Judaism teaches that to sin is a part of life, since there is no perfect human and everyone has an inclination to do evil "from youth", though people are born sinless.
For the most part, korbanot only expiate unintentional sins committed as a result of human forgetfulness or error.
Situation in which there is no responsibility include oness (one was forced to commit a sin by factors beyond their control); tinok shenishba (a person who was raised in an environment that was assimilated or non-Jewish, and is not aware of the proper Jewish laws); and heresh, shoteh, katan (deaf-mute, insane, minor - people who are presumed not to have mental capacity to understand their sin).
A term for sin often used in rabbinic Hebrew, but not appearing in the Bible, is aveira (meaning "transgression").
[10] Judaism rejects the idea of original sin: it believes that humans enter the world pure, with the ability to choose either good or evil via their free will.
This ability to choose freely is what makes humans responsible for those sins they do commit.
[13] The Bible states that the tendency of the mind is to evil: "For the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth"[14] However, in the biblical verses this is brought as an argument for divine mercy, as humans cannot be blamed for the nature they were created with.
In some sources the character of Satan, too, is equated with the human psychological inclination for evil (in contrast to the fallen angel of traditional Christianity).
[21] By implication, the great heroes of the Bible - including Jacob, Moses, and David, mentioned in this very passage - did sin, as does every other person in history.
[22] This idea is exemplified by the following story: Zusha, the great Chassidic master, lay crying on his deathbed.
[23] As such, in Judaism the term "sin" includes violations of Jewish law that are not necessarily a lapse in morality.
[b] A story is told of two Jews who visited their rebbe, seeking advice regarding sins they had committed.
[33] In Judaism one is not only permitted but required to perform most sins, if necessary in order to save human life.
Judaism describes various means of receiving atonement for sin, that is, reconciliation with God and release from punishment.
Other means (e.g. Temple sacrifices, judicial punishments, and returning stolen property) may be involved in the atonement process, together with repentance.