Bible Dictionary: Offence

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ATS Bible Dictionary

Offence

This word answers to two different terms in the original, the one signifying a breach of the law, Romans 5:15,17, the other a stumbling-block or cause of sin to others, Matthew 5:29; 18:6-9; or whatever is perverted into an occasion or excuse for sin, Matthew 15:12; John 6:61; Romans 9:33; Galatians 5:11.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

(1.) An injury or wrong done to one (1 Samuel 25:31; Romans 5:15).

(2.) A stumbling-block or cause of temptation (Isaiah 8:14; Matthew 16:23; 18:7). Greek skandalon, properly that at which one stumbles or takes offence. The "offence of the cross" (Galatians 5:11) is the offence the Jews took at the teaching that salvation was by the crucified One, and by him alone. Salvation by the cross was a stumbling-block to their national pride.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (n.) See Offense.

2. (n.) The act of offending in any sense; esp., a crime or a sin, an affront or an injury.

3. (n.) The state of being offended or displeased; anger; displeasure.

4. (n.) A cause or occasion of stumbling or of sin.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

OFFENCE; OFFEND

o-fens', o-fend' (mikhshol, 'asham, chaTa'; skandalon, skandalizo): "Offend" is either transitive or intransitive As transitive it is primarily "to strike against," hence, "to displease" "to make angry," "to do harm to," "to affront," in Scripture, "to cause to sin"; intransitive it is "to sin," "to cause anger," in Scripture, "to be caused to sin." "Offence" is either the cause of anger, displeasure, etc., or a sin. In Scripture we have the special significance of a stumbling-block, or cause of falling, sin, etc.

1. Old Testament Usage:

In the Old Testament it is frequently the translation of 'asham, "to be guilty," "to transgress": Jeremiah 2:3, the Revised Version (British and American) "shall be held guilty"; 50:7, the Revised Version (British and American) "not guilty"; Ezekiel 25:12, "hath greatly offended"; Hosea 4:15, the Revised Version margin "become guilty"; 5:15, "till they acknowledge their offense," the Revised Version margin "have borne their guilt"; 13:1, "He offended in Baal," the Revised Version margin "became guilty"; Habakkuk 1:11, "He shall pass over, and offend, (imputing) this his power unto his god," the Revised Version (British and American) "Then shall he sweep by (as) a wind, and shall pass over (margin "transgress"), and be guilty, (even) he whose might is his god."

In 2 Chronicles 28:13, we have 'ashmath `al, literally, "the offense against," the Revised Version (British and American) "a trespass (margin "or guilt") against Yahweh"; we have also chaTa', "to miss the mark," "to sin," "to err" (Genesis 20:9, the Revised Version (British and American) "sinned against thee"; 40:1, "offended their lord"; 2 Kings 18:14 Jeremiah 37:18, the Revised Version (British and American) "sinned against thee"); baghadh, "to deal treacherously" (Psalm 73:15, "offend against the generation of thy children," the Revised Version (British and American) "dealt treacherously with"); chabhal, "to act wickedly" (Job 34:31); mikhshol, "a stumbling block" (Leviticus 19:14; translated in Isaiah 8:14, "a rock of offense"; compare Ezekiel 14:3; 1 Samuel 25:31; Psalm 119:165, "nothing shall offend," the Revised Version (British and American) "no occasion of stumbling"; compare Isaiah 57:14 Jeremiah 6:21, etc.); pasha`, "to be fractious," "to transgress" (Proverbs 18:19, "a brother offended," the Revised Version margin "injured"). "Offence" is mikhshol (see above, 1 Samuel 25:31 Isaiah 8:14); cheT', "sin," etc. (Ecclesiastes 10:4, "Yielding pacifleth great offenses," the American Standard Revised Version "Gentleness (the English Revised Version "yielding") allayeth," the American Revised Version margin "Calmness (the English Revised Version "gentleness") leaveth great sins undone"). "Offender" is chaTTa' (1 Kings 1:21, margin "Hebrew: sinners"; Isaiah 29:21, "that make a man an offender for a word," the American Standard Revised Version "that make a man an offender in his cause," margin "make men to offend by (their) words," or, "for a word," the English Revised Version "in a cause," margin "make men to offend by (their) words").

