Sins of the Old Testament

Sins of the Old Covenant

We could call this the “sins of the Old Covenant” since “testament” literally means “covenant.” Be that as it may, we know that the Old Testament is filled with a listing of sins, from Genesis to Malachi. Although this may not be as thorough as the New Testament, it seems wise to have this present section.

We must remember that the “Old Testament” is about three (3) times the size of the “New Testament.” Look at your own Bible and see this difference. If you have a Hebrew Bible, you must see the difference from your own studies. From all that the New Testament says regarding the sins mentioned in the Old Testament, it is important that we notice this.

Although we are not directly responsible or under the Old Covenant, still it is God’s Word and we are responsible to read and learn of this portion of Scripture. It is true that “all” Scripture is inspired of God and is profitable” (2 Timothy 3:15-18). “Men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God” (2 Peter 1:20-21).

As Paul the apostle wrote, “Whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope” (Romans 15:4). Keep in mind that this section that follows is an abbreviated list since we are under the Word of God found in the New Covenant writings (see Matthew 5:17-20; Ephesians 3:14-16; Hebrews 9:21ff). Notice, now some of the sins of the Old Covenant writings. This is inspired of God and is “profitable” for our learning.

Sins of the Old Testament

Abomination—Jeremiah 44:4; 7:10; Deuteronomy 25:16; Proverbs 6:16-19

Adding words to God—Proverbs 30:5-6

Adultery—Exodus 20:14; Leviticus 20:10; Deuteronomy 5:18; 22:22; Proverbs 2:16-17; 5:3-23; 6:25-35; 7:5, 6-27; 30:20

Afflicting a widow or orphan—Exodus 22:21-24

Aged—Leviticus 19:32

Anger—Proverbs 12:16; 14:29; 15:1; 16:32; 29:22

Animals (eating)–Deuteronomy 14:1-21

Anxiety—Proverbs 12:25

Arrogance—Proverbs 8:13; 14:16; 28:25

Bestiality—Exodus 22:19; Leviticus 20:15-16

Blasphemy—Psalm 74:18

Blessings at Gerizim–Deuteronomy 28:1-14

Blood–Deuteronomy 12:23-27, 27

Bribery—Amos 5:12; Exodus 23:8; Proverbs 17:18

Carnality—Genesis 3:6

Child discipline—Proverbs 29:15, 17

Cities of refuge–Deuteronomy 19:1-21

Clothing (Women wearing man’s clothes)—Deuteronomy 22:5

Compassion (lack of)—Proverbs 12:10

Complaining to do wrong—Proverbs 1:32

Contention—Proverbs 18:19

Coveting—Exodus 20:17; Deuteronomy 5:21

Cruelty to animals—Proverbs 12:10

Cursing—Proverbs 30:11

Cursing a father or mother—Exodus 21:17; Leviticus 20:9

Cursing God or a ruler—Exodus 22:28

Cursing at Mount Ebal–Deuteronomy 27

Death penalty–Deuteronomy 17:2-13

Deception—Genesis 3:12-13; Proverbs 13:7; 14:12; 30:8

Deviousness—Proverbs 3:32

Discord—Proverbs 6:16-19

Disobedience—Joshua 1:18; Genesis 2:17; 3:6-7; 1 Samuel 13:11-12; 15:13-15; Proverbs 4:4; 7:1

Divination and Soothsaying—Leviticus 19:26

Divination, witchcraft, sorcery, mediums, spiritism—Deuteronomy 18:9-14

Divorce—Deuteronomy 24:1-4

Drunkenness—Genesis 9:21; Proverbs 20:1; 23:21, 29-30; 31:4-5

Evil—Proverbs 6:16-19; 8:13; 17:13; 15:26; 31:12; Isaiah 13:11; Psalm 97:10; 34:14; Amos 5:15; 1 Kings 13:33

