Topical Encyclopedia
In biblical terms, the concept of "fault" often refers to a moral or ethical failing, a transgression, or a weakness in character. It is a term that can encompass both minor errors and significant sins, depending on the context in which it is used. The Bible addresses the idea of fault in various ways, emphasizing the importance of recognizing one's own faults, seeking forgiveness, and striving for righteousness.
Old Testament ContextIn the Old Testament, the Hebrew word often translated as "fault" is "pesha," which can mean transgression or rebellion. The concept of fault is closely tied to the idea of sin and disobedience to God's commandments. For example, in
Leviticus 5:5 , the law provides instructions for confessing sins: "If someone incurs guilt in one of these ways, he must confess the sin he has committed."
The Old Testament also emphasizes the communal aspect of fault, where the sins of individuals can affect the entire community. This is evident in the account of Achan in
Joshua 7, where Achan's sin leads to Israel's defeat at Ai, highlighting the serious consequences of individual faults on the collective.
New Testament ContextIn the New Testament, the Greek word "paraptoma" is often used to denote a fault or trespass. The New Testament teachings focus on personal responsibility for one's faults and the need for repentance and forgiveness. In
Matthew 18:15 , Jesus instructs, "If your brother sins against you, go and confront him privately. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over." This passage underscores the importance of addressing faults within the Christian community in a spirit of reconciliation.
The Apostle Paul also addresses the concept of fault in his epistles. In
Galatians 6:1 , he writes, "Brothers, if someone is caught in a trespass, you who are spiritual should restore him with a spirit of gentleness. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted." Here, Paul emphasizes the need for gentle correction and self-awareness when dealing with the faults of others.
Self-Examination and ConfessionThe Bible encourages believers to examine themselves for faults and to confess them. In 1
John 1:9 , it is written, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." This verse highlights the promise of forgiveness and cleansing for those who acknowledge their faults before God.
James 5:16 further instructs, "Therefore confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power to prevail." This passage emphasizes the healing power of confession and prayer within the community of believers.
Avoiding Fault-FindingWhile the Bible encourages self-examination, it also warns against the dangers of fault-finding in others. In
Matthew 7:3-5 , Jesus teaches, "Why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but fail to notice the beam in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ while there is still a beam in your own eye? You hypocrite! First take the beam out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye." This teaching warns against hypocrisy and encourages believers to focus on their own faults before criticizing others.
ConclusionThe biblical concept of fault encompasses both personal and communal aspects of sin and moral failing. The Scriptures call for self-examination, confession, and a spirit of gentleness in addressing the faults of others, while also warning against hypocrisy and undue criticism. Through repentance and forgiveness, believers are encouraged to seek righteousness and restoration in their relationship with God and others.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) Defect; want; lack; default.
2. (n.) Anything that fails, that is wanting, or that impairs excellence; a failing; a defect; a blemish.
3. (n.) A moral failing; a defect or dereliction from duty; a deviation from propriety; an offense less serious than a crime.
4. (n.) A dislocation of the strata of the vein.
5. (n.) In coal seams, coal rendered worthless by impurities in the seam; as, slate fault, dirt fault, etc.
6. (n.) A lost scent; act of losing the scent.
7. (n.) Failure to serve the ball into the proper court.
8. (v. t.) To charge with a fault; to accuse; to find fault with; to blame.
9. (v. t.) To interrupt the continuity of (rock strata) by displacement along a plane of fracture; -- chiefly used in the p. p.; as, the coal beds are badly faulted.