2. New Testament Usage:

The New Testament usage of these words deserves special attention. The word most frequently translated "offend" in the King James Version is skandalizo (skandalon, "offence"), very frequent in the Gospels (Matthew 5:29, "if thy right eye offend thee"; 5:30; 11:06; 18:6, "whoso shall offend one of these little ones"; 13:41, "all things that offend"; Luke 17:1, "It is impossible but that offenses will come," etc.; Romans 14:21; 16:17, "Mark them which cause.... offenses"; 1 Corinthians 8:13 twice, "if meat make my brother to offend," etc.). Skandalon is primarily "a trap-stick," "a bentstick on which the bait is fastened which the animal strikes against and so springs the trap," hence, it came to denote a "snare," or anything which one strikes against injuriously (it is Septuagint's word for moqesh, a "noose" or "snare," Joshua 23:13 1 Samuel 18:21); "a stumbling-block" Septuagint for mikhshol (see above), Leviticus 19:14). For skandalizo, skandalon, translated in the King James Version, "offend," "offence," the Revised Version (British and American) gives "cause to stumble," "stumbling-block," etc.; thus, Matthew 5:29, "if thy right eye causeth thee to stumble," i.e. "is an occasion for thy falling into sin"; Matthew 16:23, "Thou art a stumbling-block unto me," an occasion of turning aside from the right path; in Matthew 26:31, 33 twice, "offended" is retained, margin, 26:33 twice, "Greek: caused to stumble" (same word in 26:31); Mark 9:42, "whosoever shall cause one of these little ones that believe on me to stumble," to fall away from the faith, or fall into sin; Luke 17:1, "It is impossible but that occasions of stumbling should come; but woe unto him, through whom they come"; in Romans 14:21; Romans 16:17; in 1 Corinthians 8, Paul's language has the same meaning, and we see how truly he had laid to heart the Saviour's earnest admonitions-"weak brethren" with him answering to the master's "little ones who believe"; Romans 14:21, "It is good not to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor to do anything whereby thy brother stumbleth," i.e. "is led by your example to do that which he cannot do with a good conscience"; 14:20, "It is evil for that man who eateth with offense (dia proskommatos)," so as to place a stumbling-block before his brother, or, rather, `without the confidence that he is doing right'; compare 14:23, "He that doubteth is condemned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith; and whatsoever is not of faith is sin"; so 1 Corinthians 8:13 Romans 16:17, "Mark them that are causing the divisions and occasions of stumbling, contrary to the doctrine, (margin "teaching") which ye learned" (Is not the "teaching" of Christ Himself implied here?). Everything that would embolden another to do that which would be wrong for him, or that would turn anyone away from the faith, must be carefully avoided, seeking to please, not ourselves, but to care for our brother, "for whom Christ died," "giving no occasion of stumbling (proskope) in anything" (2 Corinthians 6:3).

Aproskopos, "not causing to stumble," is translated "void of offense" (Acts 24:16, "a conscience void of offense"; 1 Corinthians 10:32, the Revised Version (British and American) "occasion of stumbling"; Philippians 1:10, "void of offense"); hamartano, "to miss the mark," "to sin," "to err," is translated "offended" (Acts 25:8, the Revised Version (British and American) "sinned"); hamartia, "sin," "error" (2 Corinthians 11:7, the Revised Version (British and American) "Did I commit a sin?"); ptaio, "to stumble," "fall" (James 2:10; James 3:2 twice, "offend," the Revised Version (British and American) "stumble," "stumbleth"); paraptoma, "a falling aside or away," is translated "offence" (Romans 4:25; Romans 5:15, 16, 17, 18, 20, in each case the Revised Version (British and American) "trespass"); adikeo, "to be unrighteous" (Acts 25:11, the Revised Version (British and American) "wrongdoer," the King James Version "offender").

