Topical Bible: Wander

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Topical Encyclopedia

Definition and General Understanding:
The term "wander" in the biblical context often refers to the act of moving about without a fixed course, aim, or goal. It can imply physical movement, as well as spiritual or moral deviation. In Scripture, wandering is frequently associated with a lack of direction, purpose, or faithfulness to God’s commands.

Old Testament References:
In the Old Testament, the concept of wandering is vividly illustrated in the narrative of the Israelites' journey through the wilderness. After their exodus from Egypt, the Israelites wandered in the desert for forty years due to their disobedience and lack of faith in God’s promises. Numbers 14:33 states, "Your children will be shepherds in the wilderness for forty years and bear the brunt of your unfaithfulness until your bodies lie scattered in the wilderness."

The theme of wandering is also present in the wisdom literature. Proverbs 21:16 warns, "The man who strays from the path of understanding will rest in the assembly of the dead." Here, wandering is metaphorically linked to straying from wisdom and understanding, leading to spiritual death.

New Testament References:
In the New Testament, wandering is often used to describe spiritual deviation or apostasy. The Epistle of James addresses the issue of wandering from the truth. James 5:19-20 exhorts believers, "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."

The parable of the lost sheep, found in Matthew 18:12-14 and Luke 15:3-7, illustrates God's concern for those who wander away. The shepherd leaves the ninety-nine sheep to find the one that has strayed, symbolizing God's relentless pursuit of those who have wandered from His fold.

Spiritual Implications:
Wandering, in a spiritual sense, often signifies a departure from God’s will and commandments. It can result from doubt, temptation, or rebellion. The Bible consistently calls believers to remain steadfast in their faith and to avoid the pitfalls of spiritual wandering. Hebrews 3:10 reflects on the Israelites' wandering hearts: "Therefore I was angry with that generation, and I said, ‘Their hearts are always going astray, and they have not known My ways.’"

Moral and Ethical Considerations:
The Bible encourages believers to seek God’s guidance and to walk in His ways to avoid the dangers of wandering. Psalm 119:10 expresses a heartfelt plea, "With all my heart I have sought You; do not let me stray from Your commandments." This verse underscores the importance of intentionality in one’s spiritual journey and the need for divine assistance to remain on the right path.

Conclusion:
While the Bible acknowledges the human tendency to wander, it also offers hope and redemption for those who return to God. The overarching message is one of God’s faithfulness and the call for believers to remain true to His word, avoiding the spiritual and moral pitfalls of wandering.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (v. i.) To ramble here and there without any certain course or with no definite object in view; to range about; to stroll; to rove; as, to wander over the fields.

2. (v. i.) To go away; to depart; to stray off; to deviate; to go astray; as, a writer wanders from his subject.

3. (v. i.) To be delirious; not to be under the guidance of reason; to rave; as, the mind wanders.

4. (v. t.) To travel over without a certain course; to traverse; to stroll through.

Greek

4105. planao -- to cause to wander, to wander
... to cause to wander, to wander. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: planao Phonetic
Spelling: (plan-ah'-o) Short Definition: I lead astray, deceive Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4105.htm - 9k

1624. ektrepo -- to turn away
... to turn away. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: ektrepo Phonetic Spelling:
(ek-trep'-o) Short Definition: I turn aside, wander, forsake Definition: (lit: I ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1624.htm - 6k

635. apoplanao -- to cause to go astray
... to cause to go astray. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: apoplanao Phonetic
Spelling: (ap-op-lan-ah'-o) Short Definition: I cause to wander astray, have ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/635.htm - 7k

4108. planos -- wandering, leading astray (adjective), a deceiver ...
... Cognate: 4108 (a substantival adjective, derived from 4105 , "wander") -- a deceiver,
trying to get others to also veer off God's course (path of safety). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4108.htm - 7k

4107. planetes -- a wanderer
... Cognate: 4107 (a masculine noun derived from 4105 , "to wander") -- properly, a
wandering star (planet); (figuratively) a false teacher, operating without ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4107.htm - 6k

Strong's Hebrew

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

5110. nud -- to move to and fro, wander, flutter, show grief
... nud. 5111 . to move to and fro, wander, flutter, show grief. Transliteration:
nud Phonetic Spelling: (nood) Short Definition: mourn. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/5110.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

