Iniquity is a significant biblical concept that appears throughout the Old and New Testaments. At its most basic level, iniquity refers to immoral or sinful behavior that is contrary to God’s laws and commandments. The original Hebrew and Greek words translated as “iniquity” convey a sense of wickedness, perversity, crookedness, and departure from what is right. While often used interchangeably with “sin,” iniquity carries a particular emphasis on the fundamental bent toward wrongdoing within individuals and communities.
Definitions and Key Characteristics of Iniquity
In the Old Testament, several Hebrew words relate to iniquity. Avon (meaning “perversity, depravity”) and awon (meaning “perversity, moral evil”) indicate crooked behavior and attitudes diverging from God’s righteous standards (Exodus 34:7, Numbers 14:18). Resha (appearing first in Genesis 4:7) connotes wickedness and wrongdoing. These terms point to humanity’s inward turn from what God requires to our own selfish desires and pursuits.
In the New Testament, the primary Greek word translated “iniquity” is anomia. Deriving from a- “without” and nomos “law,” it indicates being without the law, disobedient to God’s commands, and lawless (Matthew 7:21-23, Titus 2:14). Adikia, meaning unrighteousness or injustice, is another term denoting perversity and wickedness (Romans 6:13, 2 Thessalonians 2:7). Such words reveal the unrighteous patterns of behavior and heartorientation underlying sinful acts.
Key characteristics of iniquity include:
– Rebellion and autonomy – Iniquity stems from a heart inclined away from God’s standards and authority toward self-direction and control.
– Perversion and distortion – At iniquity’s root is a twisting and distorting of what God designed to be good.
– Unrighteousness and injustice – Iniquity manifests in treating others unrighteously, unfairly, and without compassion.
– Corruption and wickedness – Like leaven, iniquity corrupts what is wholesome and pure, spreading wickedness individually and communally.
– Habit and bondage – Iniquity tends toward ingrained habits and addictions that enslave.
– Deception and blindness – Iniquity involves self-deception and blindness to sin’s true nature and consequences.
– Emptiness and meaninglessness – Choosing iniquity results in lack of fulfillment, emptiness, and loss of meaning and purpose.
At its core, iniquity entails living without reference to God and his truth and standards. It is the assertion of human autonomy and self-direction apart from the Creator.
Iniquity in the Old Testament
The concept of iniquity features prominently throughout the Old Testament. Key passages offer insight into its meaning and consequences.
Cain’s Murder of Abel – Genesis 4:7
In Genesis 4:7, God warns Cain, “sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.” The “sin” here translates the Hebrew word resha, carrying connotations of iniquity’s twisted nature and allure. God alerts Cain that iniquity’s pull toward wickedness must be mastered, not embraced. But Cain disregards God’s caution, evincing the deceptive, destructive force of unrestrained iniquity.
The Flood – Genesis 6:5-7
The flood judgment came upon humanity because “the Lord saw that the wickedness (Hebrew ra) of humankind was great in the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of their hearts was only evil (Hebrew ra) continually” (Genesis 6:5). The all-pervasive iniquity infecting humankind’s imaginations and purposes could only be purged by catastrophic divine judgment.
Sodom and Gomorrah – Genesis 18:20
Prior to destroying Sodom and Gomorrah, God discloses their rampant iniquity: “the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous.” The unspecified sin likely included sexual perversion (Genesis 19:4-11) but also injustice, oppression, and disregard for God’s standards. Their iniquity’s gravity demanded swift, decisive judgment.
God’s Self-Disclosure to Moses – Exodus 34:6-7
In Exodus 34:6-7, God reveals himself as “merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity (Hebrew avon) and transgression and sin.” This seminal passage establishes God’s loving forgiveness toward repenting hearts. Yet it also discloses his justice whereby the impenitent experience iniquity’s consequences. God’s holiness cannot ignore unaddressed iniquity.
Balaam’s Wicked Counsel – Numbers 25:1-3
Numbers 25 illustrates iniquity’s contaminating influence. Following Balaam’s wicked counsel, the Moabites seduced Israel into sexual immorality and idolatry at Baal Peor. What began as diversion from God’s standards metastasized into corporate iniquity until the sin’s containment required execution of the ringleaders. Unchecked iniquity spreads infection through communities.
Ahab and Jezebel’s Reign – 1 Kings 21:25-26
First Kings 21:25-26 summarizes King Ahab’s vile reign: “There was none who sold himself to do what was evil in the sight of the Lord like Ahab…He did very abominably in going after idols, as the Amorites had done, whom the Lord cast out before the people of Israel.” Together with his wife Jezebel, Ahab fostered unprecedented idolatry and injustice in Israel. Their iniquity fomented unraveling corruption and moral degradation among the people.
