Greek word · G3847

παράβασις

parabasis

transgression

A stepping across or aside. In moral and legal use, the breaking of a specific, known rule. It is narrower than general words for wrongdoing (such as hamartia, 'missing the mark'), because it assumes a stated command.

Appears 7 times in 7 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

παρά-βασις, -εως, ἡ

(παραβαίνω), [in LXX: Psalms 101:3 (שֵׂט), 2 Kings 2:24 A, Wisdom of Solomon 14:31, 2Ma.15:10 * ;]

1. a going aside, a deviation (Arist.).

2. In later writers, an overstepping; metaphorically, transgression (Plut., al.) : Romans 4:15 5:14, Hebrews 2:2 9:15; τ. νόμου, Romans 2:23; ἐν π., 1 Timothy 2:14; τ. παραβάσεων χάριν, Galatians 3:19

SYN.: see: ἁμαρτία (AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Hebrews 2:2

Range of meaning

A stepping across or aside. In moral and legal use, the breaking of a specific, known rule. It is narrower than general words for wrongdoing (such as hamartia, 'missing the mark'), because it assumes a stated command.

Against the English

'Transgression' (KJV, BSB, ESV, NASB) is accurate, since Latin transgredi also means 'to step across'. NIV and NLT 'violation' is also fine.

Used elsewhere in the period

Paul: 'where there is no law there is no parabasis' (Rom 4:15); 'through parabasis of the law you dishonour God' (Rom 2:23). Gal 3:19 puts parabaseis alongside the Law 'ordained through angels', the same pairing as here. Hebrews 9:15 speaks of 'transgressions under the first covenant'.

From the study of Galatians 3:19

Range of meaning

A stepping-over or going beyond. In moral and legal use it means breaking a specific, stated rule or agreement. It is narrower than hamartia ('sin, missing the mark'), which can describe a condition or a wrong with no explicit command behind it.

Against the English

English 'transgression' keeps the stepping-over picture well. But many readers hear it as a general word for sins. Paul's own usage is precise: 'where there is no law there is no transgression' (Romans 4:15). Adam is the transgressor of a direct command (Romans 5:14).

Used elsewhere in the period

In the Greek Old Testament and in Jewish writings parabasis and parabainō are used for breaking covenant commands (e.g. 2 Maccabees 15:10, of the nations' breach of oaths; Wisdom of Solomon 14:31). Josephus uses parabasis for violating the laws (e.g. Antiquities 3.218). Paul uses it in Romans 2:23; 4:15; 5:14.

From the study of Hebrews 9:15

Range of meaning

Literally "a stepping beside or across": overstepping a boundary, violating a known command or agreement. It is narrower than the broad hamartia ("sin, missing the mark"). Parabasis assumes a stated rule that has been broken.

Against the English

"Transgressions" (KJV, ESV, NASB, WEB) keeps the sense of crossing a line. NIV and NLT "sins" is broader and loses the specific covenant-breach idea.

Used elsewhere in the period

Paul uses it in Rom 4:15 ("where there is no law, there is no transgression") and Rom 5:14 for Adam's breach of a specific command. Heb 2:2 pairs it with disobedience to "the word spoken through angels" at Sinai. In the Septuagint, Ps 100:3 (English 101:3), and in Greek legal usage it means a breach of law or treaty.

Where it appears

Romans · 3

  1. Romans 2:23 παραβάσεως transgression

    You who boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law?

  2. Romans 4:15 παράβασις. transgression.

    because the law brings wrath. And where there is no law, there is no transgression.

    Here: Literally "a stepping over": crossing a line that has been explicitly drawn, that is, breaking a stated command. Paul chooses this word rather than the broader word for sin (hamartia).

  3. Romans 5:14 παραβάσεως transgression

    Nevertheless, death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those who did not sin in the way that Adam transgressed. He is a pattern of the One to come.

    Here: Literally 'a stepping over' a line: breaking a specific, known command. Adam broke the explicit order of Genesis 2:17. Paul keeps this word for sin against a stated command (compare Rom 4:15).

Galatians · 1

  1. Galatians 3:19 παραβάσεων transgressions

    Why then was the law given? It was added because of transgressions, until the arrival of the seed to whom the promise referred. It was administered through angels by a mediator.

    Here: Breaches of a stated command. The word pictures stepping over a drawn line. Sin existed before the law, but it becomes 'transgression' in this precise sense only once there is a command to break (compare Romans 4:15).

1 Timothy · 1

  1. 1 Timothy 2:14 παραβάσει transgression

    And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman who was deceived and fell into transgression.

    Here: Literally 'a stepping over' a line, the breaking of a known, explicit command. Here it means eating from the forbidden tree. Paul uses the same noun for Adam's act in Romans 5:14.

Hebrews · 2

  1. Hebrews 2:2 παράβασις transgression

    For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every transgression and disobedience received its just punishment,

    Here: Literally 'stepping across' a line, the breaking of a known, stated command. This is the active side of wrongdoing.

  2. Hebrews 9:15 παραβάσεων transgressions

    Therefore Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, now that He has died to redeem them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.

    Here: Specific breaches of known stipulations, a stepping over a drawn line. These are sins understood as covenant-breaking.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.