Greek word · G3848

παραβάτης

parabatēs

transgresor

One who oversteps, a transgressor: someone who breaks a specific, known commandment. From parabainō, "to step beside or past" a line.

Appears 5 times in 5 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

παρα-βάτης, -ου, ὁ

(παραβαίνω), [in Sm.: Psalms 17:4 139:19, Jeremiah 6:28 * ;]

1. one who stands beside, the warrior who stands by the charioteer (of. παραβαίνω, 1).

2. a transgressor (Æsch., παρβάτης): Galatians 2:18, James 2:9; π. νόμου, Romans 2:25, 27, James 2:11.†

(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 James 2:9

Range of meaning

One who oversteps, a transgressor: someone who breaks a specific, known commandment. From parabainō, "to step beside or past" a line.

Against the English

All the supplied translations say "transgressors", which is accurate though a little formal. Some paraphrases flatten it to "lawbreakers" or "guilty of breaking the law", which keeps the sense.

Used elsewhere in the period

In the New Testament only in James 2:9, 2:11; Rom 2:25, 27; Gal 2:18. The related noun parabasis, "transgression", is Paul's word for breaking an explicit command, as distinct from sin in general (Rom 4:15, "where there is no law there is no transgression").

From the study of Romans 2:25

Range of meaning

From παραβαίνω, 'to step beside, step over'. It means one who oversteps a set boundary: a violator of a specific known command, oath or law.

Against the English

'Transgressor' (WEB, NASB) keeps the idea well. 'Breaker of the law' (KJV) and 'break the law' (BSB, NIV, ESV) are fine. 'Don't obey' (NLT) loses the picture of crossing a line one knows is there.

Used elsewhere in the period

In Paul, 'transgression' (παράβασις) needs a stated command: 'where there is no law there is no transgression' (Rom 4:15). Adam broke an explicit command (Rom 5:14). James 2:9–11 is a close parallel: 'you have become a transgressor of the law' (γέγονας παραβάτης νόμου), using the same verb and noun Paul uses here.

From the study of Romans 2:27

Range of meaning

One who steps over or beyond a boundary. In moral use, someone who violates a specific, known command.

Against the English

KJV has "dost transgress the law," BSB "lawbreaker," and WEB and YLT "transgressor of (the) law." All are accurate. English "transgressor" keeps the picture of stepping over a line.

Used elsewhere in the period

In the NT: Rom 2:25, 27; Gal 2:18; James 2:9, 11. Paul distinguishes parabasis ("transgression") from sin in general. Transgression needs an explicit command: "where there is no law there is no transgression" (Rom 4:15; compare 5:13–14). 2 Maccabees 2:21 uses the related verb for breaking ancestral laws.

Where it appears

Romans · 2

  1. Romans 2:25 παραβάτης a transgressor

    Circumcision has value if you observe the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.

    Here: Someone who steps over a known boundary. This is not vague wrongdoing. It is violating a command one has actually been given, which is exactly the circumcised person's situation.

  2. Romans 2:27 παραβάτην [are] a transgressor

    The one who is physically uncircumcised yet keeps the law will condemn you who, even though you have the written code and circumcision, are a lawbreaker.

    Here: Someone who steps across a known, stated boundary. This is the climax word of the sentence and echoes 2:23, "through transgression of the law you dishonor God."

Galatians · 1

  1. Galatians 2:18 παραβάτην a transgressor

    If I rebuild what I have already torn down, I prove myself to be a lawbreaker.

James · 2

  1. James 2:9 παραβάται. transgressors.

    But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.

    Here: Literally "one who steps across" a boundary line: someone who breaks a specific, known command. It is sharper than the general "sinner": they have crossed a line God had clearly drawn.

  2. James 2:11 παραβάτης a transgressor

    For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery, but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.

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