LIBERTY UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF DIVINITY
What is iniquity according to the Bible?
Submitted to Dr. James Sulfridge
in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the completion of
DSMN 500
Discipleship Ministries
By
Anthony Bean
What is iniquity according to the Bible?
The Bible uses words such as , , and to indicate levels of iniquity transgression trespass
disobedience to God. They are all categorized as “sin.” Micah 2:1 says, “Woe to those who plan
iniquity, to those who plot evil on their beds! At morning’s light they carry it out because it is in
their power to do it.” The Hebrew word used most often for “iniquity” means “guilt worthy of
punishment.” Iniquity is sin at its worst. Iniquity is premeditated, continuing, and escalating.
When we flirt with sin, we fall for the lie that we can control it. But like a cute baby monkey can
grow to be a wild, out-of-control primate, sin that seems small and harmless at first can take
control before we know it. When we give ourselves over to a sinful lifestyle, we are committing
iniquity. Sin has become our god rather than the Lord (Romans 6:14).
When we realize we have sinned, we have a choice. We can see it for the evil it is and
repent. When we do, we find the forgiveness and cleansing of God (Jeremiah 33:8; 1 John 1:9).
Or we can harden our hearts and go deeper into that sin until it defines us. Partial lists of
iniquities are given in Galatians 5:19–21 and in 1 Corinthians 6:9–10. These are sins that
become so consuming that a person can be identified by that lifestyle. The psalmists distinguish
between sin and iniquity when they ask God to forgive both (Psalm 32:5; 38:18; 51:2; 85:2).
If we continue to choose sin, our hearts harden toward God. One sin leads to another, and
iniquity begins to define our lives, as it did when David sinned with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11:3–
4). His initial sin of lust resulted in a hardening of his heart, and his sin deepened. He committed
adultery, then had Bathsheba’s husband killed (verses 14–15). Iniquity had taken over David’s
life. It was only when confronted by the prophet Nathan that he repented with great sorrow.
His heartfelt cry for forgiveness is detailed in Psalm 51. Verse 2 says, “Wash away all my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin.” David is a picture of someone who clearly understood the
