Bible
Sins in the Bible
The Bible defines sin as missing the mark, transgressing God's law, and living in rebellion against him. It addresses sin in many forms: against God, against others, in the heart, in speech, and in action. Forgiveness is offered through Christ.
Direct answer
The Bible defines sin as missing the mark, transgressing God's law, and rebellion against God. It addresses sin in many categories: against God (idolatry, unbelief), against others (murder, theft, false witness), in the heart (pride, envy, greed, lust), in speech (lying, slander, gossip), and in action (sexual immorality, drunkenness, violence).
The biblical message does not stop at naming sin. Its central word is the gospel: forgiveness through Christ for all who repent and trust him.
Examples
Sins against God
idolatry (Exodus 20:3-6), blasphemy (Leviticus 24:16), unbelief (Hebrews 3:12)
Sins against others
murder (Exodus 20:13), theft (Exodus 20:15), false witness (Exodus 20:16)
Sins of the heart
pride (Proverbs 16:18), envy (James 3:14), greed (Luke 12:15)
Sins of speech
lying (Ephesians 4:25), slander (1 Peter 2:1), gossip (Proverbs 16:28)
Sins of action
sexual immorality, drunkenness, violence (Galatians 5:19-21)
How it works
This page surveys how the Bible talks about sin. It does not aim to be an exhaustive list; it groups representative passages and categories. The biblical message is not only warning but also gospel hope: forgiveness through Christ.
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.Romans 3:23-24, KJV
Sins against God
The first commandments concern our relationship to God. The Bible treats these as the most fundamental disorders of the human heart.
Idolatry (Exodus 20:3-6)
Putting anything in the place of God, whether a physical image, money, status, or self.
Blasphemy (Leviticus 24:16; James 2:7)
Speaking with contempt about God, including misusing his name.
Unbelief (Hebrews 3:12-13)
A settled refusal to trust God's word and character.
Pride (Proverbs 16:18; James 4:6)
Setting oneself above God's authority and against neighbor.
Sins against others
The second table of the Ten Commandments and Jesus's command to love neighbor frame the bulk of biblical ethics. Many sins listed in the Bible fall here.
Murder (Exodus 20:13; Matthew 5:21-22)
Taking innocent life. Jesus extends this to unrighteous anger and contempt.
Adultery (Exodus 20:14; Matthew 5:27-28)
Breaking the covenant of marriage. Jesus extends this to lust in the heart.
Theft (Exodus 20:15; Ephesians 4:28)
Taking what is not yours, in obvious or subtle forms.
False witness (Exodus 20:16; Proverbs 19:5)
Lying about another person, especially in a legal or public context.
Injustice and oppression (Isaiah 1:17; Amos 5:11-12)
Taking advantage of the poor, the widow, the orphan, the stranger.
Sins of the heart
Jesus repeatedly traces sin to the heart (Matthew 15:18-19). Many sins live in the inner life long before they appear in action.
Pride (Proverbs 16:18)
Self-exaltation against God and others.
Envy (James 3:14-16)
Resentment at another's good.
Greed (covetousness) (Luke 12:15; Ephesians 5:5)
An inordinate desire for more, especially for money or possessions.
Lust (Matthew 5:27-28; 1 John 2:16)
Sexual desire that treats another person as an object.
Hatred and bitterness (1 John 3:15; Hebrews 12:15)
An unresolved, settled hostility toward another.
Sins of speech
James calls the tongue 'a fire' (James 3:5-6). The Bible takes speech sins as seriously as any others.
Lying and deceit (Ephesians 4:25; Colossians 3:9)
Speaking what is false to mislead.
Gossip (Proverbs 16:28; 2 Corinthians 12:20)
Spreading reports about others without legitimate need.
Slander (1 Peter 2:1; Titus 3:2)
False statements that damage another's reputation.
Corrupt speech (Ephesians 4:29; Colossians 3:8)
Speech that tears down rather than builds up.
Sins of action
The New Testament 'vice lists' (Romans 1:29-31, 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, Galatians 5:19-21, Colossians 3:5-9) collect specific actions that mark a life out of step with the Spirit.
Sexual immorality (1 Corinthians 6:18; Galatians 5:19)
Sexual sin in its various forms.
Drunkenness (Ephesians 5:18; Galatians 5:21)
Loss of self-control through alcohol or other substances.
Violence and revenge (Romans 12:19)
Taking matters into one's own hands rather than entrusting them to God.
Sorcery and occult practice (Galatians 5:20; Deuteronomy 18:10-12)
Seeking spiritual power outside of God.
Gospel hope
The Bible does not stop at naming sin. Its central message is that God himself, in Christ, has dealt with sin on the cross and offers forgiveness as a free gift to all who repent and trust him. First John 1:9 says: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." The point of any honest discussion of sin is to lead, in the end, to that forgiveness.
Related Bible pages
Frequently asked questions
The Bible uses several words. The most common Hebrew word translated 'sin' (chata') and the most common Greek word (hamartia) both mean 'to miss the mark.' Other words emphasize transgression (crossing a boundary), iniquity (twistedness), and rebellion. First John 3:4 gives a short definition: 'sin is the transgression of the law.' Sin is therefore not only individual acts but a condition of the heart in rebellion against God.
The seven deadly sins (pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath, sloth) come from later Christian tradition, not directly from a single Bible passage. They draw on biblical material, particularly the lists of sins in Proverbs 6:16-19 and the various New Testament 'vice lists' (Galatians 5:19-21; Colossians 3:5-9). The Bible itself does not enumerate exactly seven deadly sins.
Jesus speaks of one unforgivable sin: blasphemy against the Holy Spirit (Matthew 12:31-32, Mark 3:28-29). The traditional Christian interpretation is that this refers to a final, settled rejection of the Holy Spirit's testimony to Christ; it is the heart that refuses to receive forgiveness. Every other sin, no matter how serious, is forgivable through repentance and faith in Christ. Anyone troubled by whether they have committed this sin almost certainly has not.
All sin separates from God and requires forgiveness through Christ (Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23). At the same time, the Bible recognizes degrees of gravity. Some sins are described as more serious in their effects (Proverbs 6:16-19), and the Old Testament treats some sins (murder, idolatry) with greater severity than others. The New Testament also distinguishes between weakness of conscience and willful, high-handed sin. The grace of Christ covers all sin for those who turn to him.
The biblical answer is the gospel: God offers forgiveness as a gift through faith in Jesus Christ, who bore the penalty of sin on the cross (Romans 3:23-26; 1 John 1:9). The believer's response is to repent (turn from sin) and trust Christ. The Bible promises: 'If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness' (1 John 1:9).
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