Iniquity
Culture & SocietyWhat is the meaning of Iniquity in the Bible?
Iniquity refers to moral distortion, error, or deviation from the right path, with three meanings that almost imperceptibly pass into each other: iniquity, guilt of iniquity, and punishment of iniquity.
SIGNIFICANCE
Understanding iniquity clarifies the biblical framework where moral deviation inherently carries both the weight of guilt and the inevitability of divine retribution.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
Ancient Cultural Lens: Avoid applying 21st-century Western assumptions to Iniquity. Examine how first-century or Near Eastern listeners understood this practice within their daily social dynamics.
Bible Study Reflection Prompts:
- Why did the biblical author mention Iniquity in this passage?
- What cultural or historical assumption does Iniquity clarify?
Source Attribution
Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and shortened for clarity.
How to Cite This Entry
"Iniquity." Ancient Context Dictionary. Accessed 2026. https://ancientcontext.com/context/iniquity/