Bible Word Study
טָעָה
ṭâʻâh · to wander; causatively to lead astray
טָעָה
to wander; causatively to lead astray
Definition
The Hebrew verb טָעָה (ṭâʻâh) fundamentally means 'to wander' or 'to go astray,' often in a moral or spiritual sense. In its basic (Qal) stem, it describes the act of straying from a path, as in Proverbs 7:25 where a young man is warned not to let his heart 'stray' into the adulteress's paths. In its causative (Hiphil) stem, it means 'to lead astray' or 'to mislead,' as seen in Ezekiel 13:10, where false prophets mislead God's people. The word consistently carries a negative connotation of deviation from what is right, true, or safe.
Biblical Usage
טָעָה is used primarily in poetic and prophetic literature, including Psalms, Proverbs, and Ezekiel. It describes both physical wandering (Job 38:41) and, more significantly, spiritual or moral error. A key pattern is its use in contexts of deception and false guidance, especially by prophets. Its sole occurrence in the causative form is in Ezekiel 13:10, directly condemning those who mislead Israel with false visions of peace.
Etymology
טָעָה is a primitive root. It is related to the Arabic cognate ṭāġa, meaning 'to transgress' or 'to go beyond bounds.' The core idea is movement away from a correct or intended course, which in Hebrew thought naturally extended from the physical to the ethical and religious realms.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it captures the human condition of sin as a wandering from God's path (Psalm 119:10) and the grave danger of being led astray by false teaching (Ezekiel 13:10). It underscores that error is not merely intellectual but a directional failure, emphasizing our need for divine guidance and truth. Understanding this Hebrew concept enriches reading by highlighting the biblical metaphor of life as a journey where staying on God's way is paramount. In the ancient Near Eastern context, wandering from a physical path in the wilderness was a life-threatening error. This tangible danger powerfully shaped the metaphor for spiritual and communal life: to stray from the covenant law or be misled by prophets was seen as equally perilous, risking not just individual ruin but the welfare of the entire community. שָׁגָה (shāgâh, H7686) — to err, go astray unintentionally or through ignorance. תָּעָה (tāʻâ, H8582) — to wander, roam, or stagger; often used for physical wandering or mental confusion.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (BDB, 1906, public domain). Concordance and morphology data are from the OSHB (Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible).
Full methodology & sources →References
- Abbott-Smith, G. (1921) A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Brown, F., Driver, S.R. and Briggs, C.A. (1906) A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Oxford: Clarendon Press. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Tyndale Brief lexicon of Extended Strongs for Greek (TBESG). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Formatted full LSJ (TFLSJ). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Thayer, J.H. (1889) A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. [Public Domain]
- Gesenius, W. (1846) Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament. [Public Domain]
- Dodson, J. (2010) Greek Lexicon. Biblical Humanities. [CC0]