
wickedness; and from the Almighty, that he should commit
iniquity <avlah>.
Psalms 43:1 Judge me, O God, and plead my cause against an
ungodly nation: O deliver me from the deceitful and unjust
<avlah> man.
Psalms 92:15 LORD is upright: he is my rock, and there is no
unrighteousness <avlah> <avlah> in him.
Jeremiah 2:5 Thus saith the LORD, What iniquity <avlah>
have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me,
and have walked after vanity, and are become vain?
Zephaniah 3:5 The just LORD is in the midst thereof; he will
not do iniquity <avlah>
Children of Wickedness <avlah>
2 Samuel 7:10 neither shall the children of wickedness <avlah>
afflict them any more, as beforetime,
1 Chronicles 17:9 neither shall the children of wickedness
<avlah> waste them any more
Psalms 89:22 The enemy shall not exact upon him; nor the son
of wickedness <avlah> afflict him.
Personified/Metaphorized
Job 5:16 So the poor hath hope, and iniquity <avlah> stoppeth
her mouth.
Job 15:16; 24:20 which drinketh iniquity, wickedness broken as
tree
Psalms 107:42 The righteous shall see it, and rejoice: and all
iniquity <avlah> shall stop her mouth.
Various
2 Samuel 3:34 as a man falleth before wicked <avlah> men, so
fellest thou. And all the people wept
Job 6:29, 30; (Job speaking)
Job 11:14 (Zophar)
Job 24:32 (Elihu)
As Unjust Speech or Action
Job 13:7 Will ye speak wickedly <avlah> for God? and talk
deceitfully for him?
Job 27:4 My lips shall not speak wickedness <avlah>, nor my
tongue utter deceit.
Psalms 7:3 O LORD my God, if I have done this; if there be
iniquity <avlah> in my hands;
Psalms 37:1 Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be
envious against workers of iniquity <avlah>.
Isaiah 59:3 For your hands are defiled with blood, and your
fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue
hath muttered perverseness <avlah>.
Malachi 2:6 The law of truth was in his [Levi’s] mouth, and
iniquity <avlah> was not found in his lips: he walked with me
in peace and equity, and did turn many away from iniquity.
[Levi here is a type of those purified during the judgement of
ch. 3.]
Cease or Put it away from you
Job 22:23 If thou return to the Almighty…thou shalt put away
iniquity <avlah> far from thy tabernacles.
As wickedness planned in the heart
Psalms 58:2 Yea, in heart ye work wickedness <avlah>; ye
weigh the violence of your hands in the earth.
Psalms 64:6 They search out iniquities <avlah>; they
accomplish a diligent search:
Ezekiel 3:20 Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his
righteousness, and commit iniquity <avlah>, and I lay a
stumblingblock before him, he shall die: because thou hast not
given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness
which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will
I require at thine hand. (see 18:8, 24, 26; 33:13, 15, 18).
As Satan’s Original Sin (A sin not passed down by
inheritance, but by influence)
Ezekiel 28:15 Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that
thou wast created, till iniquity <avlah> was found in thee. (see
v. 18)
Compare these verses
Micah 3:10 They build up Zion with blood, and Jerusalem with
iniquity <avlah>.
Habakkuk 2:12 Woe to him that buildeth a town with blood,
and stablisheth a city by iniquity <avlah>!
Last Generation
Zephaniah 3:13 The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity
<avlah>, nor speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be
found in their mouth: for they shall feed and lie down, and none
shall make them afraid.
05753 ‘avah aw-vaw’; Translated four times as iniquity, nine
times as words meaning perverted or crooked, and four times
variously. It means to bend, twist, distort or pervert.
1) to bend, twist, distort
1a) (Niphal) to be bent, be bowed down, be twisted, be
perverted
1b) (Piel) to twist, distort
1c) (Hiphil) to do perversely
2) to commit iniquity, do wrong, pervert
2a) (Qal) to do wrong, commit iniquity
2b) (Hiphil) to commit iniquity
1 Samuel 20:30 Thou son of the perverse <avah> rebellious
woman [Saul speaking to Jonathan]
2 Samuel 7:14 I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he
commit iniquity <avah>, I will chasten him with the rod of
men, and with the stripes of the children of men: [Promise of
God through Nathan to David concerning Solomon]
2 Samuel 24:17 Lo, I have sinned, and I have done wickedly
<avah> : but these sheep, what have they done? let thine hand,
I pray thee, be against me, and against my father’s house.
1 Kings 8:47 [2 Chron 6:37, See Psalms 106:6; Daniel 9:5] Yet
if they shall bethink themselves in the land whither they were
carried captives, and repent, and make supplication unto thee in
the land of them that carried them captives, saying, We have
sinned, and have done perversely <avah>, we have committed
wickedness;
As an Act of God
Isaiah 24:1 Behold, the LORD maketh the earth empty, and
maketh it waste, and turneth <avah> it upside down, and
scattereth abroad the inhabitants thereof.
Lamentations 3:9 He hath inclosed my ways with hewn stone,
he hath made my paths crooked <avah>.
Variant Sources of Iniquity; all occurrences are given below.
These words, excepting 05adeekeeah2 which occurs only once
in the Bible and is translated iniquity, are generally rendered
differently. 01942 refers often to calamity [as caused by evil],
07562 to wickedness, 05999 to evil works.
