παράπτωμα (G3900) — Greek Lexicon

παράπτωμα

paráptōma

G3900 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A misstep, slip, or deviation from a standard, especially in behavior or conduct; in moral or legal contexts, an act of wrongdoing, offense, or transgression, whether accidental or intentional. The primary sense is a falling aside, either by mistake or through choice, leading to an ethical or relational breach; contextually may indicate a lapse (minor or grave) from appropriate behavior or obligation, including moral, religious, or civil norms.

Semantic Range

a slip, a lapse, misstep, error, offense, moral wrongdoing, unintentional fault, intentional transgression, breach of norm or law, trespass

Root / Etymology

From παραπίπτω (parapiptō, 'to fall beside, to lapse'), itself from παρα- (para-, 'beside') + πίπτω (piptō, 'to fall'). The sense developed from a physical act (to stumble or fall to the side) to metaphorical and moral acts of deviation or transgression.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, παραπίπτω and its derivatives referred most often to physical slips or mistakes, and by extension to offenses or errors in judgment. By the Hellenistic and Koine periods, including the Septuagint and New Testament, παράπτωμα came to denote specifically a misdeed, lapse, or transgression—often used in legal or moral contexts. It can refer to both unintentional mistakes and willful acts. In LXX usage, παραπίπτω frequently translates Hebrew terms for unintentional sins or trespasses (e.g., שגגה). In the New Testament, especially in Pauline literature, it appears for any act that breaches ethical or divine standards (e.g., Romans 5:15–20), sometimes contrasted with deliberate rebellious acts (παρανομία). English translation as 'trespass,' 'offense,' or 'transgression' often fails to specify whether the act was intentional or accidental; the Greek term itself carries the possibility of both. The nuance is context-dependent and may be broader than standard translation suggests.

Translation Consistency

primary "misstep" 17 occurrences

Matches the primary sense in SILEX (a falling aside or slip/lapse), is neutral and natural English for both accidental and intentional breaches, and reflects the most common renderings found in the P2 data ("misstep/missteps" predominates over more technical terms like "transgression"). It preserves the nuance of lapse without overly theological or legal coloring.

Alternatives (3 occurrences):

"trespasses" (3x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from παραπίπτω; a side-slip (lapse or deviation), i.e. (unintentional) error or (wilful) transgression:--fall, fault, offence, sin, trespass.

Root Family

παράπτωμα (paraptōma) — falling beside, slip, lapse, deviation, transgression

Root παραπτω- to fall beside, to slip, to stumble

Word Forms

6 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G3900-03`	παραπτώματα	paraptomata	`N ACC N PL`	trespasses	missteps	missteps	7
`G3900-04`	παραπτώματι	paraptomati	`N DAT N SG`	trespass	to a misstep	to a misstep	4
`G3900-02`	παραπτώμασιν	paraptomasin	`N DAT N PL`	trespasses	to the missteps	trespasses	3
`G3900-01`	παράπτωμα	paraptoma	`N NOM N SG`	trespass	a misstep	a misstep	3
`G3900-05`	παραπτωμάτων	paraptomaton	`N GEN N PL`	trespasses	of missteps	missteps	2
`G3900-06`	παραπτώματος	paraptomatos	`N GEN N SG`	trespass	of a misstep	of a misstep	1

Occurrences in Scripture

20 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G3900-03`	Matthew 6:14	παραπτώματα	paraptomata	`N ACC N PL`	trespasses	missteps	missteps
`G3900-03`	Matthew 6:15	παραπτώματα	paraptomata	`N ACC N PL`	trespasses	missteps	missteps
`G3900-03`	Mark 11:25	παραπτώματα	paraptomata	`N ACC N PL`	trespasses	missteps	missteps
`G3900-03`	Mark 11:26	παραπτώματα	paraptomata	`N ACC N PL`	trespasses	missteps	missteps
`G3900-03`	Romans 4:25	παραπτώματα	paraptomata	`N ACC N PL`	transgressions	missteps	missteps
`G3900-01`	Romans 5:15	παράπτωμα	paraptoma	`N NOM N SG`	trespass	a misstep	a misstep
`G3900-04`	Romans 5:15	παραπτώματι	paraptomati	`N DAT N SG`	trespass	to a misstep	to a misstep
`G3900-05`	Romans 5:16	παραπτωμάτων	paraptomaton	`N GEN N PL`	trespasses	of missteps	missteps
`G3900-04`	Romans 5:17	παραπτώματι	paraptomati	`N DAT N SG`	trespass	to a misstep	to a misstep
`G3900-06`	Romans 5:18	παραπτώματος	paraptomatos	`N GEN N SG`	trespass	of a misstep	of a misstep
`G3900-01`	Romans 5:20	παράπτωμα	paraptoma	`N NOM N SG`	trespass	a misstep	a misstep
`G3900-04`	Romans 11:11	παραπτώματι	paraptomati	`N DAT N SG`	trespass	to a misstep	to a misstep
`G3900-01`	Romans 11:12	παράπτωμα	paraptoma	`N NOM N SG`	transgression	a misstep	a misstep
`G3900-03`	2 Corinthians 5:19	παραπτώματα	paraptomata	`N ACC N PL`	trespasses	missteps	missteps
`G3900-04`	Galatians 6:1	παραπτώματι	paraptomati	`N DAT N SG`	trespass	to a misstep	to a misstep
`G3900-05`	Ephesians 1:7	παραπτωμάτων	paraptomaton	`N GEN N PL`	trespasses	of missteps	missteps
`G3900-02`	Ephesians 2:1	παραπτώμασιν	paraptomasin	`N DAT N PL`	trespasses	to the missteps	trespasses
`G3900-02`	Ephesians 2:5	παραπτώμασιν	paraptomasin	`N DAT N PL`	trespasses	to the missteps	trespasses
`G3900-02`	Colossians 2:13	παραπτώμασιν	paraptomasin	`N DAT N PL`	trespasses	to the missteps	trespasses
`G3900-03`	Colossians 2:13	παραπτώματα	paraptomata	`N ACC N PL`	trespasses	missteps	missteps

← G3899 Greek Lexicon G3901 →