שָׁגָה (sha.gah)
sha.gah
to wander
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 17 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb shagah describes the act of going astray or wandering off course. In its basic sense, it paints a picture of physical disorientation, such as a flock of sheep swerving or meandering away from the path. This imagery extends naturally to moral and spiritual life, where it signifies erring through ignorance or inadvertence rather than deliberate rebellion.
A striking nuance in this word is its association with intoxication. The sources note that shagah can describe someone who reels or rolls due to drunkenness, suggesting a loss of control and direction. This physical stumbling mirrors the spiritual state of those who stray from wisdom, as seen in Proverbs where folly leads people to wander into danger.
In the Hiphil stem, the meaning shifts to causing others to go astray, whether by misleading them mentally or leading them morally wrong. The word appears frequently in Psalms and Job, often highlighting the human tendency to lose one’s way without realizing it. Translators typically render it as "err" or "go astray," capturing that sense of unintentional deviation from the right path.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
Life often feels like walking a narrow path where it is easy to lose your footing. The Hebrew word shagah captures this reality, describing someone who wanders off course or stumbles in confusion. It suggests that straying is not always an act of bold rebellion; sometimes it is simply the result of fatigue, distraction, or intoxication. We may find ourselves moving away from wisdom without even realizing we have left the path.
This word offers a gentle perspective on human weakness. It reminds us that our tendency to err is part of our shared experience. When we feel lost or confused, we are not alone in our struggle. The Bible acknowledges this fragility and points us toward a Shepherd who seeks out those who have wandered. We can bring our confusion to God, trusting that He understands our limitations.
There is hope in knowing that God does not abandon us when we stumble. Instead of leaving us to our own devices, He invites us to return. His commandments are not just rules to follow but guides to keep us steady. When we feel disoriented, we can look for His voice and let it lead us back to safety and peace.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 17 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- they reeled3×
- [one who] leads astray2×
- you will err1×
- you allow to stray/ me1×
- will you go astray1×
- who/ go astray1×
- to/ stray1×
- they will go astray1×
- may you be intoxicated1×
- he will go astray1×
- have I erred1×
- and/ [one who] leads astray1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- תַּ֝שְׁגֵּ֗/נִי1×
- תִּשְׁגֶּ֥ה1×
- תִשְׁגֶּ֣ה1×
- תִשְׁגּ֔וּ1×
- שׁוֹגִ֣ים1×
- שָּׁ֝גִ֗יתִי1×
- שֹׁ֥גֶה1×
- שָׁגוּ֙1×
- שָׁגִ֑יתִי1×
- שָׁג֨וּ1×
- שָׁג֔וּ1×
- מַשְׁגֶּ֥ה1×
Key Verses
-
Psalms 119:10
With my whole heart I have sought you. Don’t let me wander from your commandments.
This verse shows the psalmist actively asking God to prevent wandering, highlighting prayer as the primary defense against spiritual drift.
-
Job 6:24
“Teach me, and I will hold my peace. Cause me to understand my error.
Here Job requests correction to understand his error, demonstrating that recognizing our missteps is a crucial step toward restoration.
-
Proverbs 5:23
He will die for lack of instruction. In the greatness of his folly, he will go astray.
This passage links the act of going astray directly to a lack of instruction and folly, showing how ignorance leads to dangerous paths.
-
Isaiah 28:7
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.
The imagery of staggering due to wine illustrates how physical intoxication can mirror spiritual confusion and lead to poor judgment.