King James Bible Dictionary

See Conviction; Sin; Conscience
Conviction; Sin; Conscience

GUILT, noun gilt.

1. Criminality; that state of a moral agent which results from his actual commission of a crime or offense, knowing it to be a crime, or violation of law. To constitute guilt there must be a moral agent enjoying freedom of will, and capable of distinguishing between right and wrong, and a wilful or intentional violation of a known law, or rule of duty. The guilt of a person exists, as soon as the crime is committed; but to evince it to others, it must be proved by confession, or conviction in due course of law. guilt renders a person a debtor to the law, as it binds him to pay a penalty in money or suffering. guilt therefore implies both criminality and liableness to punishment. guilt may proceed either from a positive act or breach of law, or from voluntary neglect of known duty.

2. Criminality in a political or civil view; exposure to forfeiture or other penalty.

A ship incurs guilt by the violation of a blockade.

3. Crime; offense.

GUILT'ILY, adverb In a manner to incur guilt, not innocently.

GUILT'INESS, noun The state of being guilty; wickedness; criminality; guilt.

GUILT'LESS, adjective Free from guilt, crime or offense; innocent.

The Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. Exodus 20:7.

1. Not produced by the slaughter of animals.

But from the mountain's grassy side

A guiltless feast I bring.

GUILT'LESSLY, adverb Without guilt; innocently.

GUILT'LESSNESS, noun Innocence; freedom from guilt or crime.

GUILT'-SICK, adjective Diseased in consequence of guilt.

GUILT'Y, adjective gilt'y. Criminal; having knowingly committed a crime or offense, or having violated a law by an overt act or by neglect, and by that act or neglect, being liable to punishment; not innocent. It may be followed by of; as, to be guilty of theft or arson.

Nor he, nor you, were guilty of the strife.

1. Wicked; corrupt; sinful; as a guilty world.

2. Conscious.

In Scripture, to be guilty of death, is to have committed a crime which deserves death. Matthew 26:66.

To be guilty of the body and blood of Christ, is to be chargeable with the crime of crucifying Christ afresh, and offering indignity to his person and righteousness, represented by the symbols of the Lord's supper. 1 Corinthians 11:27.