Topical Encyclopedia
In the context of the Bible, the term "miss" can be understood in various ways, often relating to the concept of sin, error, or failure to achieve a desired goal or standard. The idea of "missing the mark" is central to the biblical understanding of sin, which is derived from the Hebrew word "chata" and the Greek word "hamartia," both of which convey the notion of failing to hit a target or deviating from the correct path.
Sin as Missing the MarkThe concept of sin as "missing the mark" is foundational in Scripture. In
Romans 3:23, the Apostle Paul writes, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" . This verse encapsulates the idea that all humans have failed to meet God's perfect standard, thus "missing the mark" of His holiness and righteousness.
Old Testament ContextIn the Old Testament, the idea of missing the mark is often associated with disobedience to God's commandments. For example, in
Judges 20:16, the term is used in a literal sense to describe the Benjamite soldiers who "could sling a stone at a hair and not miss" . This imagery highlights precision and accuracy, contrasting with the spiritual failure to live according to God's laws.
New Testament ContextIn the New Testament, the Greek word "hamartia" is frequently used to describe sin. In 1
John 3:4, it is written, "Everyone who practices sin practices lawlessness as well. Indeed, sin is lawlessness" . Here, sin is depicted as a deviation from God's law, reinforcing the idea of missing the intended path of righteousness.
Repentance and RedemptionThe Bible offers a path to redemption for those who have "missed the mark." Repentance is a key theme, as seen in
Acts 3:19: "Repent, then, and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped away" . Through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ, believers are offered forgiveness and the opportunity to realign with God's will.
Practical ImplicationsUnderstanding sin as "missing the mark" has practical implications for believers. It calls for self-examination and a continual striving towards holiness. As Paul exhorts in
Philippians 3:14, "I press on toward the goal to win the prize of God’s heavenly calling in Christ Jesus" . This pursuit of spiritual growth and alignment with God's purposes is central to the Christian life.
ConclusionWhile the Bible does not explicitly use the term "miss" in a spiritual sense, the underlying concept is deeply embedded in the scriptural narrative of sin and redemption. Through the grace of God and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, believers are empowered to overcome their failures and strive towards the divine standard set before them.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) A title of courtesy prefixed to the name of a girl or a woman who has not been married. See Mistress.
2. (n.) A young unmarried woman or a girl; as, she is a miss of sixteen.
3. (n.) A kept mistress. See Mistress.
4. (n.) In the game of three-card loo, an extra hand, dealt on the table, which may be substituted for the hand dealt to a player.
5. (v. t.) To fail of hitting, reaching, getting, finding, seeing, hearing, etc.; as, to miss the mark one shoots at; to miss the train by being late; to miss opportunities of getting knowledge; to miss the point or meaning of something said.
6. (v. t.) To omit; to fail to have or to do; to get without; to dispense with; -- now seldom applied to persons.
7. (v. t.) To discover the absence or omission of; to feel the want of; to mourn the loss of; to want.
8. (v. i.) To fail to hit; to fly wide; to deviate from the true direction.
9. (v. i.) To fail to obtain, learn, or find; -- with of.
10. (v. i.) To go wrong; to err.
11. (v. i.) To be absent, deficient, or wanting.
12. (n.) The act of missing; failure to hit, reach, find, obtain, etc.
13. (n.) Loss; want; felt absence.
14. (n.) Mistake; error; fault.
15. (n.) Harm from mistake.
Greek
795. astocheo -- tomiss the mark... to
miss the mark. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: astocheo Phonetic Spelling:
(as-tokh-eh'-o) Short Definition: I
miss the mark,
miss my aim, make a false
...264. hamartano -- tomiss the mark, do wrong, sin
... tomiss the mark, do wrong, sin. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: hamartano
Phonetic Spelling: (ham-ar-tan'-o) Short Definition: I sin Definition...
1731. endeiknumi -- to indicate (by word or act), to prove
... The prefix 1722 () adds the dimension of "abiding " making the "showing
forth" on "" for all to see, ie so "no one couldmiss it."....
1793. entugchano -- to chance upon, by impl. confer with, by ext....
... Accordingly, it is used in classical Greek as the of ("tomiss the mark, sin"),
so Lucian, Xenophon, Homer, etc. (see Thayer, 5177 ).]....
2396. ide -- see! behold!
... Look!. 2396 (the aorist of 1492 , "to know, see") -- properly, a Greek imperative
meaning "!" -- literally, "Be sure . . ie "Don'tmiss this!...
1783. enteuxis -- a petition, ie spec. supplication
... Accordingly, it is used in classical Greek as the of ("tomiss the mark,
sin"), so Lucian, Xenophon, Homer, etc. (see Thayer, 5177 )....
3901. pararreo -- to flow by, hence slip away
... drift away. From para and the alternate of rheo; to flow by, ie (figuratively)
carelessly pass (miss) -- let slip. see GREEK para. see GREEK rheo....