7300. rud -- to wander restlessly, roam
... 7299, 7300. rud. 7301 . to wander restlessly, roam. Transliteration: rud Phonetic
Spelling: (rood) Short Definition: restless. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/7300.htm - 6k

732. arach -- to wander, journey, go
... 731, 732. arach. 733 . to wander, journey, go. Transliteration: arach Phonetic
Spelling: (aw-rakh') Short Definition: goes. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/732.htm - 5k

6813. tsaan -- to wander, travel
... to wander, travel. Transliteration: tsaan Phonetic Spelling: (tsaw-an') Short
Definition: folded. ... root Definition to wander, travel NASB Word Usage folded (1). ...
/hebrew/6813.htm - 5k

5128. nua -- to quiver, wave, waver, tremble, totter
... nua. 5129 . to quiver, wave, waver, tremble, totter. Transliteration: nua Phonetic
Spelling: (noo'-ah) Short Definition: wander. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/5128.htm - 6k

8582. taah -- to err
... 8581, 8582. taah. 8583 . to err. Transliteration: taah Phonetic Spelling:
(taw-aw') Short Definition: wander. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/8582.htm - 6k

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

6. abad -- to perish
... A primitive root; properly, to wander away, ie Lose oneself; by implication to perish
(causative, destroy) -- break, destroy(- uction), + not escape, fail, lose ...
/hebrew/6.htm - 6k

Library

Fix Thou Our Hearing, that it be not Loosed and Wander!
... Hymn III. Fix thou our hearing, that it be not loosed and wander! 1. Fix
thou our hearing, that it be not loosed and wander! For ...
/.../ephraim/hymns and homilies of ephraim the syrian/hymn iii fix thou our.htm

Tell Me, O Thou whom My Soul Loveth, Where Thou Feedest, Where ...
... CHAPTER I. 6. Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest, where thou
reposest at midday, lest I should begin to wander after the flocks of thy ...
//christianbookshelf.org/guyon/song of songs of solomon/6 tell me o thou.htm

Whether Attention is a Necessary Condition of Prayer?
... Now if a man allows his mind to wander while praying he is not free of sin, for
he seems to make light of God; even as if he were to speak to another man ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether attention is a necessary.htm

"The Truth. " Some Generals Proposed.
... darkness." 1 Pet. ii.9.1 Thess. v.4. John 12:46, "We wander and go astray
as soon as we are born, speaking lies," Psal. lviii.3. Yea ...
/.../brown/christ the way the truth and the life/chapter x the truth some.htm

Wandering Thoughts
... The particular sorts are innumerable; but, in general, they are of two sorts: Thoughts
that wander from God; and thoughts that wander from the particular point ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 41 wandering thoughts.htm

How Sweetness and Tenderness in Prayer Differ from Consolations. ...
... THIS CHAPTER IS USEFUL FOR THOSE WHOSE THOUGHTS WANDER MUCH DURING PRAYER. ... THIS CHAPTER
IS USEFUL FOR THOSE WHOSE THOUGHTS WANDER MUCH DURING PRAYER. ...
/.../teresa/the interior castle or the mansions/chapter i how sweetness and.htm

The Three Parables of the Gospel: of the Recovery of the Lost - of ...
... As we think of it, we remember that it is natural for the foolish sheep so
to wander and stray. And we think not only of those sheep ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xvii the three parables.htm

Out of and Into
... unbelief, and disobedience. They had to wander after that for forty years in
the wilderness. Now, look how God led the people. In Egypt ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/murray/the deeper christian life/iv out of and into.htm

The Suicide of Thought
... The vices are, indeed, let loose, and they wander and do damage. But the
virtues are let loose also; and the virtues wander more ...
//christianbookshelf.org/chesterton/orthodoxy/iii the suicide of thought.htm

Eighth Letter
... If it sometimes wander, and withdraw itself from Him, do not much disquiet yourself
for that; trouble and disquiet serve rather to distract the mind, than to re ...
/.../lawrence/the practice of the presence of god/eighth letter.htm

Thesaurus

Wander (43 Occurrences)
... 1. (vi) To ramble here and there without any certain course or with no definite
object in view; to range about; to stroll; to rove; as, to wander over the ...
/w/wander.htm - 19k

Stray (12 Occurrences)
... 1. (v.) To wander, as from a direct course; to deviate, or go out of the way. ... 3.
(a.) Figuratively, to wander from the path of duty or rectitude; to err. ...
/s/stray.htm - 10k

