שָׁגָה
sha.gah (H7686)
to wander
AI Word Study
# שָׁגָה (Shagah): Wandering and Straying in Biblical Hebrew The Hebrew word *shagah* carries the primary sense of physical and metaphorical wandering or deviation from a course. With 21 occurrences in the biblical text, it represents a concept significant enough to warrant consistent usage across different literary contexts. The term fundamentally describes movement that lacks proper direction or purpose—whether someone literally strays from a path or, in extended usage, deviates from correct conduct or understanding. The breadth of this word's biblical presence suggests it functioned as an important semantic tool for describing both concrete disorientation and abstract moral or intellectual error. By appearing 21 times across the biblical corpus, *shagah* indicates that the ancients found this concept—the idea of wandering off course—worth expressing repeatedly in various contexts. This frequency implies the concept held cultural and religious relevance, likely applying to situations ranging from physical loss to spiritual misdirection, making it a versatile term for describing any form of straying or deviation from an intended way.
AI synthesis uses only provided lexicon data -- never training knowledge.
“ ‘If the whole congregation of Israel sins, and the thing is hidden from the eyes of the assembly, and they have done any of the things which Yahweh has commanded not to be done, and are guilty;
“ ‘When you err, and don’t observe all these commandments which Yahweh has spoken to Moses—
‘Cursed is he who leads the blind astray on the road.’ All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
Then Saul said, “I have sinned. Return, my son David; for I will no more do you harm, because my life was precious in your eyes today. Behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly.”
“Teach me, and I will hold my peace. Cause me to understand my error.
With him is strength and wisdom. The deceived and the deceiver are his.
If it is true that I have erred, my error remains with myself.
With my whole heart, I have sought you. Don’t let me wander from your commandments.
You have rebuked the proud who are cursed, who wander from your commandments.
You reject all those who stray from your statutes, for their deceit is in vain.
A loving doe and a graceful deer— let her breasts satisfy you at all times. Be captivated always with her love.
For why should you, my son, be captivated with an adulteress? Why embrace the bosom of another?
He will die for lack of instruction. In the greatness of his folly, he will go astray.
If you stop listening to instruction, my son, you will stray from the words of knowledge.
Wine is a mocker and beer is a brawler. Whoever is led astray by them is not wise.
Whoever causes the upright to go astray in an evil way, he will fall into his own trap; but the blameless will inherit good.
They also reel with wine, and stagger with strong drink. The priest and the prophet reel with strong drink. They are swallowed up by wine. They stagger with strong drink. They err in vision. They stumble in judgment.
My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and on every high hill. Yes, my sheep were scattered on all the surface of the earth. There was no one who searched or sought.”
So you shall do on the seventh day of the month for everyone who errs, and for him who is simple. So you shall make atonement for the house.