The Psalms – Iniquity’s Universality
Throughout the Psalms, iniquity’s pervasiveness features prominently. “Enter not into judgment with your servant, for no one living is righteous before you” (Psalm 143:2). “I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me” (Psalm 51:5). All people, even King David, suffer under iniquity’s weight and need God’s grace and forgiveness.
The Prophets – Calls to Repent and Warnings of Judgment
The prophets confronted iniquity and called God’s people to repentance. Isaiah denounced the oppression of the poor (Isaiah 1:17). Jeremiah condemned idolatry and hypocrisy (Jeremiah 2:19). Ezekiel rebuked injustice, violence, and religious formalism without true holiness (Ezekiel 7:23). Amos decried the economic exploitation of the marginalized (Amos 5:7). Iniquity’s social manifestations elicited repeated warnings of coming calamity if left unchecked.
Iniquity in the New Testament
The New Testament continues Old Testament themes related to iniquity and develops them further in light of Jesus Christ’s person and work.
Jesus’ Teaching on Iniquity
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus equates sinful anger with murder, lust with adultery (Matthew 5:21-30). Looking on a woman lustfully constitutes the iniquity of adultery in the heart. He teaches it is not only sinful acts but our inward thought lives that manifest iniquity’s twisted nature.
Christ’s parable of the unjust steward depicts a shrewd manager who misused his position for personal gain (Luke 16:1-8). Jesus employs this character, commended by his boss for his cunning, to illustrate worldly wisdom’s shortsightedness and moral bankruptcy.
In Matthew 7:21-23, Jesus warns that not everyone professing his name will enter his kingdom, but only “the one who does the will of my Father.” Inward iniquity manifesting through disobedience to Christ’s commands bars entrance. A mere outward profession proves inadequate when contradicted by persistent iniquity.
Paul on Iniquity
Paul teaches that iniquity’s slavery and condemnation remain unless we experience regeneration through faith in Christ. “And you were dead in your trespasses and sins…following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience” (Ephesians 2:1-2). But “God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ” (Ephesians 2:4-5).
In Romans 6:12-14, Paul exhorts believers to resist allowing iniquity to reign again through disobedience. Our moral autonomy before salvation becomes transformed into wholehearted obedience under grace’s authority and power.
General Epistles on Iniquity
Peter warns leaders against shepherding God’s flock for shameful gain, becoming “examples to the flock” in twisted hypocrisy rather than sincerity and earnestness (1 Peter 5:2-3). James rebukes the wealthy who unjustly oppress their workers, storing up treasure tainted by iniquity that will condemn them (James 5:1-6). Iniquity’s cancer can infect even the church unless vigilantly guarded against through humility, integrity, and care for the vulnerable.
Revelation – Babylon the Great
Revelation depicts end-time Babylon the Great, representing global systems united in blasphemous rebellion against God. “The great city that has dominion over the kings of the earth” is charged with sexual immorality, intoxication, and “the blood of prophets and saints” (Revelation 17:1-6). Babylon epitomizes humanity’s corporate iniquity incurring final divine wrath. Only God’s kingdom endures.
Iniquity’s Resolution through Christ
This survey demonstrates iniquity’s universality and grim consequences. Yet Scripture reveals one solution powerful enough to decisively deal with humanity’s corporate wickedness: the sin-bearing, atoning death of the Son of God himself.
On the cross, Jesus was “numbered with the transgressors” and “bore the sin of many” (Isaiah 53:12). God made “him who knew no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21). Now believers who once were “dead in (their) trespasses” can be “alive together with Christ…saved by grace” (Ephesians 2:5).
At salvation, the power of inbred iniquity is broken. We are regenerated into new creations in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). Sin no longer wields dominion through the law but is overcome by grace (Romans 6:14). The Holy Spirit renovates the believer’s desires and empowers obedience from the heart (Ezekiel 36:26-27).
Though Christians still stumble, our core identity and trajectory become realigned with Christ. Our mission now is to “put to death what is earthly within you” and “put on the new self” (Colossians 3:5-10). As we walk in submission to the Spirit, we “no longer live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit” (Romans 8:12-14).
One day Christ will eradicate every vestige of iniquity. “Nothing unclean will ever enter” God’s holy city (Revelation 21:27). Sin’s corrupting influence will be fully purged from creation. God’s people will inhabit a world where “there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain” (Revelation 21:4). Until then, may we passionately pursue holiness while also extending mercy to fellow strugglers.
Iniquity’s grip is fierce. But Christ’s salvation is greater. Therein lies our hope.