Psalms 94:20 Shall the throne of iniquity <01942> have
fellowship with thee, which frameth mischief <05999> by a
law?
Ecclesiastes 3:16 And moreover I saw under the sun the place
of judgment, that wickedness <07562> was there; and the place
of righteousness, that iniquity <07562> was there.
Hosea 10:9 O Israel, thou hast sinned from the days of Gibeah:
there they stood: the battle in Gibeah against the children of
iniquity <05adeekeeah2> did not overtake them.
Habakkuk 1:13 Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and
canst not look on iniquity <05999>: wherefore lookest thou
upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy tongue when
the wicked <07563> [same root as 07562] devoureth the man
that is more righteous than he?
Comments on “Iniquity, and Transgression, and Sin” as
Found in Exodus 34
“Forgiving iniquity, and transgression, and sin;” . . . . The Jews
sometimes distinguish these three words; "iniquity", they say,
signifies sins through pride and presumption; "transgression"
intends rebellions against God; and "sin", what is committed
through error and mistake {i}; and much to this sense is
Jarchi’s interpretation of these words; they no doubt include all
manner of sin, which God for Christ’s sake forgives: — John
Gill’s Expositor on Exodus 34
Verse 7. . . . Iniquity, and transgression, and sin; sins of all sorts
and sizes, secret or open, infirmities or presumptions, against
God or men, as the heap of various words here put together
signifies. That will by no means clear the guilty: this is
commonly esteemed a title of justice or vengeance, which is
here added by way of correction lest men should mistake or
abuse God’s mercy. God is most gracious indeed, but so as he is
also just, and will not pity nor spare impudent and impenitent
transgressors, but will severely punish them. And the Jewish
doctors hereupon observe, that the mercy of God doth far
exceed his justice; here being, as they number them, thirteen
attributes of mercy, and but one of justice. — Matthew’s MT
Pooles Commentary on Exodus 34.
NEW TESTAMENT USE OF INIQUITY
The New Testament use of the word iniquity is not precisely
parallel to the use of the word in the Old Testament. This can
be most readily seen in the KJV by comparing Psalms 32:1-2
with Paul’s quotation of the same passage in Romans 4:7-8.
“transgression is forgiven” in Psalms becomes “iniquities are
forgiven” in Romans. Then in the next verse, “imputeth not
iniquity” becomes “imputeth not sin.”
These passages do help us make rough corollaries between
Greek and Hebrew words. The OT <avone>, found here and
almost always as “iniquity” in the Bible, corresponds here to
the NT <266>, translated nearly always (exceptions are in 2
Corinthians 11:7 and Romans 8:2) as sin. In both cases of the
exceptions, it might have been rendered “sin” without doing
damage to the intent. In Romans 8:2, where it is found three
times it is rendered “sinful” once and “sin” twice.
As found in Jeremiah 31:34, <avone> is quoted twice in the
NT, in Hebrews 8:12 and Hebrews 10:17. The structure of the
verse changes some, from “forgive their iniquity” and
“remember their sin no more” in Jeremiah to “be merciful to
their unrighteousness” [Heb. 8] and “remember their sins and
iniquities no more.” [both Heb. 8 and 10]. This makes it
difficult to trace the word with confidence to specifically one of
either “unrighteousness” <adeekeeah> or “sins” <3364>. Since
<adeekeeah> is found six times in the NT as “iniquity” and
since it can not be traced back to any other part of Jeremiah 31,
perhaps it is the preferable parallel.
But let us come back to our comparison of Romans 4 and
Psalms 32. The OT <06588>, transgression, is rendered in the
NT as <anomeeah>, iniquity. And In comparing Jeremiah and
Hebrews, it is the OT <02403>, sins, that becomes the same NT
<anomeeah> iniquities. Interestingly enough, neither of these
OT words is ever rendered as iniquity, while <anomeeah> is
rendered most often that way.
A third example of the difference, in the King James Version,
between the use of iniquity in the OT and NT can be seen in
Hebrews where Paul quotes a Messianic prophecy from David.
The text read:
“Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore
God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above
thy fellows.” Psalms 45:7
“Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore
God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness
above thy fellows.” Hebrews 1:9.
The word “iniquity” in Hebrews 1:9 is <anomeeah> and is
drawn from <05762>, the OT “wickedness.”
 Old Testament Translated into KJV as New Testament
<07562> wickedness <anomeeah>
<06588> transgression <anomeeah>
<02403> sins <anomeeah>
<02403> sins <adeekeeah>
<07562> wickedness <adeekeeah>
<07563> wicked <adeekeeah>
<avone> iniquity <266>
<avone> iniquity <adeekeeah> or <3364>
In both the Old and New Testament, more than half of the
occurrences of either iniquity or iniquities comes from <avone>
or <anomeeah>. Yet in the five instances where these words
can be correlated by a quotation to their parallel in the other
testament, not once do they correspond to each other. One
might almost conclude from the table above that the words sin,
iniquity, transgression, and wickedness were interchangeable.
This is not entirely true, yet it does follow that word studies
that follow iniquity through the entire Bible and try to
distinguish iniquity in both Testaments from sin, wickedness,
and transgression, are faulty.
