חַטָּאת chatat (H2403) comes from the root חטּ chat which means to measure with a cord (cf. 1 Kings 7:15). In ancient times when shooting an arrow or other object to a target, the distance that one misses was measured with a cord. Therefore, to sin (חֱטָא cheta H2398) is to miss an intended target. חַטָּאת chatat is translated as “failure” in Jeff Benner’s Mechanical Translation of the Torah.
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