Excusing—Genesis 3:12-13

False witnessing—Proverbs 6:16-19; 14:5; 19:5, 9; Exodus 20:16; 23:1; Deuteronomy 5:20-21

Falsehood—Proverbs 13:5

Fear—Proverbs 1:29; 2:5; 3:7; 8:13; 9:10; 10:27; 11:20; 15:16

Feasts (Keeping)—Exodus 23:14-17; Deuteronomy 16:1-22

Fellowship with evil—Proverbs 4:14-15

Feminism—Genesis 3:6-7

Filthiness—Proverbs 30:12

Flattery—28:23; 29:5

Folly—Proverbs 9:13

Food laws—Leviticus 11:1ff

Foolishness—Psalm 99:5; Job 5:2; Proverbs 1:7; 12:15; 14: 9; 17:25; 19:3, 7, 13; 29:9, 11

Fruit (law of)—Leviticus 19:10

Greed—Psalm 10:3

Gullibility—Proverbs 14:15

Hating a fellow-countryman—Leviticus 19:17; Proverbs 10:12

Haughtiness—Proverbs 6:12; 21:4

Homosexuality—Leviticus 1:11; 19:11; Leviticus 20:13

Honoring father and mother–Deuteronomy 5:16

House (building a new house)–Deuteronomy 22:8

Idolatry—Exodus 20; 3; 22:20; 23:24; 32:20, 22-24; Leviticus 19:3-4; 20:2-5; Deuteronomy 4:16-19; 4:28; 5:7-10; 6:13, 15; 7:25; Jeremiah 16:18; Psalm 44:20

Impurity—Job 15:14; 25:4

Incest—Leviticus 20:12

Iniquity—Psalm 11:14; 51:5; 38:18; 66:18; 90:8; Job 10:14; 31:33; 34:32; Exodus 34:7; Micah 7:18; Jeremiah 16:18; 2:12; Amos 3:2; Job 20:27; 10:14; 4:8; Proverbs 22:8

Interest of a countryman–Deuteronomy 23:20

Jealousy—Proverbs 6:34

Justice—(perverting)—Exodus 23:6

Justifying the wicked—Proverbs 17:15

Kidnapping—Exodus 21:16; Deuteronomy 24:7

Killing enemies–Deuteronomy 13:1-11

Killing a town if it becomes idolatrous–Deuteronomy 13:12-17

King–Requirements for–Deuteronomy 17:14-20

Laziness—Proverbs 6:5-11; 10:3-5; 12:11, 27; 18:9

Loving (Not loving a neighbor)—Leviticus 19:18

Loving God (not loving)—Deuteronomy—5:5; 11:19

Loving God–Deuteronomy 11:1, 13, 22;  30:16, 20

Lying—Isaiah 59:3; Proverbs 6:16, 17, 19; 12:19, 22; 13:5; 14:5, 25; 17:5, 7; 19:5, 9; Hosea 7:3

Marriage–Deuteronomy 14:1-4; 22:13-30

Marriage (Intermarriage)–Deuteronomy 7:3-4

Mediums and spiritism—Leviticus 20:6, 27

Mercilessness—Amos 5:12

Mockery—Proverbs 14:9; 17:5; 30:17

Murder—Proverbs 1:11; 6:16-19; Genesis 4:10; Exodus 20:13; Deuteronomy 5:17

Murmuring—Numbers 14:26; Exodus 16:8

Muzzling the ox–Deuteronomy 25:4

Nakedness—Leviticus 20:17

Name (Profaning God’s name)—Leviticus 19:12; Deuteronomy 1; 5:11

Obedience–Deuteronomy 11:13, 22, 32; 12:28, 32; 13:4-5, 18; 30:10, 11-14, 16, 26

Oppressing a neighbor—Leviticus 19:13

Overlooking the poor—Amos 5:12; Deuteronomy 24:14-15

Parents (not honoring or obeying)—Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 5:16; Proverbs 6:20; 12:1