Comparison and Contrast between <anomeeah> and
<adeekeeah>
When iniquity in the NT does not come from <anomeeah>, it is
generally taken from <adeekeeah>, ad-ee-kee’-ah. In the KJV it
is translated 16 times as unrighteousness, six times as iniquity,
twice as unjust, once as wrong. The word is a reference to
actions not in harmony with the law. Theses words,
<adeekeeah> and <anomeeah> are used interchangeably on
some occasions.
Luke 13:27 I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart
from me, all ye workers of iniquity <adeekeeah>.
Matthew 7:23 I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work
iniquity <anomeeah>.
And they are made roughly equivalent in the book of I John
with sin, <266>.
1 John 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin <266> transgresseth
<anomeeah> also the law <anomeeah>: for sin <266> is the
transgression of the law <anomeeah>.
1 John 5:17 All unrighteousness <adeekeeah> is sin <266>:
and there is a sin not unto death.
The effects of sin on the sinner are both internal and external.
His sin is recorded in the books of heaven, in the sanctuary
service represented by the horns on the altars, and written on
the table of his heart. Jeremiah 17:1. The gospel offers freedom
from both the defiled conscience and the defiled record.
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins <266>, he is faithful and just
to forgive us our sins <266>, and to cleanse us from all
unrighteousness <adeekeeah>.
Here our unrighteousness, <adeekeeah>, found as iniquity in a
few places, describes our sinful condition. Whether it is a
reference to our sinful nature (something we must live with
until glorification) or to the inherited and cultivated weaknesses
Translated into KJV as Text 1 Text 2
iniquity Ps. 45 Heb. 1
iniquity Ps. 32 Rom. 4
iniquities Jer. 31 Heb 8,10
iniquity Pr. 5 Acts 8
iniquity Is. 58 Acts 8
iniquity Nu 16 2Ti 2
sin Ps. 32 Rom. 4
unrighteousness/sins Jer. 31 Heb 8,10
in our character, is plain from the promise. Only in the second
sense does the verse match reality. Repentant sinners are not
glorified here, but they are “cleansed” of their soul’s impurities.
Iniquity, <adeekeeah>, is used this way also James 3:6 where
the tongue is a “world of iniquity” that needs gospel taming if
the man is to be “perfect” and “able also to bridle the whole
body.”
Most often <adeekeeah> is translated “unrighteousness” or
“unjust.” See Luke 16:8-9 where it is translated both ways. It is
a committed act in Romans 1:29-32, and “those that commit
such things” are in God’s judgement, “worthy of death.” Those
that are lost not only “do the same, but have pleasure in them
that do them.” v. 32. This is a salvational issue in relation to our
unrighteousness according to both Paul and Peter. “That they
all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had
pleasure in unrighteousness <adeekeeah>.” 2 Thessalonians
2:12, see 2 Peter 2:13.
anomeeah an-om-ee’-ah , properly “without law” [whether by
ignorance, violation, or by contempt], is generally rendered
“iniquity” and twice as “transgression of the law.”
Matthew 13:41 [Angels] gather out of his kingdom all . . .
them which do iniquity <anomeeah>;
Matthew 23:28 but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity
<anomeeah>.
Matthew 24:12 And because iniquity <anomeeah> shall
abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
2 Thessalonians 2:7 For the mystery of iniquity <anomeeah>
doth already work:
Titus 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us
from all iniquity <anomeeah>, and purify unto himself a
peculiar people, zealous of good works.
Other Sources of Iniquity or Iniquities in NT
<92> ad-eek’-ay-mah, is found in the Bible three times. It is
found once as iniquites in Revelation 18:5, “For her sins have
reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities
<92>.”
The word “iniquities” in Acts 3:26 is <4189> and is translated
“wickedness” every other time it is found in scripture. The
word “iniquity” found in 2 Peter 2:16 is <3892> and is found
nowhere else in scripture.
Avone, Strongs <05771>.. Translated in the KJV 220 times as
iniquity, five times as punishment, twice as fault, and once each
as iniquities, mischief and sin. Its meanings include the range
of man’s relationship to sin, from perversity to guilt to
punishment for the guilt. Its Biblical use makes it apparent that
authors used it primarily as a reference to guilt.
(Below are the first 35 occurrences of the word iniquity as
derived from avone)
Guilt from Sins
Genesis 15:16 for the iniquity <avone> of the Amorites is not
yet full.
Numbers 15:31 Because he hath despised the word of the
LORD, his iniquity <avone> shall be upon him.
2 Samuel 24:10 I have sinned . . . . O LORD, take away the
iniquity <avone> of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly.
Psalms 32:5 I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine
iniquity <avone> have I not hid. I said, I will confess my
transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity
<avone> of my sin. Selah.
Punishment for Sins
Genesis 4:13 And Cain said unto the LORD, My punishment
<avone> is greater than I can bear.
Genesis 19:15 lest thou be consumed in the iniquity <avone>
of the city.
2 Kings 7:9 some mischief will come upon us: now therefore
come, that we may go and tell
Lamentations 4:6 For the punishment of the iniquity <avone>
of the daughter of my people is greater than the punishment of
the sin of Sodom, that was overthrown as in a moment, and no
hands stayed on her.