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

Begging (18 Occurrences)
... Hebrew seems to have no term for professional begging, the nearest approach to it
being the expressions "to ask (or seek) bread" and "to wander." This omission ...
/b/begging.htm - 18k

Beg (77 Occurrences)
... Hebrew seems to have no term for professional begging, the nearest approach to it
being the expressions "to ask (or seek) bread" and "to wander." This omission ...
/b/beg.htm - 37k

Beggar (5 Occurrences)
... Hebrew seems to have no term for professional begging, the nearest approach to it
being the expressions "to ask (or seek) bread" and "to wander." This omission ...
/b/beggar.htm - 15k

Roam (7 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vi) To go from place to place without any certain
purpose or direction; to rove; to wander. 2. (vt) To range or wander over. ...
/r/roam.htm - 8k

Error (90 Occurrences)
... ERR; ERROR. ur, er'-er: To err is in the Old Testament the translation of shaghah,
and ta`ah, both of which mean literally,. "to wander," "to go astray." We ...
/e/error.htm - 38k

Vagabond (4 Occurrences)
... 4. (a.) Being a vagabond; strolling and idle or vicious. 5. (vi) To play the vagabond;
to wander like a vagabond; to stroll. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. ...
/v/vagabond.htm - 9k

Vacancy (3 Occurrences)
... Vacancy (3 Occurrences). Job 12:24 Turning aside the heart Of the heads of the people
of the land, And he causeth them to wander In vacancy -- no way! (YLT). ...
/v/vacancy.htm - 7k

Resources

What does it mean that the Lord is my Shepherd (Psalm 23)? | GotQuestions.org

What does it mean to be spiritually lost? | GotQuestions.org

What is the significance of sheep in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Wander: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

Wander (43 Occurrences)

Matthew 18:13
If he finds it, most certainly I tell you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine which have not gone astray.
(See NIV)

1 Corinthians 4:11
To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and are in nakedness, and buffeted, and wander without a home,
(DBY YLT)

2 Timothy 4:4
and will turn away their ears from the truth, and turn aside to fables.
(See RSV)

James 5:19
Brothers, if any among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back,
(Root in WEB RSV NIV)

Genesis 20:13
It happened, when God caused me to wander from my father's house, that I said to her,'This is your kindness which you shall show to me. Everywhere that we go, say of me, "He is my brother."'"
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 31:40
I have been 'thus': in the day consumed me hath drought, and frost by night, and wander doth my sleep from mine eyes.
(YLT)

Numbers 14:33
Your children shall be wanderers in the wilderness forty years, and shall bear your prostitution, until your dead bodies be consumed in the wilderness.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS)

Numbers 32:13
Yahweh's anger was kindled against Israel, and he made them wander back and forth in the wilderness forty years, until all the generation, who had done evil in the sight of Yahweh, was consumed.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Deuteronomy 27:18
'Cursed is he who makes the blind to wander out of the way.' All the people shall say,'Amen.'
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS)

Judges 11:37
And she said to her father, "Let this thing be done for me; let me alone two months, that I may go and wander on the mountains, and bewail my virginity, I and my companions."
(DBY RSV)

2 Samuel 15:20
Whereas you came but yesterday, should I this day make you go up and down with us, seeing I go where I may? Return, and take back your brothers. Mercy and truth be with you."
(See NAS RSV NIV)

2 Kings 21:8
neither will I cause the feet of Israel to wander any more out of the land which I gave their fathers, if only they will observe to do according to all that I have commanded them, and according to all the law that my servant Moses commanded them."
(WEB JPS ASV BBE DBY NAS RSV NIV)

Job 12:24
He takes away understanding from the chiefs of the people of the earth, and causes them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Job 12:25
They go feeling about in the dark without light, wandering without help like those overcome with wine.
(Root in BBE YLT)

Job 38:41
Who provides for the raven his prey, when his young ones cry to God, and wander for lack of food?
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Psalms 55:2
Attend unto me, and answer me: I wander about in my plaint, and I moan aloud,
(DBY)

Psalms 55:7
Behold, then I would wander far off. I would lodge in the wilderness." Selah.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE WBS NAS RSV)

