a -strā ´ (תּעה , tā‛āh , "to wander," "to err"; πλανάομαι , planáomai , "to go astray," each carrying the idea of being lost): With one exception (Exodus 23:4 "his ass going astray") used metaphorically of moral wandering, going astray in paths of error and sin, like "sheep going astray" ( 1 Peter 2:25 the King James Version; Isaiah 53:6; Psalm 119:176 ). This wandering may be due (1) to inherent evil (Psalm 58:3 ); (2) to false shepherds (Jeremiah 50:6 ); contrast the beautiful and classic passage, Matthew 18:12 , Matthew 18:13 , the Son of man (Matthew 18:12 ) seeketh that which is gone astray. No word more vividly portrays sin as a straying, a separation from God. To be morally "astray" is to be "lost."
The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE) was edited by James Orr, John Nuelsen, Edgar Mullins, Morris Evans, and Melvin Grove Kyle and was published complete in 1939. This web site includes the complete text.
WikipediaThe ISBE is a classic Bible reference compiled from nearly 10,000 entries written by over 200 different Bible scholars and teachers. In addition to the encyclopedia articles, all of the major words of the Bible are represented and defined.
The historical, cultural, and linguistic information in the ISBE can be of great value in Bible study and research.
But as with any writings of men, the careful student of the Bible must always compare them with Scripture. As you use this helpful study resource, remember that only God's word is pure.
Read More