Punishable
Leviticus 26:43 shall accept of the punishment of their iniquity
<avone>
Ambiguous
Genesis 44:16 God hath found out the iniquity <avone> of thy
servants
Leviticus 18:25 And the land is defiled: therefore I do visit the
iniquity <avone> thereof upon it,
Regarding Inheritance
Exodus 20:5 visiting the iniquity <avone> of the fathers upon
the children [in this context, the warning is “don’t sin lest
iniquity be visited on your offspring.” Mercy is visited on
offspring of righteous. What visiting iniquity means, visiting
mercy must be the antithesis.] See Ex 34:7, Deuteronomy 5:9
Iniquity carried by a substitute, Iniquity of non-persons;
Carried by secondary guilty party
Exodus 28:38 that Aaron may bear the iniquity <avone> of the
holy things,
Exodus 28:43 that they bear not iniquity <avone>, and die:
Leviticus 10:17 God hath given it you to bear the iniquity
<avone> of the congregation,
Numbers 18:1 Thou and thy sons and thy father’s house with
thee shall bear the iniquity <avone> of the sanctuary: and thou
and thy sons with thee shall bear the iniquity <avone> of your
priesthood.
Numbers 30:15 that he hath heard them; then he shall bear her
iniquity <avone>.
Leviticus 16:21 And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the
head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities
<avone> of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions
in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and
shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the
wilderness: Leviticus 16:22 And the goat shall bear upon him
all their iniquities <avone> unto a land not inhabited: and he
shall let go the goat in the wilderness.
Isaiah 53:11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be
satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify
many; for he shall bear their iniquities <avone>.
Forgiven
Exodus 34:7 Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity
<avone> and transgression and sin, and that will by no means
clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity <avone> of the fathers
upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the
third and to the fourth generation. [See Numbers 14:18]
Exodus 34:9 pardon our iniquity <avone> and our sin, and take
us for thine inheritance.
Numbers 14:19 Pardon, I beseech thee, the iniquity <avone>
of this people
Iniquity Borne
Leviticus 5:1 then he shall bear his iniquity <avone>.
Leviticus 5:17, Leviticus 7:18; Leviticus 17:16; Leviticus 19:8;
Leviticus 20:17, 19; Leviticus 22:16 [not improperly in
ceremony]; Numbers 5:31; Numbers 18:23
Iniquity Confessed, and as the cause of Judgments while
Unconfessed
Leviticus 26:39-41 pine away in their [and their father’s]
iniquity <avone> [unless they confess their iniquity <avone>,
and the iniquity <avone> of their fathers, with their trespass, . .
. and they then accept of the punishment of their iniquity
<avone>:
An act of sin or wickedness
Numbers 5:15 bringing iniquity <avone> to remembrance.
Deuteronomy 19:15 One witness shall not rise up against a
man for any iniquity <avone>, or for any sin,
Joshua 22:17 Is the iniquity <avone> of Peor too little for us,
from which we are not [yet] cleansed
Joshua 22:20 and that man [Achan] perished not alone in his
iniquity <avone>.
1 Samuel 3:13-14 iniquity <avone> which he knows; because
his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not; . . .
that the iniquity <avone> of Eli’s house shall not be purged
with sacrifice
2 Samuel 3:8 Am I a dog’s head, that thou chargest me to day
with a fault concerning this woman?
2 Samuel 19:19 And said unto the king, Let not my lord
impute iniquity <avone> unto me, neither do thou remember
that which thy servant did perversely [05753, see on that word,
which is translated “iniquity” elsewhere] the day that my lord
the king went out of Jerusalem
As wrath accumulated for guilt
Job 14:17 My transgression is sealed up in a bag, and thou
sewest up mine iniquity <avone>.
Psalms 31:10 For my life is spent with grief, and my years
with sighing: my strength faileth because of mine iniquity
<avone>, and my bones are consumed.
Psalms 32:2 Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD
imputeth not iniquity <avone>, and in whose spirit there is no
guile.
Avoidable
Psalms 18:23 I was also upright before him, and I kept myself
from mine iniquity <avone>.
Psalms 25:11 For thy name’s sake, O LORD, pardon mine
iniquity <avone>; for it is great.
As Parallel to Sin or Evil
Psalms 38:18 For I will declare mine iniquity <avone>; I will
be sorry for my sin.
Psalms 51:2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity <avone>,
and cleanse me from my sin.
Psalms 51:5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity <avone>; and in
sin did my mother conceive me.
Proverbs 16:6 By mercy and truth iniquity <avone> is purged:
and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.
Isaiah 6:7 And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this
hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity <avone> is taken away,
and thy sin purged.
Ezra 9:13 And after all that is come upon us for our evil deeds,
and for our great trespass, seeing that thou our God hast
punished us less than our iniquities <avone> deserve
Psalms 90:8 Thou hast set our iniquities <avone> before thee,
our secret sins in the light of thy countenance.
Proverbs 5:22 His own iniquities <avone> shall take the
wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his
sins.
Isaiah 59:2 But your iniquities <avone> have separated
between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face
from you, that he will not hear.
Isaiah 59:12 For our transgressions are with us; and as for our
iniquities <avone>, we know them;
Jeremiah 5:25 Your iniquities <avone> have turned away these
things, and your sins have withholden good things from you.
Jeremiah 33:8 And I will cleanse them from all their iniquity
<avone>, whereby they have sinned against me; and I will
pardon all their iniquities <avone>, whereby they have sinned,
and whereby they have transgressed against me.