In the Apocrypha we have "offence" (skandalon, Judith 12:2), the Revised Version (British and American) "I will not eat thereof, lest there be an occasion of stumbling"; "offend" (hamartano, Ecclesiasticus 7:7), the Revised Version (British and American) "sin"; "greatly offended" (prosochthizo, Ecclesiasticus 25:2); "offended" (skandalizo, Ecclesiasticus 32:15), the Revised Version (British and American) "stumble."

W. L Walker

Greek

677. aproskopos -- not causing to stumble, not stumbling
... of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: aproskopos Phonetic Spelling: (ap-ros'-kop-
os) Short Definition: not offending, not causing offence, blameless Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/677.htm - 6k

51. agnoema -- a sin of ignorance
... a sin of ignorance. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: agnoema Phonetic
Spelling: (ag-no'-ay-mah) Short Definition: an offence committed through ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/51.htm - 6k

4348. proskomma -- a stumbling, an occasion of stumbling
... offense, stumbling block. From proskopto; a stub, ie (figuratively) occasion of
apostasy -- offence, stumbling(-block, (-stone)). see GREEK proskopto. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4348.htm - 6k

4625. skandalon -- a stick for bait (of a trap), generally a snare ...
... derivative of kampto; a trap-stick (bent sapling), ie Snare (figuratively, cause
of displeasure or sin) -- occasion to fall (of stumbling), offence, thing that ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4625.htm - 8k

266. hamartia -- a sin, failure
... offense, sin, sinful. From hamartano; a sin (properly abstract) -- offence,
sin(-ful). see GREEK hamartano. (amartia) -- 35 Occurrences. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/266.htm - 7k

2723. kategoreo -- to make accusation
... accuse, object. From kategoros; to be a plaintiff, ie To charge with some offence --
accuse, object. see GREEK kategoros. (kategorein) -- 6 Occurrences. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2723.htm - 7k

1462. egklema -- an accusation
... an accusation, charge. From egkaleo; an accusation, ie Offence alleged -- crime
laid against, laid to charge. see GREEK egkaleo. (enklema) -- 1 Occurrence. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1462.htm - 6k

4349. proskope -- an occasion of stumbling
... offense. From proskopto; a stumbling, ie (figuratively and concretely) occasion
of sin -- offence. see GREEK proskopto. (proskopen) -- 1 Occurrence. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4349.htm - 6k

3900. paraptoma -- a false step, a trespass
... From parapipto; a side-slip (lapse or deviation), ie (unintentional) error or
(wilful) transgression -- fall, fault, offence, sin, trespass. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3900.htm - 7k

Strong's Hebrew

4383. mikshol -- a stumbling, means or occasion of stumbling, a ...
... stumbling blocks (1), troubled (1). caused to fall, offence, nothing offered,
ruin, stumbling-block. Or mikshol {mik-shole'}; masculine ...
/hebrew/4383.htm - 6k

2399. chet -- a sin
... fault, grievously, offence, punishment of sin. From chata'; a crime or its penalty --
fault, X grievously, offence, (punishment of) sin. see HEBREW chata'. ...
/hebrew/2399.htm - 6k

816. asham -- to offend, be guilty
... to be punished or perish -- X certainly, be(-come, made) desolate, destroy, X greatly,
be(-come, found, hold) guilty, offend (acknowledge offence), trespass. ...
/hebrew/816.htm - 6k

2408. chatay -- a sin
... sin. (Aramaic) from a root corresponding to chata'; an offence -- sin. see HEBREW
chata'. 2407, 2408. chatay. 2409 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/2408.htm - 6k

2403. chatta'ah -- sinful thing, sin
... Or chattacth {khat-tawth'}; from chata'; an offence (sometimes habitual sinfulness),
and its penalty, occasion, sacrifice, or expiation; also (concretely) an ...
/hebrew/2403.htm - 5k

2402. chattaah -- sin offering
... sin offering (Aramaic) corresponding to chata'ah; an offence, and the penalty or
sacrifice for it -- sin (offering). see HEBREW chata'ah. 2401, 2402. ...
/hebrew/2402.htm - 5k