Psalms 59:11
Slay them not, lest my people forget: Scatter them by thy power, and bring them down, O Lord our shield.
(See JPS DBY NIV)

Psalms 59:15
They shall wander up and down for food, and wait all night if they aren't satisfied.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Psalms 107:40
He pours contempt on princes, and causes them to wander in a trackless waste.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Psalms 109:10
Let his children be wandering beggars. Let them be sought from their ruins.
(Root in WEB BBE YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Psalms 119:10
With my whole heart, I have sought you. Don't let me wander from your commandments.
(WEB KJV ASV BBE DBY WBS NAS RSV)

Psalms 119:21
You have rebuked the proud who are cursed, who wander from your commandments.
(WEB ASV BBE DBY NAS RSV)

Psalms 119:118
You have overcome all those who are wandering from your rules; for all their thoughts are false.
(Root in BBE DBY NAS)

Proverbs 5:6
So that she findeth not the level path of life: Her ways are unstable, and'she knoweth it not.
(See JPS DBY RSV)

Proverbs 7:25
Let not your heart be turned to her ways, do not go wandering in her footsteps.
(Root in BBE YLT)

Proverbs 17:24
Wisdom is before the face of one who has understanding, but the eyes of a fool wander to the ends of the earth.
(WEB NIV)

Isaiah 35:8
And a highway will be there; its name will be, The Holy Way; the unclean and the sinner may not go over it, and those who go on it will not be turned out of the way by the foolish.
(See NAS)

Isaiah 38:15
What am I to say? seeing that it is he who has done it: all my time of sleeping I am turning from side to side without rest.
(See NAS)

Isaiah 47:15
Thus shall the things be to you in which you have labored: those who have trafficked with you from your youth shall wander everyone to his quarter; there shall be none to save you.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Isaiah 63:17
O Lord, why do you send us wandering from your ways, making our hearts hard, so that we have no fear of you? Come back, because of your servants, the tribes of your heritage.
(Root in BBE YLT NIV)

Jeremiah 14:10
Thus says Yahweh to this people, Even so have they loved to wander; they have not refrained their feet: therefore Yahweh does not accept them; now he will remember their iniquity, and visit their sins.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Jeremiah 31:22
How long will you go on turning this way and that, O wandering daughter? for the Lord has made a new thing on the earth, a woman changed into a man.
(Root in BBE DBY WBS NIV)

Jeremiah 31:24
Judah and all its cities shall dwell therein together, the farmers, and those who go about with flocks.
(See RSV)

Jeremiah 48:12
Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will send unto him wanderers, that shall cause him to wander, and shall empty his vessels, and break their bottles.
(Root in KJV WBS YLT)

Jeremiah 49:30
Flee, wander far off, dwell in the depths, you inhabitants of Hazor, says Yahweh; for Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon has taken counsel against you, and has conceived a purpose against you.
(WEB ASV BBE DBY RSV)

Jeremiah 50:8
Flee out of the midst of Babylon, and go forth out of the land of the Chaldeans, and be as the male goats before the flocks.
(See NAS)

Lamentations 4:14
They wander as blind men in the streets, they are polluted with blood, So that men can't touch their garments.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Lamentations 4:15
Depart! they cried to them, Unclean! depart, depart, don't touch! When they fled away and wandered, men said among the nations, They shall no more sojourn here.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Ezekiel 14:11
So that the children of Israel may no longer go wandering away from me, or make themselves unclean with all their wrongdoing; but they will be my people, and I will be their God, says the Lord.
(Root in BBE YLT)

Joel 1:18
How the animals groan! The herds of livestock are perplexed, because they have no pasture. Yes, the flocks of sheep are made desolate.
(See NAS)

Amos 8:12
They will wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east; they will run back and forth to seek the word of Yahweh, and will not find it.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT RSV NIV)

Zechariah 10:2
For the teraphim have spoken vanity, and the diviners have seen a lie; and they have told false dreams. They comfort in vain. Therefore they go their way like sheep. They are oppressed, because there is no shepherd.
(See NAS RSV NIV)

Subtopics

Wander

Related Terms

Strayed (9 Occurrences)

Judicially (1 Occurrence)

Beer (15 Occurrences)

Wander (43 Occurrences)

Wanderer (10 Occurrences)

Wilderness (304 Occurrences)

Hagar (15 Occurrences)

No (18543 Occurrences)

Out-places (22 Occurrences)