As Cause of the Executive Judgement
Isaiah 26:21 For, behold, the LORD cometh . . . to punish
[men] for their iniquity <avone>
Written in Books of Record (plural)
Psalms 51:9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine
iniquities <avone>
Psalms 103:3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities <avone>; who
healeth all thy diseases;
Isaiah 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was
bruised for our iniquities <avone>: the chastisement of our
peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
Psalms 130:3 If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities
<avone>, O Lord, who shall stand?
Iniquities and Salvation
Daniel 9:13 As it is written in the law of Moses, all this evil is
come upon us: yet made we not our prayer before the LORD
our God, that we might turn from our iniquities <avone>, and
understand thy truth.
Micah 7:19 He will turn again, he will have compassion upon
us; he will subdue our iniquities <avone>; and thou wilt cast all
their sins into the depths of the sea.
206 ‘Aven aw-ven’ is translated in the KJV 47 times as
iniquity, eight times as wicked(ness), six times as vanity,
and seventeen other times as twelve other words, namely
affliction, mischief, unrighteousness, evil, false, idol,
mourners, mourning, nought, sorrow, unjust, vain. Its
primary reference is to the trouble caused by sin,
whether as sorrow, further depravity, uselessness, or
affliction.
Proverbs 22:8 He that soweth iniquity <avlah> shall reap
vanity <aven>: and the rod of his anger shall fail. ** [Note,
here aven is not translated “iniquity” as it might have been had
it not been for the occurrence of avlah in the same passage as
being the seed and aven being the harvest. This relation
between the two words is instructive and deserving of
attention.] Hosea 10:13 Ye have plowed wickedness <05762>,
ye have reaped iniquity <avlah>; ye have eaten the fruit of lies:
because thou didst trust in thy way, in the multitude of thy
mighty men. [<05762> is translated “iniquity in of its two
occurrences in Ec. 3:16 where it is translated once
“wickedness” and once as “iniquity.”]
As Parallel to Perversity or Wickedness
Numbers 23:21 He hath not beheld iniquity <aven> in Jacob,
neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel: Deuteronomy 26:14
I have not eaten thereof in my mourning <aven>
Job 4:8 Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity <aven>,
and sow wickedness, reap the same.
Job 11:14 If iniquity <aven> be in thine hand, put it far away,
and let not wickedness dwell in thy tabernacles.
Job 31:3 Is not destruction to the wicked? and a strange
punishment to the workers of iniquity <aven>?
Job 34:8 Which goeth in company with the workers of iniquity
<aven>, and walketh with wicked men.
Psalms 28:3 Draw me not away with the wicked, and with the
workers of iniquity <aven>
Psalms 92:7 When the wicked spring as the grass, and when all
the workers of iniquity <aven> do flourish; it is that they shall
be destroyed for ever:
Psalms 94:16 Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? or
who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity
<aven>?
Psalms 94:23 And he shall bring upon them their own iniquity
<aven>, and shall cut them off in their own wickedness; yea,
the LORD our God shall cut them off.
Psalms 101:8 I will early destroy all the wicked of the land;
that I may cut off all wicked <aven> doers from the city of the
LORD.
As Belligerent or Presumptuous Sin
1 Samuel 15:23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and
stubbornness is as iniquity <aven>
Psalms 5:5 The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest
all workers of iniquity <aven>.
Psalms 6:8 Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity <aven>;
for the LORD hath heard the voice of my weeping.
Psalms 36:4 He deviseth mischief <aven> upon his bed; he
setteth himself in a way that is not good;
Psalms 59:2 Deliver me from the workers of iniquity <aven>,
and save me from bloody men.
Proverbs 6:18 An heart that deviseth wicked <aven>
imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief
Isaiah 1:13 Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an
abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling
of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity <aven>, even
the solemn meeting.
Micah 2:1 Woe to them that devise iniquity <aven>, and work
evil upon their beds! when the morning is light, they practise it,
because it is in the power of their hand.
As Inheritance
Job 21:19 God layeth up his iniquity <aven> for his children:
he rewardeth him, and he shall know it.
As Foolishness, or as Contrasted with Wisdom
Psalms 14:4 Have all the workers of iniquity <aven> no
knowledge?
Psalms 36:3 The words of his mouth are iniquity <aven> and
deceit: he hath left off to be wise
Psalms 53:4 Have the workers of iniquity <aven> no
knowledge?
Isaiah 41:29 Behold, they are all vanity <aven>; their works
are nothing: their molten images are wind and confusion.
In Relation to Salvation
Psalms 66:18 If I regard iniquity <aven> in my heart, the Lord
will not hear me:
Psalms 119:133 Order my steps in thy word: and let not any
iniquity <aven> have dominion over me.
Proverbs 30:20 Such is the way of an adulterous woman; she
eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no
wickedness <aven>.
Isaiah 29:20 For the terrible one is brought to nought, and the
scorner is consumed, and all that watch for iniquity <aven> are
cut off:
Isaiah 55:7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the
unrighteous <aven> man his thoughts: and let him return unto
the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God,
for he will abundantly pardon.
