שָׂטָה (sa.tah)
sa.tah
to turn aside
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 6 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb sa.tah means to turn aside or deviate from a path. It appears six times in the Old Testament, primarily in Numbers and Proverbs. In these contexts, it describes physical movement away from a straight course or moral departure from an expected direction.
Its usage often carries a negative connotation of wandering off track. For example, in Proverbs 5:8, it advises staying far from the path that leads astray. Similarly, in Numbers, it can describe people straying from their intended route or purpose. The word emphasizes the act of leaving the proper way rather than just being lost.
Translators typically render sa.tah as "turn aside," "go aside," or "decline." This simple action word highlights the choice to leave a direct path for something else. It serves as a clear warning against distraction and deviation in both physical travel and spiritual conduct.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word sa.tah describes a deliberate movement away from a straight path. In the ancient world, staying on track was essential for survival. When someone turned aside, they risked getting lost or encountering danger. This verb captures that moment of deviation, whether in physical travel or moral choice.
In Proverbs 4:15, this concept becomes a clear instruction: avoid the path entirely. The wisdom literature uses this image to warn against distractions that lead away from integrity. It is not about being lost by accident, but about choosing a different direction when a better one exists.
For your faith, this word highlights the importance of vigilance. Life offers many side paths that seem harmless but lead away from God’s purpose. Staying focused requires conscious effort to keep moving forward rather than drifting into distractions that compromise your values.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 6 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- you have turned aside2×
- she will turn aside2×
- turn aside1×
- it turn aside1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- שָׂטִ֛ית2×
- תִּשְׂטֶ֥ה1×
- תִשְׂטֶ֣ה1×
- שְׂטֵ֖ה1×
- יֵ֣שְׂטְ1×
Key Verses
-
Proverbs 4:15
Avoid it, and don’t pass by it. Turn from it, and pass on.
This verse uses the concept of turning aside as a direct command to avoid evil paths entirely, emphasizing proactive avoidance rather than passive resistance.
-
Numbers 5:12
“Speak to the children of Israel, and tell them: ‘If any man’s wife goes astray and is unfaithful to him,
Here the term describes a wife going astray in her conduct, illustrating how deviation from marital fidelity is viewed as a departure from an established covenant path.
-
Proverbs 7:25
Don’t let your heart turn to her ways. Don’t go astray in her paths,
The warning against letting your heart turn to seductive ways shows how internal desires can lead to external deviations from wisdom and safety.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does sa.tah mean in the Bible?
How is sa.tah different from chata?
Where does this word appear most often?
Every Occurrence (6 verses across 2 books)
Numbers 4 verses
“Speak to the children of Israel, and tell them: ‘If any man’s wife goes astray and is unfaithful to him,
Numbers 5:19The priest shall cause her to take an oath and shall tell the woman, “If no man has lain with you, and if you haven’t…
Numbers 5:20But if you have gone astray, being under your husband’s authority, and if you are defiled, and some man has lain with…
Numbers 5:29“‘This is the law of jealousy, when a wife, being under her husband, goes astray, and is defiled,