sha.gah describes straying from a path, command, or sound course, and in a causative form leading another astray.

The attested uses chiefly describe persons or a community straying—through error, from commandments or instruction, or amid wine and folly; a smaller causative group describes leading someone else off the way. The same wording can also depict a flock scattered over the land.

1. Straying from a right course · dominant

   Qal forms describe deviation by people or groups: in Leviticus 4:13 the whole congregation goes astray before doing what was prohibited, and in Numbers 15:22 the addressees stray by failing to do the commands. In Psalm 119:21 and Psalm 119:118, participial forms identify those who stray from commandments or statutes; Isaiah 28:7 places repeated straying amid wine and strong drink.

   Leviticus 4:13Numbers 15:22Psalm 119:21Psalm 119:118Isaiah 28:7Job 6:24
2. Causing another to stray · common

   Hiphil participles and a Hiphil jussive present an agent causing deviation. Deuteronomy 27:18 concerns someone who leads a blind person off the road, Proverbs 28:10 concerns leading the upright into a harmful way, and Psalm 119:10 asks that the speaker not be caused to wander from the commandments.

   Deuteronomy 27:18Job 12:16Proverbs 28:10Psalm 119:10

In the Anselm Project Bible: The APB varies its presentation with the clause, using “goes astray,” “wander,” and “misleads”; it also uses “intoxicated” in Proverbs 5:19. These renderings indicate the verses' overall presentation rather than fixed English equivalents.