Isaiah 58:9 Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer;
thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away
from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger,
and speaking vanity <aven>;
Jeremiah 4:14 O Jerusalem, wash thine heart from wickedness,
that thou mayest be saved. How long shall thy vain <aven>
thoughts lodge within thee?
As Trouble
Psalms 90:10 The days of our years are threescore years and
ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is
their strength labour and sorrow <aven>; for it is soon cut off,
and we fly away.
Proverbs 12:21 There shall no evil <aven> happen to the just:
but the wicked shall be filled with mischief.
Habakkuk 3:7 I saw the tents of Cushan in affliction <aven>:
avlah ‘avlah av-law’ (with several other forms); Translated in
the KJV 36 times as iniquity, seven times as wickedness, and
another 12 times variously as nine other words. Its primary
meaning is wrong as injustice, as “violent deeds of injustice” or
of unjust speech.
As Injustice in judiciary or human legal matters
Leviticus 19:15, 35
Psalms 82:2 How long will ye judge unjustly <avlah>, and
accept the persons of the wicked? Selah.
As an abominable action
Deuteronomy 25:16 all that do unrighteously <avlah>, are an
abomination unto the LORD thy God.
Psalms 53:1 Corrupt are [fools] and have done abominable
iniquity <avlah>: there is none that doeth good.
As contrasted with God’s Justice
Deuteronomy 32:4 He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all
his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity
<avlah>, just and right is he.
2 Chronicles 19:7 for there is no iniquity <avlah> with the
LORD our God, nor respect of persons
Job 34:10 Therefore hearken unto me, ye men of
understanding: far be it from God, that he should do
wickedness; and from the Almighty, that he should commit
iniquity <avlah>.
Psalms 43:1 Judge me, O God, and plead my cause against an
ungodly nation: O deliver me from the deceitful and unjust
<avlah> man.
Psalms 92:15 LORD is upright: he is my rock, and there is no
unrighteousness <avlah> <avlah> in him.
Jeremiah 2:5 Thus saith the LORD, What iniquity <avlah>
have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me,
and have walked after vanity, and are become vain?
Zephaniah 3:5 The just LORD is in the midst thereof; he will
not do iniquity <avlah>
Children of Wickedness <avlah>
2 Samuel 7:10 neither shall the children of wickedness <avlah>
afflict them any more, as beforetime,
1 Chronicles 17:9 neither shall the children of wickedness
<avlah> waste them any more
Psalms 89:22 The enemy shall not exact upon him; nor the son
of wickedness <avlah> afflict him.
Personified/Metaphorized
Job 5:16 So the poor hath hope, and iniquity <avlah> stoppeth
her mouth.
Job 15:16; 24:20 which drinketh iniquity, wickedness broken as
tree
Psalms 107:42 The righteous shall see it, and rejoice: and all
iniquity <avlah> shall stop her mouth.
Various
2 Samuel 3:34 as a man falleth before wicked <avlah> men, so
fellest thou. And all the people wept
Job 6:29, 30; (Job speaking)
Job 11:14 (Zophar)
Job 24:32 (Elihu)
As Unjust Speech or Action
Job 13:7 Will ye speak wickedly <avlah> for God? and talk
deceitfully for him?
Job 27:4 My lips shall not speak wickedness <avlah>, nor my
tongue utter deceit.
Psalms 7:3 O LORD my God, if I have done this; if there be
iniquity <avlah> in my hands;
Psalms 37:1 Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be
envious against workers of iniquity <avlah>.
Isaiah 59:3 For your hands are defiled with blood, and your
fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue
hath muttered perverseness <avlah>.
Malachi 2:6 The law of truth was in his [Levi’s] mouth, and
iniquity <avlah> was not found in his lips: he walked with me
in peace and equity, and did turn many away from iniquity.
[Levi here is a type of those purified during the judgement of
ch. 3.]
Cease or Put it away from you
Job 22:23 If thou return to the Almighty…thou shalt put away
iniquity <avlah> far from thy tabernacles.
As wickedness planned in the heart
Psalms 58:2 Yea, in heart ye work wickedness <avlah>; ye
weigh the violence of your hands in the earth.
Psalms 64:6 They search out iniquities <avlah>; they
accomplish a diligent search:
Ezekiel 3:20 Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his
righteousness, and commit iniquity <avlah>, and I lay a
stumblingblock before him, he shall die: because thou hast not
given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness
which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will
I require at thine hand. (see 18:8, 24, 26; 33:13, 15, 18).
As Satan’s Original Sin (A sin not passed down by
inheritance, but by influence)
Ezekiel 28:15 Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that
thou wast created, till iniquity <avlah> was found in thee. (see
v. 18)
Compare these verses
Micah 3:10 They build up Zion with blood, and Jerusalem with
iniquity <avlah>.
Habakkuk 2:12 Woe to him that buildeth a town with blood,
and stablisheth a city by iniquity <avlah>!
Last Generation
Zephaniah 3:13 The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity
<avlah>, nor speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be
found in their mouth: for they shall feed and lie down, and none
shall make them afraid.
05753 ‘avah aw-vaw’; Translated four times as iniquity, nine
times as words meaning perverted or crooked, and four times
variously. It means to bend, twist, distort or pervert.