Strong's Hebrew
2398. chata -- tomiss, go wrong, sin... 2397, 2398. chata. 2399 . to
miss, go wrong, sin. Transliteration: chata Phonetic
Spelling: (khaw-taw') Short Definition: sinned. Word Origin a prim.
...6485. paqad -- to attend to, visit, muster, appoint
... 1), examine (1), foremen (1), gave (1), had the oversight (1), lack (1), longed
(1), look (1), made him overseer (2), made them overseers (1),miss (2), missed...
5737. adar -- to help
... A primitive root; to arrange, as a battle, a vineyard (to hoe); hence, to muster
and so tomiss (or find wanting) -- dig, fail, keep (rank), lack....
Library
ToMiss Mitford: Authoress of 'Our Village'
... TOMISS MITFORD: AUTHORESS OF 'OUR VILLAGE'. The single eye, the daughter
of the light; Well pleased to recognise in lowliest shade...
M.Miss Bremer. Suffering and Action.
... VII. THE CHRISTIAN LIFE. 320. 8 & 7s. M.Miss Bremer. Suffering and Action. 1 Cheek
grow pale, but heart be vigorous! Body fall, but soul have peace!...
CMMiss Fletcher. Kindly Judgment.
... VI. THE CHRISTIAN CHARACTER. 284. CMMiss Fletcher. Kindly Judgment. 1 Think
gently of the erring one! O, let us not forget, However...
LMMiss Bremer. Thirst for Living Waters.
... VI. THE CHRISTIAN CHARACTER. 236. LMMiss Bremer. Thirst for Living Waters.
1 I thirst!"O, grant the waters pure Which they who...
1872 the Need of a Home Further West --Burning of the Marchmont...
... The need of a Home further West"Burning of the Marchmont Home"Home restored by Canadian
gifts"Miss Macpherson andMiss Reavell arrive in Canada"First...
1877-1879. "They Helped Every one his Neighbour" --Miss Child, a...
... CHAPTER VII 1877-1879. "They helped every one his neighbour""Miss Child, a
fellow-labourer "The work in Ratcliff Highway"Strangers' Rest for Sailors...
Teaching in Canandaigua
... TEACHING IN CANANDAIGUA. In the spring of 1859 began an acquaintance with
one who was ever after one ofMiss Swain's dearest friends....
History of the Mt. Byrd Church. When Established. Where. Charter...
... The following were the charter members: James Lindsey, Hatty Ann Lindsey, William
Maddox, Elizabeth Maddox, David Floyd, John B. Floyd,Miss Mary A. Trout...
A New Venture
... post.Miss Jacobsen, an idealist, strong, capable, and critical, gave herself
whole-heartedly to the work for which she had come....
The Next Morning Diamond was up Almost as Early as Before. ...
... The gentleman was Mr. Evans, to whomMiss Coleman was to have been married,
and Diamond had seen him several times with her in the garden....
Thesaurus
Miss (7 Occurrences)... married. See Mistress. 2. (n.) A young unmarried woman or a girl; as, she
is a
miss of sixteen. 3. (n.) A kept mistress. See Mistress.
...Err (41 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vi) To wander; to roam; to stray. 2. (vi) To
deviate from the true course; tomiss the thing aimed at....
Lose (59 Occurrences)
... of instruction. 4. (vt) To wander from; tomiss, so as not to be able to
and; to go astray from; as, to lose one's way. 5. (vt) To...
Lefthanded (2 Occurrences)
... The other instance is that of the 700 selected Benjamites, who, though lefthanded,
"could sling stones at a hair-breadth, and notmiss" (Judges 20:16; of 1...
Forgo (1 Occurrence)
... for-go' (from for, negative, and go): Occurs in Ecclesiasticus 7:19, as translation
of astocheo, which means "tomiss the mark," "turn or swerve from." "Forgo...
Fail (130 Occurrences)
... 6. (vi) To be found wanting with respect to an action or a duty to be performed,
a result to be secured, etc.; tomiss; not to fulfill expectation....
Sling (11 Occurrences)
... There were 700 Benjamites who were so skilled in its use that with the left hand
they "could sling stones at a hair breadth, and notmiss" (Judges 20:16; 1...
Offend (24 Occurrences)
... the offense against," the Revised Version (British and American) "a trespass (margin
"or guilt") against Yahweh"; we have also chaTa', "tomiss the mark," "to...
Offence (27 Occurrences)
... the offense against," the Revised Version (British and American) "a trespass (margin
"or guilt") against Yahweh"; we have also chaTa', "tomiss the mark," "to...
Missed (13 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) ofMiss. Multi-Version Concordance
Missed (13 Occurrences). 1 Timothy 1:6 from which things...
Resources
What are appropriate reasons for missing church? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is Hamartiology? | GotQuestions.orgWho are the dead in Christ in 1 Thessalonians 4:16? | GotQuestions.orgMiss: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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