2401. chataah -- sin, sin offering
... sin offering. Feminine of chet'; an offence, or a sacrifice for it -- sin (offering).
see HEBREW chet'. 2400, 2401. chataah. 2402 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/2401.htm - 6k

Library

The Offence of the Pharisees.
... Book XI. 13. The Offence of the Pharisees. And as in many cases we have
to consider the astonishment of the Jews at the words of ...
/.../origen/origens commentary on the gospel of matthew/13 the offence of the.htm

On Avoiding Offence.
... Book IV. Chapter XV."On Avoiding Offence. "We know that we all have knowledge""common
knowledge in common things, and the knowledge that there is one God. ...
/.../clement/the stromata or miscellanies/chapter xv on avoiding offence.htm

The Great Offence in the Christians Lies in their Very Name. The ...
... Book I. Chapter III. "The Great Offence in the Christians Lies in Their Very
Name. ... What crime, what offence, what fault is there in a name? ...
/.../tertullian/ad nationes/chapter iii name great offence.htm

Christ Crucified is an Offence and Foolishness to those who ...
... Book VI. Chapter XII. Christ crucified is an offence and foolishness to
those who declare that He was a mere man. The shock then ...
/.../cassian/the seven books of john cassian /chapter xii christ crucified is.htm

Offence to be Avoided.
... A Treatise on the gift of perseverance, Chapter 59."Offence to Be Avoided.
Neither is what follows by any means to be said,"that ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 59 offence to be avoided.htm

We Give Offence by Proclaiming that There is one God...
... Chapter II. We give offence by proclaiming that there is one God� We give
offence by proclaiming that there is one God, to whom ...
/.../tertullian/the souls testimony/chapter ii we give offence.htm

Rules for visits, Exorcisms, and How People are to Assist the Sick ...
... Apostle. Chapter XII."Rules for Visits, Exorcisms, and How People are to
Assist the Sick, and to Walk in All Things Without Offence. ...
/.../two epistles concerning virginity/chapter xii rules for visits exorcisms.htm

The Answer that Scripture Truth is not to be Altered on Account of ...
... The Conferences of John Cassian. Chapter XVI. The answer that Scripture truth
is not to be altered on account of an offence given to the weak. ...
/.../cassian/the conferences of john cassian/chapter xvi the answer that.htm

No Possible Time or Place for the Alleged Offence.
... Chapter II. 5. No possible time or place for the alleged offence. Now what
place and time does my accuser specify, at which I made ...
/.../athanasius/select works and letters or athanasius/5 no possible time or.htm

How Predestination must be Preached So as not to Give Offence.
... A Treatise on the gift of perseverance, Chapter 57 [XXII.]"How
Predestination Must Be Preached So as Not to Give Offence. And ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 57 xxii how predestination must.htm

Thesaurus

Offence (27 Occurrences)
... (2.) A stumbling-block or cause of temptation (Isaiah 8:14; Matthew 16:23; 18:7).
Greek skandalon, properly that at which one stumbles or takes offence. ...
/o/offence.htm - 25k

Offend (24 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. OFFENCE; OFFEND. ... "Offence" is mikhshol
(see above, 1 Samuel 25:31 Isaiah 8:14); cheT', "sin," etc. ...
/o/offend.htm - 23k

Favour (171 Occurrences)
... (DBY YLT). Acts 25:11 If, however, I have done wrong and have committed any offence
for which I deserve to die, I do not ask to be excused that penalty. ...
/f/favour.htm - 37k

Stumblingstone (2 Occurrences)
... the Revised Version (British and American) generally substitutes "stumbling" for
"offence" of the King James Version. ... See also OFFENCE. George Rice Hovey. ...
/s/stumblingstone.htm - 9k

Stumbling-stone (3 Occurrences)
... the Revised Version (British and American) generally substitutes "stumbling" for
"offence" of the King James Version. ... See also OFFENCE. George Rice Hovey. ...
/s/stumbling-stone.htm - 9k

Stumbling-block (20 Occurrences)
... the Revised Version (British and American) generally substitutes "stumbling" for
"offence" of the King James Version. ... See also OFFENCE. George Rice Hovey. ...
/s/stumbling-block.htm - 15k

