difference between sin and iniquity

isaiah 59:2 but your iniquities have separated you from God ; your sins have hidden his face from you so that he will not hear.is there a difference between SIN and INIQUITY?thanks- dennis

is there a difference between SIN and INIQUITY?No. Isaiah 59:2 is written in Hebrew poetry so Isaiah is basically saying the same thing twice in different ways in order to make a point.

denem7,This is one example of the Scriptures giving a double definition of the same idea with two harmonizing Hebrew/Greek words translating into two harmonizing English words. Here is an excerpt from a book that shows many other cases of the same thing (built-in Bible dictionary):http://www.avpublications.com/3_catalogue/lob/chap_1.pdfI'll go ahead and include this, as I'm sure someome will argue this as a counterpoint if I don't bring it up. Here are the two words and their definitions from Strong's:iniquities-'avon1 perversity, depravity, iniquity, guilt or punishment of iniquity a iniquity b guilt of iniquity, guilt (as great), guilt (of condition) c consequence of or punishment for iniquity sin-hattx1 sin, sinful 2 sin, sin offering 3 sin 4 condition of sin, guilt of sin 5 punishment for sin 6 sin-offering 7 purification from sins of ceremonial uncleannessIn other words, like Hulsey said, they mean the same thing.

Interesting that this should come up just now. Yesterday I was arrested by my KJV rendering of “Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.”(Ex. 34:7, KJVS)1. iniquity2. transgression3. sinWhat do you make of that? This doesn't sound like a parallelism.

I'm eager to learn if there truly is a difference. If you know something I don't, and it is from God, I want to know. What is the difference between these three? What makes sin different from iniquity, iniquity different from transgression, etc? What is the meaning of each?

“Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.”I see it as 3 difrent aspects of the whole fallen nature of man.1. iniquity = Perversion.Gross immorality or injustice; wickedness. 2. transgression = Rebelion.A violation of a law, command, or duty:The exceeding of due bounds or limits.3. sin = Missing the mark.Insufficient to satisfy a requirement or meet a need resulting from such inadequacy.What do you think?

After reading through the responses... it makes since that iniquities is a perversion. Becuase it marked the separation of God, which comes from not being pure. And sin marked the continuance of the people to not come back to the Lord for repentence and adhere to the laws which he had given them. I think essentially each three mean the same thing... a disobedience to God, but each is detailed and has its own unique flavor.

Brothers,Where do you find the difference of the three in Scripture?1 John 3:4 "...sin is the transgression of the law."Is it arguable then, as it seems clear to me that sin is the same as transgression.However, after browsing through Scriptures on iniquity, it seems that iniquity may be the corruption, or the effect of sin on the soul.Psalm 32:5 "thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin."Ezekial 18:30 "Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin."How about we all meet halfway. Is it safe to say when you do one, you are guilty of all three? That when we trangress the law, we sin, and then bear the burden of iniquity?Lev 5:1 (and 17) "And if a soul sin...then he shall bear his iniquity"Lev 7:18 "the soul that eateth of it shall bear his iniquity"There are many cases of "bearing iniquity."Ex 20:5 "visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me"In others words, the effects of your sin (iniquity) has lead to the sin (trangression of the law) of your children.