Original Word: שָׂטָה
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: satah
Pronunciation: sah-tah'
Phonetic Spelling: (saw-taw')
KJV: decline, go aside, turn
NASB: goes astray, gone astray, turn aside, turn away
Word Origin: [a primitive root]

1. to deviate from duty

decline, go aside, turn

A primitive root; to deviate from duty -- decline, go aside, turn.

Word Origin
a prim. root
Definition
to turn aside
NASB Translation
goes astray (2), gone astray (2), turn aside (1), turn away (1).

[שָׂטָה] verb turn aside (Aramaic סְטָא, id.; שְׂטָא stray; Ethiopic III. be seduced, etc.; cf Dr^{JPhil. xi (1882), 205}); —

Qal Perfect2feminine singular שָׂטִית Numbers 5:19,20; Imperfect3feminine singular תִּשְׂטֶה Numbers 5:12; Numbers 5:29, jussive 3masculine singular יֵשְׂטְ Proverbs 7:25; Imperative masculine singular שְׂטֵה Proverbs 4:15; — turn aside, of unfaithful wife Numbers 5:12 (absolute), + תַּחַת אִישׁ, i.e. while married, Numbers 5:19 (+ טֻמְאָה adverb accusative), Numbers 5:20; Numbers 5:29 (all P); of youth, from (מֵעַל) way of evil woman Proverbs 4:15, toward (אֶל) her ways Proverbs 7:25.

Definition and Scope of Use

שָׂטָה (satâ) portrays a movement off the proper course, whether moral, relational, or physical. It embraces the ideas of straying, swerving, or turning aside. Every occurrence sounds a pastoral warning: keep covenant paths; do not deviate into unfaithfulness.

Occurrences

Numbers 5:12; Numbers 5:19; Numbers 5:20; Numbers 5:29; Proverbs 4:15; Proverbs 7:25.

The Jealousy Ritual (Numbers 5)

1. Protection of Marriage: Four of the six uses appear in the legislation for suspected adultery. “If a man’s wife goes astray and is unfaithful to him” (Numbers 5:12). Rather than permitting vigilante justice, the LORD institutes an objective rite. The word satâ frames the entire procedure, showing that marital deviation is not merely interpersonal but covenantal.
2. Vindication and Restraint: Should the woman be innocent, the ritual clears her name (Numbers 5:19). Thus satâ can be alleged yet unproven; the Law balances jealous suspicion with due process.
3. Illustration of Spiritual Fidelity: Israel is often styled the LORD’s bride. By spotlighting marital straying, the passage implicitly warns the nation against covenant infidelity (compare Jeremiah 3:1-10; Hosea 2:2-20).

Path Ethics in Proverbs

1. Turning From Evil (Proverbs 4:15): “Avoid it; do not travel on it. Turn from it and pass on.” Here satâ is encouraged, but in the direction of righteousness—swerve away from wickedness. The wise deliberately deviate from roads that entice to sin.
2. Guarding the Heart (Proverbs 7:25): “Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways; do not stray into her paths.” The verb warns against inward drift before outward fall. Straying begins in the affections, long before bodily action.

Theological Insights

• Covenant Fidelity: Whether spouse to spouse or believer to God, straying ruptures covenant relations. Satâ exposes the gravity of seemingly private deviations.
• Holiness and Community: Israel’s communal life depends on individual faithfulness. The Numbers legislation reminds today’s church that personal purity safeguards corporate witness (1 Corinthians 5:6-8).
• Heart Direction: Proverbs links satâ to the heart, underlining that repentance involves an internal reorientation, not mere behavioral adjustment.

Ministry Significance

• Marital Counseling: The concept of satâ validates righteous jealousy (2 Corinthians 11:2) while discouraging unfounded suspicion. Shepherding couples toward transparency honors both parties and reflects God’s own concern for fidelity.
• Discipleship: Proverbs equips mentors to teach intentional avoidance of temptation. Encouraging mentees to “swerve” early prevents later collapse.
• Church Discipline: When believers stray morally or doctrinally, compassionate and orderly processes modeled on Numbers 5 protect both purity and the accused.

Christological Echoes

Jesus, the perfectly faithful Bridegroom, never strayed (Hebrews 4:15). His atoning work restores those who have. Thus the gospel offers hope for all who confess their deviation and return to the Shepherd and Overseer of their souls (1 Peter 2:25).

Key Passages for Study and Teaching

Numbers 5:12-31 – Ritual of Jealousy

Proverbs 4:14-19 – Two Ways Contrasted

Proverbs 7:6-27 – The Seductress and the Straying Heart

Summary

שָׂטָה alerts readers to the peril of leaving God-ordained paths. Whether addressing marital trust or the daily choices of wisdom, Scripture urges decisive action: resist the first step toward unfaithfulness, and when deviation occurs, employ God-given means for restoration.

יֵ֣שְׂטְ ישט שְׂטֵ֖ה שָׂטִ֛ית שטה שטית תִּשְׂטֶ֥ה תִשְׂטֶ֣ה תשטה śā·ṭîṯ saTit śāṭîṯ śə·ṭêh seTeh śəṭêh tiś·ṭeh ṯiś·ṭeh tisTeh tiśṭeh ṯiśṭeh yê·śəṭ Yeset yêśəṭInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts