שׂוּט
to detrude, i.e. (intransitively and figuratively) become derelict (wrongly practise; namely, idolatry)
Definition
The Hebrew verb שׂוּט (sûwṭ) means to turn aside, swerve, or deviate from a path, often with a negative moral or spiritual connotation. In its two biblical occurrences, it describes turning away from God's ways to follow falsehood or idolatry. In Psalm 40:4, the blessed person is one who does not 'turn aside' to lies or false gods, contrasting faithfulness with deception. In Psalm 101:3, the psalmist resolves not to set any worthless thing before his eyes and hates the work of those who 'turn aside' (i.e., fall away into faithlessness). The core idea is a deliberate deviation from the right course, leading to spiritual dereliction.
Biblical Usage
This verb is used only twice in the Old Testament, both times in the Psalms. It appears in poetic, wisdom contexts to describe the action of turning aside from fidelity to God. In Psalm 40:4, it is used in a beatitude, defining the blessed as those who avoid turning to falsehood. In Psalm 101:3, it is part of a royal psalm where the speaker commits to personal integrity by rejecting the ways of those who swerve from faithfulness. The usage consistently portrays the act as a conscious choice to depart from truth and covenant loyalty.
Etymology
The root שׂוּט (sûwṭ) is a primitive verb. A by-form or permutation is given as סוּט. The basic sense is physical—to swerve or turn aside—which developed a strong figurative meaning in a moral and religious context. Cognates in other Semitic languages support the idea of turning or deviating. The meaning evolved from a simple directional change to a theological concept of apostasy or idolatrous wandering.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it captures the active, volitional nature of turning away from God. It is not mere ignorance or passive drift but a decisive swerving toward falsehood (Psalm 40:4) or worthless things (Psalm 101:3). It enriches the understanding of faithfulness and idolatry in the Psalms, highlighting that covenant loyalty requires a deliberate rejection of deviant paths. Understanding this Hebrew term deepens the reader's grasp of the biblical contrast between steadfast devotion and treacherous deviation.
In ancient Israelite culture, 'turning aside' from the covenant path was not just a private moral failure but a communal and cultic betrayal, often associated with adopting the idolatrous practices of surrounding nations. The act had social and religious consequences, breaking covenant loyalty (hesed) with Yahweh. The strong language in the royal Psalm 101:3 reflects the king's role in modeling fidelity and rejecting the pervasive cultural pull toward syncretism and false worship.
סוּר (sûr, H5493) — a more common general term for turning aside or departing, often physical but also moral. עָזַב (ʿāzab, H5800) — to forsake or abandon, stronger sense of complete desertion. תָּעָה (tāʿâ, H8582) — to wander or go astray, often implying error or confusion rather than deliberate turning.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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