In the context of biblical teachings, the term "deviate" refers to the act of straying from the path of righteousness and the commands of God. It involves turning away from the established moral and spiritual guidelines set forth in Scripture. The Bible frequently addresses the consequences of deviation from God's ways, emphasizing the importance of adherence to His commandments and the pursuit of holiness.

Old Testament References

The concept of deviation is evident in the Old Testament, where the Israelites are repeatedly warned against turning away from God's laws. In Deuteronomy 5:32-33 , Moses instructs the people, "So be careful to do as the LORD your God has commanded you; you are not to turn aside to the right or to the left. You must walk in all the ways that the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess."

The prophets also spoke against deviation, often calling the people back to faithfulness. In Jeremiah 7:24 , the prophet laments, "Yet they did not listen or incline their ear, but they followed the stubborn inclinations of their own evil hearts. They went backward and not forward."

New Testament References

In the New Testament, deviation from the truth is addressed by Jesus and the apostles. Jesus warns against false prophets and teachers who lead people astray. In Matthew 7:15-16 , He says, "Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them."

The apostle Paul also cautions against deviation from the gospel. In Galatians 1:6-7 , he expresses astonishment that the Galatians are "so quickly deserting the One who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—which is not even a gospel."

Moral and Spiritual Implications

Deviation from God's commandments is often associated with sin and rebellion. The Bible teaches that such actions lead to spiritual decay and separation from God. Proverbs 14:12 warns, "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death."

The call to avoid deviation is a call to remain steadfast in faith and obedience. James 1:22 encourages believers, "Be doers of the word, and not hearers only. Otherwise, you are deceiving yourselves."

The Path of Righteousness

The Bible consistently presents a clear path of righteousness, urging believers to follow it diligently. Psalm 119:105 declares, "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." This verse underscores the importance of Scripture as a guide to prevent deviation and to maintain a life pleasing to God.

In summary, the biblical perspective on deviation emphasizes the necessity of faithfulness to God's word and the dangers of straying from His commandments. The Scriptures provide both warnings and encouragement to remain on the path of righteousness, highlighting the blessings of obedience and the perils of deviation.1. (v. i.) To turn aside from a course or a method; to stray or go astray; to err; to digress; to diverge; to vary.

2. (v. t.) To cause to deviate.

1578. ekklino -- to deviate, to turn away (from someone or ...
... to deviate, to turn away (from someone or something). Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: ekklino Phonetic Spelling: (ek-klee'-no) Short Definition: I fall ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1578.htm - 7k

1593. ekneuo -- to bend the head away, to withdraw
... Speech: Verb Transliteration: ekneuo Phonetic Spelling: (ek-nyoo'-o) Short Definition:
I retire, withdraw Definition: I escape, get clear of, deviate, withdraw ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1593.htm - 6k

795. astocheo -- to miss the mark
... err, swerve. From a compound of a (as a negative particle) and stoichos (an aim);
to miss the mark, ie (figuratively) deviate from truth -- err, swerve. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/795.htm - 7k

5670. abat -- to take or give a pledge
... Word Origin denominative verb from abot Definition to take or give a pledge NASB
Word Usage borrow (1), deviate (1), generously lend (1), lend (1), take (1). ...
/hebrew/5670.htm - 6k

7847. satah -- to turn aside
... decline, go aside, turn. A primitive root; to deviate from duty -- decline, go
aside, turn. 7846, 7847. satah. 7848 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/7847.htm - 6k

Confession Enforced.
... The treatise appended to the Report of 1827 declared: It is necessary to correct
the wrong opinion that Lutheran ministers are at liberty to deviate from the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bente/american lutheranism/confession enforced.htm

Tennessee Justifying Her Procedure.
... It is necessary to correct a wrong opinion, which is, that Lutheran ministers are
at liberty to deviate from the Augustan Confession whereinsoever they ...
/.../bente/american lutheranism/tennessee justifying her procedure.htm

Originality of Our Saviour's Character.
... That Jesus, coming to them as their Messiah, should come under a character totally
different from that in which they expected him; should deviate from the ...
/.../paley/evidences of christianity/chapter v originality of our.htm

Error, Though not Always a Sin, is Always an Evil.
... 1116] For the "mistake pleasing to parents" in the case of the twin children was
no deviation from this way; nor did the Apostle Peter deviate from this way ...
/.../augustine/the enchiridion/chapter 21 error though not always.htm

Disputed Questions About the Limits of Knowledge and Certainty in ...
... [41] Nor did the apostle Peter deviate from this way when he thought he
saw a vision and so mistook one thing for something else. ...
/.../handbook on faith hope and love/chapter vii disputed questions about.htm

Introduction
... emotion and moves almost as an undivided unit toward some end, then the claim of
a right, on the ground of conscience, for the individual to deviate from the ...
/.../pringle/the record of a quaker conscience cyrus pringles diary/introduction.htm

Preface
... to particular systems of divinity, the Author requests a candid construction of
what he advances, if he ventures, in some instances, to deviate a little from ...
//christianbookshelf.org/newton/messiah vol 1/preface.htm

The Perseverance of the Saints
... a state of grace, yet converts are not always so influenced and actuated by the
Spirit of God as not in some particular instances sinfully to deviate from the ...
/.../anonymous/synod of dort/the perseverance of the saints.htm

From the Conference of 1773 to the Commencement of the War in 1776
... Answer Yes. 3. If so, does it not follow, that if any preachers deviate from the
minutes, we can have no fellowship with them till they change their conduct? ...
/.../chapter 1 from the conference.htm

For There were Even in the Apostles' Times Some who Preached the ...
... impiety, yet if there were no other way at all of drawing out heretical impiety
from its caverns, but that the catholic tongue should deviate from the straight ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/against lying/section 16 for there were.htm

Deviate (1 Occurrence)
... 2. (vt) To cause to deviate. Multi-Version Concordance Deviate (1 Occurrence). Joel
2:7 They run like mighty men. They climb the wall like warriors. ...
/d/deviate.htm - 6k

Incline (38 Occurrences)
... 1. (vi) To deviate from a line, direction, or course, toward an object; to lean;
to tend; as, converging lines incline toward each other; a road inclines to ...
/i/incline.htm - 18k

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

Lapse (9 Occurrences)
... 6. (vi) To slide or slip in moral conduct; to fail in duty; to fall from virtue;
to deviate from rectitude; to commit a fault by inadvertence or mistake. ...
/l/lapse.htm - 10k

Lean (22 Occurrences)
... 2. (vi) To incline, deviate, or bend, from a vertical position; to be in a position
thus inclining or deviating; as, she leaned out at the window; a leaning ...
/l/lean.htm - 14k

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

Warp (9 Occurrences)
... seasoning or shrinking. 11. (vi) to turn or incline from a straight, true,
or proper course; to deviate; to swerve. 12. (vi) To ...
/w/warp.htm - 12k

Depart (211 Occurrences)
... 3. (vi) To forsake; to abandon; to desist or deviate (from); not to adhere to; --
with from; as, we can not depart from our rules; to depart from a title or ...
/d/depart.htm - 36k

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

Deviated (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) of Deviate. Multi-Version Concordance
Deviated (1 Occurrence). Psalms 44:18 Our heart has not ...
/d/deviated.htm - 6k

What is Landmarkism? What is “Baptist Bride” theology? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible say about compromise? | GotQuestions.org

What are the Four Noble Truths? | GotQuestions.org

Deviate: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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