תָּעָה (ta.ah)
ta.ah
to go astray
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 39 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb taʿah describes a movement away from a correct path, whether physical or moral. It literally means to wander, stagger, or stray, capturing the image of someone who has lost their way. In the Psalms and Proverbs, it frequently appears in prayers for guidance, such as Psalm 119:176, where the psalmist acknowledges having gone astray like a lost sheep and asks God to seek out His servant.
The word carries a vivid physical dimension, often describing the unsteady gait of someone intoxicated. Isaiah 28:7 uses it to depict priests who "stagger" from strong drink, losing their ability to judge correctly. This physical instability serves as a metaphor for spiritual confusion; just as a drunkard cannot walk straight, a person who turns from God’s precepts loses their moral direction.
Its theological weight lies in the distinction between human error and divine guidance. While humans are prone to wander, the Hiphil form shows God actively causing people to err as a form of judgment, as seen in Isaiah 19:14 where He gives Egypt over to confused spirits. The word reminds readers that staying on the right path requires constant reliance on God’s direction rather than one’s own steady footing.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word taʿah paints a vivid picture of losing one’s way, whether physically wandering in a wilderness or morally drifting from God’s path. It captures the vulnerability of being lost, like a sheep separated from its flock, and the confusion that comes when spiritual guidance is absent. This imagery reminds us that life’s journey often involves moments of disorientation, where our own footing feels unsteady.
Yet this word also points to God’s faithful response. In Psalm 119:176, the psalmist acknowledges wandering but immediately calls out for God to seek him out. This shows that straying is not the end of the story; it is an invitation to return. God does not leave us in the wilderness but actively seeks those who have lost their way, offering direction and restoration.
Understanding taʿah encourages humility. It reminds us that staying on the right path requires constant reliance on God’s guidance rather than our own strength. When we feel lost, we can trust that God is near, ready to lead us back to the way of life and peace.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 39 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ he made wander/ them3×
- they will wander about2×
- they staggered2×
- and/ they caused to err2×
- I have gone astray2×
- you caused to err1×
- who/ mislead1×
- we have gone astray1×
- wandering off1×
- they wandered about1×
- they wandered1×
- they have wandered1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וַ֝/יַּתְעֵ֗/ם3×
- תֹּעֶ֑ה1×
- תֹּעֵ֣י1×
- תָּעוּ֙1×
- תָּעָ֣ה1×
- תָּעִ֗יתִי1×
- תָּעִ֔ינוּ1×
- תָּע֣וּ1×
- תָּע֔וּ1×
- תָּע֑וּ1×
- תָּ֣עוּ1×
- תַּתְעֵֽ/ם\׃1×
Key Verses
-
Psalms 119:176
I have gone astray like a lost sheep. Seek your servant, for I don’t forget your commandments.
The psalmist uses this word to describe his own spiritual wandering, comparing himself to a lost sheep and directly asking God to seek him out.
-
Genesis 21:14
Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread and a container of water, and gave it to Hagar, putting it on her shoulder; and gave her the child, and sent her away. She departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba.
This verse describes Hagar’s physical wandering in the wilderness after being sent away, highlighting the human cost of displacement and vulnerability.
-
Isaiah 19:14
Yahweh has mixed a spirit of perverseness in the middle of her; and they have caused Egypt to go astray in all of its works, like a drunken man staggers in his vomit.
Here the word illustrates divine judgment, depicting Egypt’s leaders as staggered and confused, showing how God can allow people to err as a consequence of their actions.
-
Proverbs 21:16
The man who wanders out of the way of understanding shall rest in the assembly of the departed spirits.
This warning connects moral wandering with ultimate destruction, emphasizing that turning away from understanding leads to isolation and death.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Hebrew word taʿah mean?
How is taʿah different from other words for sin?
Where does taʿah appear in the Bible?
What does this word teach about God’s role?
Every Occurrence (39 verses across 12 books)
Genesis 3 verses
When God caused me to wander from my father’s house, I said to her, ‘This is your kindness which you shall show to me.…
Genesis 21:14Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread and a container of water, and gave it to Hagar, putting it on her…
Genesis 37:15A certain man found him, and behold, he was wandering in the field. The man asked him, “What are you looking for?”