שָׂטָה

to deviate from duty

Definition

The Hebrew verb שָׂטָה (sâṭâh) fundamentally means to turn aside, deviate, or go astray from a prescribed path or duty. In its primary sense, it describes a deliberate turning away from moral or marital fidelity, as seen in the laws concerning a wife suspected of adultery (Numbers 5:12, 19-20, 29). In the wisdom literature, it carries the sense of turning aside from the path of wisdom and righteousness into the way of evil or seduction, as warned in Proverbs 4:15 and 7:25. Thus, the word consistently conveys a voluntary departure from what is right, proper, or commanded.

Biblical Usage

This verb is used six times in the Old Testament, primarily in two distinct contexts. Its most prominent usage is in the legal ritual of Numbers 5, where it describes a wife 'turning aside' and being unfaithful to her husband (Numbers 5:12, 19, 20, 29). The other two occurrences are in the book of Proverbs, where it warns a young man not to 'turn aside' onto the path of the wicked (Proverbs 4:15) or be led astray by the seductive speech of an adulterous woman (Proverbs 7:25). The usage pattern shows it applied to both concrete marital infidelity and metaphorical spiritual/moral straying.

Etymology

It is a primitive root verb. Cognates in other Semitic languages suggest a basic meaning related to swerving, turning aside, or deviating. The Hebrew root conveys the idea of a deliberate shift or departure from an established course, whether literal or figurative.

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant as it captures the biblical concept of sin as a willful deviation from God's ordained path. In Numbers 5, it is central to the law concerning marital purity and divine justice. In Proverbs, it is a key term in the contrast between the path of wisdom (which is straight) and the path of folly (which one turns aside toward). Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the reading of these passages by emphasizing the active, volitional nature of turning away from covenant faithfulness or moral instruction.

In its primary context in Numbers 5, the word is embedded in ancient Israel's legal and ritual system for addressing suspected adultery—a serious violation of the marital covenant with social and religious consequences. The ritual (the 'water of bitterness') was a divinely ordained means of resolving such accusations in the absence of witnesses, placing the judgment in God's hands. The cultural gravity of 'turning aside' in this context underscores the supreme value placed on marital fidelity within the covenant community.

עָבַר (ʿābar, H5674) — to transgress or cross a boundary; שָׂטָה focuses on deviating from a path, while עָבַר emphasizes crossing a forbidden line. תָּעָה (tāʿâ, H8582) — to wander or go astray, often implying confusion or error; שָׂטָה implies a more conscious turning aside. סוּר (sûr, H5493) — to turn aside or depart; a very close synonym, but שָׂטָה can carry a stronger connotation of moral or covenantal infidelity.

Word Details

Scripture References