10. (v. i.) To err; to blunder, to commit a fault; to do wrong.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
FAULTfolt (chaTa'; aitia, memphomai): Implies defect, of less moral weight than crime or sin. It is the translation of chaTa', "error," "failure," "sin" (Exodus 5:16); of cheT', same meaning (Genesis 41:9, "I do remember my faults this day"); of `awon, "perversity," "iniquity" (2 Samuel 3:8Psalm 59:4); of rish`ah, "wrongness," "wickedness" (Deuteronomy 25:2, the Revised Version (British and American) "wickedness"); of shechath (Aramaic) "corruption" (Daniel 6:4 twice); me'umah, "anything" (1 Samuel 29:3, "no fault in him," literally, "not anything"); of aitia, "cause," "case," "guilt," (John 18:38;John 19:4, 6; Pilate of Jesus, "I find no fault in him," the Revised Version (British and American) "no crime"; the same word is rendered "accusation," i.e. `legal cause for prosecution,'Matthew 27:37Mark 15:26; compareActs 25:18, 27); of aition, same meaning (Luke 23:4, 14;Luke 23:22, aition thanatou "cause of death"); of hettema, "a worse condition," "defect" (1 Corinthians 6:7, the Revised Version (British and American) "a defect," margin "a loss to you"); of paraptoma, "a falling aside" (Galatians 6:1, "If a man be overtaken in fault," the Revised Version (British and American) "in any trespass," margin "by";James 5:16, "Confess your faults one to another," the Revised Version (British and American) "Confess therefore your sins one to another"); hamartano, "to miss," "err," "sin," is translated "your faults" (1 Peter 2:20 the Revised Version (British and American), "when ye sin"); memphomai, "to blame," is translated "to find fault" (Mark 7:2 omitted the Revised Version (British and American);Romans 9:19Hebrews 8:8); elegcho, "to convict," "to tell one's fault" (Matthew 18:15, the Revised Version (British and American) "show him his fault"); amomos, "without blemish," "spotless," is translated "without fault" (Revelation 14:5, the Revised Version (British and American) "without blemish," "faultless";Jude 1:24, "able to present you faultless," the Revised Version (British and American) "without blemish"); amemptos, "blameless," "without reproach" (Hebrews 8:7, "for if that first covenant had been faultless"). "Faulty" is the translation of 'ashem, "guilty" (2 Samuel 14:13, "as one which is faulty," the Revised Version (British and American) "guilty"); of 'asham, "to be or become guilty" (Hosea 10:2, Revised Version "guilty").
W. L. Walker
Greek
3201. memphomai -- to blame, findfault... to blame, find
fault. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: memphomai Phonetic Spelling:
(mem'-fom-ahee) Short Definition: I blame, censure Definition: I blame
...3469. momaomai -- to findfault with
... to findfault with. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: momaomai Phonetic Spelling:
(mo-mah'-om-ahee) Short Definition: I blame, slander Definition: I blame...
158. aition -- cause,fault.
... 157, 158. aition. 159 . cause,fault.... of aitios, qv. cause,fault. Neuter of
aitios; a reason or crime (like aitia) -- cause,fault. see GREEK aitios....
3437. momphe -- blame
... blame. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: momphe Phonetic Spelling:
(mom-fay') Short Definition: a complaint,fault Definition: a complaint,fault...
4696. spilos -- a spot, stain
... a spot, stain. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: spilos Phonetic
Spelling: (spee'-los) Short Definition: a spot,fault Definition: a spot,fault...
265. hamartema -- a sin
... a sin. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: hamartema Phonetic Spelling:
(ham-ar'-tay-mah) Short Definition: afault, sin, evil deed Definition: afault...
2275. hettema -- loss
... diminishing,fault. From hettao; a deterioration, ie (objectively) failure or
(subjectively) loss -- diminishing,fault. see GREEK hettao....
156. aitia -- cause, reason
... 3), reason (9), relationship (1). accusation, case, cause, crime,fault. From
the same as aiteo; a cause (as if asked for), ie (logical...
1651. elegcho -- to expose, convict, reprove
... Usage convict (2), convicted (2), convicts (1), expose (1), exposed (2), rebuke
(1), refute (1), reprimanded (1), reprove (4), reproved (1), show...fault (1)....
3202. mempsimoiros -- complaining of one's fate
... 3202 (a substantival adjective, derived from 3201 , "blame, findfault," and ,
"an apportioned amount, allotment") -- properly, a complaint over the portion...
Strong's Hebrew
1848. dophi -- a blemish,fault... 1847, 1848. dophi. 1849 . a blemish,
fault. Transliteration: dophi Phonetic
Spelling: (dof'-ee) Short Definition: slander. Word
...3972. meumah -- anything
... Word Origin from the same as mum Definition anything NASB Word Usage any sort (1),
anything (13), anything* (1),fault (1), nothing* (11), something (1), thing...
2398. chata -- to miss, go wrong, sin
... the loss (1), bring sin (1), cleanse (5), cleansed (1), cleansing (1), commit (2),
commits sin (1), committed (21), done wrong (1), errs (1),fault (1), fear...
7844. shechath -- to corrupt
... corrupt,fault. (Aramaic) corresponding to shachath -- corrupt,fault. see HEBREW
shachath. 7843, 7844. shechath. 7845 . Strong's Numbers.
7564. rishah -- wickedness
...fault, wickedness. Feminine of resha'; wrong (especially moral) --fault,
wickedly(-ness). see HEBREW resha'. 7563, 7564. rishah. 7565 . Strong's Numbers.
5771. avon -- iniquity, guilt, punishment for iniquity
... iniquity (3), punishment for their iniquity (3).fault, iniquity, mischief,
punishment of iniquity, sin. Or oavown (2 Kings 7:9; Psalm...
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'....
817. asham -- offense, guilt
... From 'asham; guilt; by implication, afault; also a sin-offering -- guiltiness,
(offering for) sin, trespass (offering). see HEBREW 'asham. 816, 817....