Persuasion to do wrong—Genesis 3:17-18

Perversion—Jeremiah 3:21; Job 15;4; 33:27

Persuasion to do wrong—Proverbs 1:10-19

Presumption—Numbers 15:30; Psalm 19:13; Deuteronomy 18:19-22

Pride (and Arrogance)—Proverbs 6:16-19; 8:13; 11:2; 21:4; 15:5, 25; 16:5, 18-19; 29:23; Isaiah 13:11

Prostitution–Deuteronomy 23:17

Prudence (lack of)—Proverbs 12:23

Rebellion—Deuteronomy 9:6; Daniel 9:9; Psalm 78:17; Isaiah 30:1; Proverbs 17:11

Refusal to do good–Proverbs 3:27-28

Reproach—Proverbs 14:34

Reproof—Proverbs 9:8; 10:17; 12:1; 15:10, 12, 32

Reverence for one’s father or mother—Leviticus 19:3

Robbery—Proverbs 28:24

Sabbath (not keeping)—Exodus 20:8-11; 23:12; 35:1-3; Leviticus 19:3; Deuteronomy 5:10-15

Secret sins—Psalm 90:8

Separation—Proverbs 18:1

Sin—Exodus 34:7; Jeremiah 5:25; 16:18; Job 13:23; Psalm 51:2; Isaiah 59:2; Ezekiel 21:24

Slander—Leviticus 19:16; Proverbs 16:28; 30:10

Slavery–Deuteronomy 23:15-16

Sodomy–Deuteronomy 23:18

Sorcery—Exodus 22:18

Speech (sinful)—Exodus 20:7; 10:19, 32; Proverbs 12:13, 18; 13:2-3; 14:23; 15:23, 28; 16:21; 17:20; 18:7, 20, 21; 19:1; 29:20

Speech (perversion of the mouth)—Proverbs 8:13

Stealing—Exodus 20:15; 22:1; Leviticus 19:11; Deuteronomy 5:19

Stiff-necked—Exodus 34:9

Strife—Proverbs 6:19; 17:14; 19:1

Striking another—Exodus 21:12

Striking a father or mother—Exodus 21:15

Stubborn and rebellious son—Deuteronomy 21:18-21

Stubbornness—Proverbs 29:1

Submission to evil—Proverbs 1:10-14

Swearing falsely—Leviticus 19:12

Tale-bearing—Proverbs 11:10

Talking—Proverbs 17:9

Tattoos—Leviticus 19:26

Temper (Hot-temper)—Proverbs 15:18

Temper (Quick-temper)—Proverbs 14:17, 29

Tithe–Deuteronomy 13:22

Transgression—Exodus 34:7; Micah 7:18; Job 13:23; 31:33; Ezekiel 21:24; Proverbs 11:6; 12:13; 28:13

Treachery against marriage—Malachi 2:14

Trust in the Lord—Proverbs 16:20

Unjustness—Proverbs 29:27

Vanity—Psalm 74:11

Vengeance—Leviticus 19:18

Vowing–Deuteronomy 23:22

Whispering—Proverbs 18:8

Various laws–Deuteronomy 22:1-12

Violence—Genesis 4:10; Proverbs 3:31; 10:11; 16:29

Wickedness—Proverbs 6:16-19; 8:7; 15:8-9; Job  4:8; 11:14; Psalm 139:24; Hosea 7:3; Ezekiel 33:9; Isaiah 13:11

Wife’s irresponsibility—Proverbs 12:4

Wisdom—Proverbs 4:5-7; 8:11; 9:1; 10:1, 8; 16:28

Witnessing (false)—Proverbs 12:17

Woman with marriage issues—Leviticus 20:14

These are some of the “sins” of the Old Testament or old covenant writings. We hope that this will be an encouragement to you to live according to the will of God and for His pleasure. Remember, we are not directly under the Old Covenant today but many (not all) of these instructions are applicable to us today.