TRESPASS. An overstepping of the boundaries, thus an unfaithful or treacherous act, one which incurs guilt.

While several Gr. and Heb. words are tr. “tresspass” in the Eng. Bible, the two most common are מָעַל, H5085, to act unfaithfully or treacherously, and παράπτωμα, G4183, to fall beside, a false step, transgression, sin.

These words are used to connote the breaking of a trust. Two persons have entered into an agreement and one of them breaks it. Most commonly, it is man’s faithlessness to his covenant with God which is in view, but there are also references which deal with man’s treachery to man.

Bibliography G. Friedrich (ed.), Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (1968), VI, 170-172; R. Girdlestone, Synonyms of the Old Testament (1970), 82.