7960. shalu -- neglect, remissness
... error, fail, thing amiss. (Aramaic) or shaluwth (Aramaic) {shaw-looth'}; from the
same as shalah; afault -- error, X fail, thing amiss. see HEBREW shalah....
819. ashmah -- wrongdoing, guiltiness
... Feminine of 'asham; guiltiness, afault, the presentation of a sin-offering -- offend,
sin, (cause of) trespass(-ing, offering). see HEBREW 'asham. 818, 819....
Library
It is not theFault of the Gospel, nor of Christ Offered Therein.....
... Third and Fourth Heads of Doctrine Article 9 It is not thefault of the
gospel, nor of Christ offered therein? It is not thefault...
Whether the Devil was Wicked by theFault of his Own Will in the...
... THE MALICE OF THE ANGELS WITH REGARD TO SIN (NINE ARTICLES) Whether the devil was
wicked by thefault of his own will in the first instant of his creation?...
Whether the Evil ofFault Can be in the Angels?
... THE MALICE OF THE ANGELS WITH REGARD TO SIN (NINE ARTICLES) Whether the
evil offault can be in the angels? Objection 1: It would...
"That is YourFault. "
... "That is YourFault.". I remember a mother coming to me and saying, "It
is easy enough for you to speak in that way; if you had the...
No one Shall FindFault with us for Observing the Fourth Day of...
... Canon XV. No one shall findfault with us for observing the fourth day
of the week? No one shall findfault with us for observing...
Deceived by his OwnFault, He Falls into the Errors of the...
... Chapter VI."Deceived by His OwnFault, He Falls into the Errors of the Manich??ans,
Who Gloried in the True Knowledge of God and in a Thorough Examination of...
That it is noFault of the Divine Goodness if we have not a Most...
... OF DIVINE LOVE. CHAPTER XI. THAT IT IS NOFAULT OF THE DIVINE GOODNESS
IF WE HAVE NOT A MOST EXCELLENT LOVE. O God! Theotimus, if...
That it Arises from OurFault and Our Desert that we Suffer, and...
... Third Book. 47. That it arises from ourfault and our desert that we suffer,
and do not perceive God's help in everything. In Hosea...
Whether Pain Has the Nature of Evil More thanFault Has?
... ON THE DISTINCTION OF GOOD AND EVIL (QQ -49)THE DISTINCTION OF THINGS IN PARTICULAR
(SIX ARTICLES) Whether pain has the nature of evil more thanfault has?...
Whether Evil is Adequately Divided into Pain* andFault?
... ON THE DISTINCTION OF GOOD AND EVIL (QQ -49)THE DISTINCTION OF THINGS IN PARTICULAR
(SIX ARTICLES) Whether evil is adequately divided into pain* andfault?...
Thesaurus
Fault (42 Occurrences)... 4. (n.) A dislocation of the strata of the vein. 5. (n.) In coal seams, coal rendered
worthless by impurities in the seam; as, slate
fault, dirt
fault, etc.
...Fault-finding (1 Occurrence)
Fault-finding. Faultfinding,Fault-finding. Faultless . Noah Webster's Dictionary
(n.) The act of findingfault or blaming; -- used derogatively....
Excuse (13 Occurrences)
... 1. (vt) To free from accusation, or the imputation offault or blame; to clear from
guilt; to release from a charge; to justify by extenuating afault; to...
Lapse (9 Occurrences)
... to figurative uses. 2. (n.) A slip; an error; afault; a failing in duty;
a slight deviation from truth or rectitude. 3. (n.) The...
Blame (14 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vt) To censure; to express disapprobation of; to find
fault with; to reproach. 2. (vt) To bring reproach upon; to blemish....
Faultless (10 Occurrences)
... (a.) Withoutfault; not defective or imperfect; free from blemish; free from
incorrectness, vice, or offense; perfect; as, a faultless poem....
Geology
... underlaid by the Nubian Sandstone. A striking feature of the geology of
Palestine is the Jordan valleyfault. At some time, probably...
Vice (2 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) A defect; afault; an error; a blemish; an
imperfection; as, the vices of a political constitution; the vices of a horse....
Negligence (2 Occurrences)
... 6:4 Then the presidents and the satraps sought to find occasion against Daniel as
touching the kingdom; but they could find no occasion norfault, because he...
Negligent (7 Occurrences)
... 6:4 Then the presidents and the satraps sought to find occasion against Daniel as
touching the kingdom; but they could find no occasion norfault, because he...
Resources
Does God make mistakes? | GotQuestions.orgIs it wrong to blame God? Is blaming God a sin? | GotQuestions.orgHow can I learn to stop blaming others for my problems? | GotQuestions.orgFault: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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