1) to bend, twist, distort
1a) (Niphal) to be bent, be bowed down, be twisted, be
perverted
1b) (Piel) to twist, distort
1c) (Hiphil) to do perversely
2) to commit iniquity, do wrong, pervert
2a) (Qal) to do wrong, commit iniquity
2b) (Hiphil) to commit iniquity
1 Samuel 20:30 Thou son of the perverse <avah> rebellious
woman [Saul speaking to Jonathan]
2 Samuel 7:14 I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he
commit iniquity <avah>, I will chasten him with the rod of
men, and with the stripes of the children of men: [Promise of
God through Nathan to David concerning Solomon]
2 Samuel 24:17 Lo, I have sinned, and I have done wickedly
<avah> : but these sheep, what have they done? let thine hand,
I pray thee, be against me, and against my father’s house.
1 Kings 8:47 [2 Chron 6:37, See Psalms 106:6; Daniel 9:5] Yet
if they shall bethink themselves in the land whither they were
carried captives, and repent, and make supplication unto thee in
the land of them that carried them captives, saying, We have
sinned, and have done perversely <avah>, we have committed
wickedness;
As an Act of God
Isaiah 24:1 Behold, the LORD maketh the earth empty, and
maketh it waste, and turneth <avah> it upside down, and
scattereth abroad the inhabitants thereof.
Lamentations 3:9 He hath inclosed my ways with hewn stone,
he hath made my paths crooked <avah>.
Variant Sources of Iniquity; all occurrences are given below.
These words, excepting 05adeekeeah2 which occurs only once
in the Bible and is translated iniquity, are generally rendered
differently. 01942 refers often to calamity [as caused by evil],
07562 to wickedness, 05999 to evil works.
Psalms 94:20 Shall the throne of iniquity <01942> have
fellowship with thee, which frameth mischief <05999> by a
law?
Ecclesiastes 3:16 And moreover I saw under the sun the place
of judgment, that wickedness <07562> was there; and the place
of righteousness, that iniquity <07562> was there.
Hosea 10:9 O Israel, thou hast sinned from the days of Gibeah:
there they stood: the battle in Gibeah against the children of
iniquity <05adeekeeah2> did not overtake them.
Habakkuk 1:13 Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and
canst not look on iniquity <05999>: wherefore lookest thou
upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy tongue when
the wicked <07563> [same root as 07562] devoureth the man
that is more righteous than he?
Comments on “Iniquity, and Transgression, and Sin” as
Found in Exodus 34
“Forgiving iniquity, and transgression, and sin;” . . . . The Jews
sometimes distinguish these three words; "iniquity", they say,
signifies sins through pride and presumption; "transgression"
intends rebellions against God; and "sin", what is committed
through error and mistake {i}; and much to this sense is
Jarchi’s interpretation of these words; they no doubt include all
manner of sin, which God for Christ’s sake forgives: — John
Gill’s Expositor on Exodus 34
Verse 7. . . . Iniquity, and transgression, and sin; sins of all sorts
and sizes, secret or open, infirmities or presumptions, against
God or men, as the heap of various words here put together
signifies. That will by no means clear the guilty: this is
commonly esteemed a title of justice or vengeance, which is
here added by way of correction lest men should mistake or
abuse God’s mercy. God is most gracious indeed, but so as he is
also just, and will not pity nor spare impudent and impenitent
transgressors, but will severely punish them. And the Jewish
doctors hereupon observe, that the mercy of God doth far
exceed his justice; here being, as they number them, thirteen
attributes of mercy, and but one of justice. — Matthew’s MT
Pooles Commentary on Exodus 34.
NEW TESTAMENT USE OF INIQUITY
The New Testament use of the word iniquity is not precisely
parallel to the use of the word in the Old Testament. This can
be most readily seen in the KJV by comparing Psalms 32:1-2
with Paul’s quotation of the same passage in Romans 4:7-8.
“transgression is forgiven” in Psalms becomes “iniquities are
forgiven” in Romans. Then in the next verse, “imputeth not
iniquity” becomes “imputeth not sin.”
These passages do help us make rough corollaries between
Greek and Hebrew words. The OT <avone>, found here and
almost always as “iniquity” in the Bible, corresponds here to
the NT <266>, translated nearly always (exceptions are in 2
Corinthians 11:7 and Romans 8:2) as sin. In both cases of the
exceptions, it might have been rendered “sin” without doing
damage to the intent. In Romans 8:2, where it is found three
times it is rendered “sinful” once and “sin” twice.
As found in Jeremiah 31:34, <avone> is quoted twice in the
NT, in Hebrews 8:12 and Hebrews 10:17. The structure of the
verse changes some, from “forgive their iniquity” and
“remember their sin no more” in Jeremiah to “be merciful to
their unrighteousness” [Heb. 8] and “remember their sins and
iniquities no more.” [both Heb. 8 and 10]. This makes it
difficult to trace the word with confidence to specifically one of
either “unrighteousness” <adeekeeah> or “sins” <3364>. Since
<adeekeeah> is found six times in the NT as “iniquity” and
since it can not be traced back to any other part of Jeremiah 31,
perhaps it is the preferable parallel.
But let us come back to our comparison of Romans 4 and
Psalms 32. The OT <06588>, transgression, is rendered in the
NT as <anomeeah>, iniquity. And In comparing Jeremiah and
Hebrews, it is the OT <02403>, sins, that becomes the same NT
<anomeeah> iniquities. Interestingly enough, neither of these
OT words is ever rendered as iniquity, while <anomeeah> is
rendered most often that way.
