In biblical terms, the concept of "stray" often refers to the act of wandering away from the path of righteousness or deviating from God's commandments. This notion is frequently used metaphorically to describe the spiritual condition of individuals or groups who have turned away from God's guidance and truth.

Old Testament References

The idea of straying is prevalent in the Old Testament, where the Israelites are often depicted as a people who stray from God's laws and covenant. In Isaiah 53:6 , the prophet Isaiah poignantly captures this tendency: "We all like sheep have gone astray, each one has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid upon Him the iniquity of us all." This verse highlights the universal nature of human disobedience and the need for divine intervention.

The book of Proverbs also warns against straying from wisdom and understanding. Proverbs 19:27 advises, "If you cease to hear instruction, my son, you will stray from the words of knowledge." Here, straying is associated with a lack of discipline and a departure from the pursuit of godly wisdom.

New Testament References

In the New Testament, the theme of straying is addressed in the context of the early Christian community. The Epistle of James emphasizes the importance of bringing back those who have strayed from the truth. James 5:19-20 states, "My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, consider this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and cover over a multitude of sins." This passage underscores the communal responsibility to guide and restore those who have deviated from the faith.

The parable of the lost sheep, as recounted in Matthew 18:12-14 , further illustrates God's concern for those who stray. Jesus describes a shepherd who leaves ninety-nine sheep to search for the one that has gone astray, emphasizing the value of each individual soul and God's desire for their return to the fold.

Theological Implications

Theologically, straying is often understood as a manifestation of human sinfulness and the inherent tendency to rebel against God's will. It reflects the spiritual battle between following the desires of the flesh and adhering to the Spirit. The Bible consistently calls believers to remain vigilant and steadfast in their faith, resisting the temptation to stray.

The concept of straying also highlights the necessity of repentance and the transformative power of God's grace. Through repentance, individuals who have strayed can be reconciled with God and restored to a right relationship with Him. This process is made possible through the redemptive work of Jesus Christ, who, as the Good Shepherd, seeks out and saves the lost.

Practical Application

In practical terms, believers are encouraged to remain rooted in Scripture, engage in regular prayer, and participate in the life of the church to guard against straying. Fellowship with other believers provides accountability and support, helping individuals to stay on the path of righteousness. Additionally, Christians are called to extend grace and compassion to those who have strayed, reflecting God's love and mercy in their efforts to guide them back to the truth.1. (v.) To wander, as from a direct course; to deviate, or go out of the way.

2. (v.) To wander from company, or from the proper limits; to rove at large; to roam; to go astray.

3. (a.) Figuratively, to wander from the path of duty or rectitude; to err.

4. (v. t.) To cause to stray.

5. (v. i.) Having gone astray; strayed; wandering; as, a stray horse or sheep.

6. (n.) Any domestic animal that has an enclosure, or its proper place and company, and wanders at large, or is lost; an estray. Used also figuratively.

7. (n.) The act of wandering or going astray.

4764. strenos -- insolent luxury
... insolent luxury. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: strenos Phonetic
Spelling: (stray'-nos) Short Definition: wantonness, luxury Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4764.htm - 6k

635. apoplanao -- to cause to go astray
... mislead, seduce. From apo and planao; to lead astray (figuratively); passively,
to stray (from truth) -- err, seduce. see GREEK apo. see GREEK planao. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/635.htm - 7k

4763. streniao -- to run riot
... to run riot. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: streniao Phonetic Spelling:
(stray-nee-ah'-o) Short Definition: I live luxuriously Definition: I live ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4763.htm - 6k

5074. nadad -- to retreat, flee, depart, stray, wander, flutter
... nadad. 5075 . to retreat, flee, depart, stray, wander, flutter. Transliteration:
nadad Phonetic Spelling: (naw-dad') Short Definition: fled. Word Origin a prim ...
/hebrew/5074.htm - 6k

2937. taah -- to wander, stray
... to wander, stray. Transliteration: taah Phonetic Spelling: (taw-aw') Short Definition:
misled. ... root Definition to wander, stray NASB Word Usage misled (1). ...
/hebrew/2937.htm - 5k

8582. taah -- to err
... leads to ruin (1), led my astray (2), led them astray (3), led...astray (2), misled
(1), reels (1), seduced (1), stagger (3), staggers (1), stray (3), wander (5 ...
/hebrew/8582.htm - 6k

7686. shagah -- to go astray, err
... 2), exhilarated (2), go astray (1), goes astray (1), intoxicated (1), leads the
astray (1), misleader (1), misleads (1), reel (3), stray (1), unwittingly (1 ...
/hebrew/7686.htm - 6k

4879. meshugah -- error
... Word Origin from an unused word Definition error NASB Word Usage error (1). error.
From an unused root meaning to stray; mistake -- error. 4878, 4879. ...
/hebrew/4879.htm - 5k