Deserve (40 Occurrences)
... Acts 25:11 If, however, I have done wrong and have committed any offence for which
I deserve to die, I do not ask to be excused that penalty. ...
/d/deserve.htm - 18k

Abihu (12 Occurrences)
... censers filled with "strange" (ie, common) fire, ie, not with fire taken from the
great brazen altar (Leviticus 6:9, etc.), and for this offence they were ...
/a/abihu.htm - 12k

Abounded (6 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS NAS). Romans 5:15 But not as the offence, so also is
the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be ...
/a/abounded.htm - 8k

Stumblingblock (14 Occurrences)
... the Revised Version (British and American) generally substitutes "stumbling" for
"offence" of the King James Version. ... See also OFFENCE. George Rice Hovey. ...
/s/stumblingblock.htm - 13k

Bible Concordance

Offence (27 Occurrences)

Matthew 16:23 But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.
(KJV DBY)

Matthew 17:27 But that we may not be an offence to them, go to the sea and cast a hook, and take the first fish that comes up, and when thou hast opened its mouth thou wilt find a stater; take that and give it to them for me and thee.
(DBY)

Matthew 18:7 Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!
(Root in KJV DBY)

Acts 13:28 Without having found Him guilty of any capital offence they urged Pilate to have Him put to death;
(WEY)

Acts 24:16 And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void to offence toward God, and toward men.
(KJV ASV DBY YLT)

Acts 25:8 But, in reply, Paul said, "Neither against the Jewish Law, nor against the Temple, nor against Caesar, have I committed any offence whatever."
(WEY)

Acts 25:11 If, however, I have done wrong and have committed any offence for which I deserve to die, I do not ask to be excused that penalty. But if there is no truth in what these men allege against me, no one has the right to give me up to them as a favour. I appeal to Caesar."
(WEY)

Acts 28:18 They, after they had sharply questioned me, were willing to set me at liberty, because they found no offence in me for which I deserve to die.
(WEY)

Romans 5:15 But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.
(KJV DBY YLT)

Romans 5:17 For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)
(KJV DBY YLT)

Romans 5:18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.
(KJV DBY YLT)

Romans 5:20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:
(KJV DBY YLT)

Romans 9:33 As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
(KJV ASV DBY YLT)

Romans 14:13 no longer, therefore, may we judge one another, but this judge ye rather, not to put a stumbling-stone before the brother, or an offence.
(YLT)

Romans 14:20 For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence.
(KJV ASV)

1 Corinthians 1:23 but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews an offence, and to nations foolishness;
(DBY)

1 Corinthians 10:32 Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:
(KJV YLT)

2 Corinthians 2:10 When you forgive a man an offence I also forgive it; for in fact what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has always been for your sakes in the presence of Christ,
(WEY)

2 Corinthians 6:3 Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:
(KJV DBY YLT)

2 Corinthians 11:7 Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely?
(KJV)

Galatians 5:11 And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased.
(KJV)

Philippians 1:10 That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ.
(KJV ASV DBY YLT)

1 Peter 2:8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.
(KJV ASV DBY YLT)

Deuteronomy 19:16 If an unrighteous witness rise up against any man to testify against him of an offence;
(DBY)

1 Samuel 25:31 that this shall be no grief unto thee, nor offence of heart unto my lord, either that thou hast shed blood without cause, or that my lord hath avenged himself. And when Jehovah shall have dealt well with my lord, then remember thy handmaid.
(See JPS ASV DBY YLT)

Isaiah 8:14 And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY)

Hosea 5:15 I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early.
(KJV ASV)

Subtopics

Offence

Offense: Aaron

Offense: All Things That Cause, Shall be Gathered out of Christ's

Offense: Balaam

Offense: Blessedness of not Taking, at Christ

Offense: Denunciation Against Those Who Cause

Offense: Gideon

Offense: Jeroboam

Offense: Ministers should be Cautious of Giving

Offense: Ministers should Remove That Which Causes

Offense: Occasions of, Forbidden