A third example of the difference, in the King James Version,
between the use of iniquity in the OT and NT can be seen in
Hebrews where Paul quotes a Messianic prophecy from David.
The text read:
“Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore
God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above
thy fellows.” Psalms 45:7
“Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore
God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness
above thy fellows.” Hebrews 1:9.
The word “iniquity” in Hebrews 1:9 is <anomeeah> and is
drawn from <05762>, the OT “wickedness.”
 Old Testament Translated into KJV as New Testament
<07562> wickedness <anomeeah>
<06588> transgression <anomeeah>
<02403> sins <anomeeah>
<02403> sins <adeekeeah>
<07562> wickedness <adeekeeah>
<07563> wicked <adeekeeah>
<avone> iniquity <266>
<avone> iniquity <adeekeeah> or <3364>unrighteousness/sins
In both the Old and New Testament, more than half of the
occurrences of either iniquity or iniquities comes from <avone>
or <anomeeah>. Yet in the five instances where these words
can be correlated by a quotation to their parallel in the other
testament, not once do they correspond to each other. One
might almost conclude from the table above that the words sin,
iniquity, transgression, and wickedness were interchangeable.
This is not entirely true, yet it does follow that word studies
that follow iniquity through the entire Bible and try to
distinguish iniquity in both Testaments from sin, wickedness,
and transgression, are faulty.
Comparison and Contrast between <anomeeah> and
<adeekeeah>
When iniquity in the NT does not come from <anomeeah>, it is
generally taken from <adeekeeah>, ad-ee-kee’-ah. In the KJV it
is translated 16 times as unrighteousness, six times as iniquity,
twice as unjust, once as wrong. The word is a reference to
actions not in harmony with the law. Theses words,
<adeekeeah> and <anomeeah> are used interchangeably on
some occasions.
Luke 13:27 I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart
from me, all ye workers of iniquity <adeekeeah>.
Matthew 7:23 I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work
iniquity <anomeeah>.
And they are made roughly equivalent in the book of I John
with sin, <266>.
1 John 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin <266> transgresseth
<anomeeah> also the law <anomeeah>: for sin <266> is the
transgression of the law <anomeeah>.
1 John 5:17 All unrighteousness <adeekeeah> is sin <266>:
and there is a sin not unto death.
The effects of sin on the sinner are both internal and external.
His sin is recorded in the books of heaven, in the sanctuary
service represented by the horns on the altars, and written on
the table of his heart. Jeremiah 17:1. The gospel offers freedom
from both the defiled conscience and the defiled record.
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins <266>, he is faithful and just
to forgive us our sins <266>, and to cleanse us from all
unrighteousness <adeekeeah>.
Here our unrighteousness, <adeekeeah>, found as iniquity in a
few places, describes our sinful condition. Whether it is a
reference to our sinful nature (something we must live with
Translated into KJV as Text 1 Text 2
iniquity Ps. 45 Heb. 1
iniquity Ps. 32 Rom. 4
iniquities Jer. 31 Heb 8,10
iniquity Pr. 5 Acts 8
iniquity Is. 58 Acts 8
iniquity Nu 16 2Ti 2
sin Ps. 32 Rom. 4
Jer. 31 Heb 8,10
until glorification) or to the inherited and cultivated weaknesses
in our character, is plain from the promise. Only in the second
sense does the verse match reality. Repentant sinners are not
glorified here, but they are “cleansed” of their soul’s impurities.
Iniquity, <adeekeeah>, is used this way also James 3:6 where
the tongue is a “world of iniquity” that needs gospel taming if
the man is to be “perfect” and “able also to bridle the whole
body.”
Most often <adeekeeah> is translated “unrighteousness” or
“unjust.” See Luke 16:8-9 where it is translated both ways. It is
a committed act in Romans 1:29-32, and “those that commit
such things” are in God’s judgement, “worthy of death.” Those
that are lost not only “do the same, but have pleasure in them
that do them.” v. 32. This is a salvational issue in relation to our
unrighteousness according to both Paul and Peter. “That they
all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had
pleasure in unrighteousness <adeekeeah>.” 2 Thessalonians
2:12, see 2 Peter 2:13.
anomeeah an-om-ee’-ah , properly “without law” [whether by
ignorance, violation, or by contempt], is generally rendered
“iniquity” and twice as “transgression of the law.”
Matthew 13:41 [Angels] gather out of his kingdom all . . .
them which do iniquity <anomeeah>;
Matthew 23:28 but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity
<anomeeah>.
Matthew 24:12 And because iniquity <anomeeah> shall
abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
2 Thessalonians 2:7 For the mystery of iniquity <anomeeah>
doth already work:
Titus 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us
from all iniquity <anomeeah>, and purify unto himself a
peculiar people, zealous of good works.
Other Sources of Iniquity or Iniquities in NT
<92> ad-eek’-ay-mah, is found in the Bible three times. It is
found once as iniquites in Revelation 18:5, “For her sins have
reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities
<92>.”
The word “iniquities” in Acts 3:26 is <4189> and is translated
“wickedness” every other time it is found in scripture. The
word “iniquity” found in 2 Peter 2:16 is <3892> and is found
nowhere else in scripture.