6528. peret -- the broken off
... Word Origin from parat Definition the broken off NASB Word Usage fallen fruit (1).
grape. From parat; a stray or single berry -- grape. see HEBREW parat. ...
/hebrew/6528.htm - 6k

7683. shagag -- to go astray, commit sin or error
... A primitive root; to stray, ie (figuratively) sin (with more or less apology) --
X also for that, deceived, err, go astray, sin ignorantly. 7682, 7683. ...
/hebrew/7683.htm - 6k

My God, My Father, While I Stray
... III. SACRAMENTS AND RITES Visitation 391. My God, my Father, while I stray.
8.8.8.4 ... Alt. My God, my Father, while I stray. Far from my home in life's rough way,. ...
/.../visitation 391 my god my.htm

He Restoreth My Soul.
... There are also, here and there, private fields and vineyards and gardens into which,
if a member of a flock should stray and be caught, it is forfeited to the ...
/.../callan/the shepherd of my soul/v he restoreth my soul.htm

Morning Prayers.
... Thy guiding care. And I would implore Thee, Be with me this day, Lest I
from Thee wander, Into danger stray. Amen. 8. For this new ...
//christianbookshelf.org/anonymous/little folded hands/morning prayers.htm

Birthday.
... steps are seen. Hold me fast and guide me In the narrow way; So, with Thee
beside me, I shall never stray. Daily bring me nearer ...
//christianbookshelf.org/anonymous/little folded hands/birthday.htm

The Secrets of Divine Love are to be Kept
... Ye rills, that, murmuring all the way,. Among the polished pebbles stray; ... Scenes
sacred to my hours of love; Ye forests, in whose shades I stray,. ...
/.../the secrets of divine love.htm

The Widow's Prayer.
... CM Anonymous. The Widow's Prayer. 1 Though faint and sick, and worn away With poverty
and woe, My widowed feet are doomed to stray 'Mid thorny paths below. ...
/.../adams/hymns for christian devotion/971 the widows prayer.htm

Whether it Belongs to Prudence to Find the Mean in Moral virtues?
... For temperance intends that man should not stray from reason for the sake of his
concupiscences; fortitude, that he should not stray from the right judgment of ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether it belongs to prudence.htm

Psalm 107
... from north, south, east, and west. ^4They stray'd in desert's pathless way,. ... and
great oppression. ^40He upon princes pours contempt,. and causeth them to stray, ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/anonymous/scottish psalter and paraphrases/psalm 107.htm

The Lost Sheep and the Seeking Shepherd
... us have need to be reminded that upon a closer and deeper examination of the facts
of the case, every hoof of the ninety-and-nine belonged to a stray sheep too ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture b/the lost sheep and the.htm

"He Has Trusted Me," Said the Cardinal, -- "I have Found Him...
... It is like your good heart, Monseigneur," she said, "to give your own bed to a stray
child out of the street,"one, too, of whom you know nothing,"but alas! ...
//christianbookshelf.org/corelli/the master-christian/v he has trusted me.htm

Stray (12 Occurrences)
... 4. (vt) To cause to stray. 5. (vi) Having gone astray; strayed; wandering; as, a
stray horse or sheep. ... Multi-Version Concordance Stray (12 Occurrences). ...
/s/stray.htm - 10k

Strayed (9 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) of Stray. Multi-Version Concordance
Strayed (9 Occurrences). 1 Timothy 5:15 For already some ...
/s/strayed.htm - 9k

Wander (43 Occurrences)
... the fields. 2. (vi) To go away; to depart; to stray off; to deviate; to
go astray; as, a writer wanders from his subject. 3. (vi ...
/w/wander.htm - 19k

Err (41 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vi) To wander; to roam; to stray. 2. (vi) To
deviate from the true course; to miss the thing aimed at. ...
/e/err.htm - 22k

Deviate (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vi) To turn aside from a course or a method; to
stray or go astray; to err; to digress; to diverge; to vary. ...
/d/deviate.htm - 6k

Decline (10 Occurrences)
... 3. (vi) To turn or bend aside; to deviate; to stray; to withdraw; as, a line that
declines from straightness; conduct that declines from sound morals. ...
/d/decline.htm - 12k

Degenerate (1 Occurrence)
... where Judah is compared to a "noble vine" which it "turned into the degenerate branches
of a foreign vine." It represents Hebrew curim = "stray" or "degenerate ...
/d/degenerate.htm - 7k

Swerve (9 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vi) To stray; to wander; to rope. 2. (vi)
To go out of a straight line; to deflect. 3. (vi) To wander ...
/s/swerve.htm - 9k

Strawed (4 Occurrences)

/s/strawed.htm - 8k

Sparrow (4 Occurrences)
... Occasionally a stray one comes around a house at migration, but once settled to
the business of living they are the last and most infrequent bird to appear ...
/s/sparrow.htm - 13k

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