Definition and Usage:
The term "err" refers to the act of making a mistake or deviating from what is correct or true. In a biblical context, it often implies a moral or spiritual deviation from God's commandments or truth. The concept of erring is frequently associated with sin, misunderstanding, or straying from the path of righteousness.

Biblical References:

1. Human Fallibility:
The Bible acknowledges human fallibility and the propensity to err. In James 3:2 , it is written, "We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to control his whole body." This verse highlights the universal nature of human error and the challenge of achieving perfection.

2. Erring in Doctrine:
Scripture warns against erring in doctrine and being led astray by false teachings. In 2 Timothy 4:3-4 , Paul cautions, "For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires. So they will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths." This passage underscores the importance of adhering to sound doctrine to avoid spiritual error.

3. Moral and Spiritual Error:
The Bible often equates erring with sinning against God. In Psalm 119:10 , the psalmist pleads, "With all my heart I have sought You; do not let me stray from Your commandments." Here, erring is seen as straying from God's commandments, emphasizing the need for divine guidance to remain on the righteous path.

4. Consequences of Erring:
The consequences of erring can be severe, leading to spiritual death or separation from God. 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 highlights the redemptive opportunity in correcting error and the grave consequences of remaining in it.

5. Divine Guidance to Avoid Error:
The Bible emphasizes the need for divine wisdom and guidance to avoid error. Proverbs 3:5-6 advises, "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." This counsel encourages reliance on God to prevent erring in judgment and action.

Theological Implications:

· Sin and Repentance: Erring is often linked with sin, necessitating repentance and a return to God's ways. The process of recognizing one's errors and seeking forgiveness is central to the Christian faith.

· Role of the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in guiding believers away from error and into truth. John 16:13 states, "But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all truth." This highlights the importance of the Holy Spirit in discerning truth and avoiding error.

· Community and Correction: The Christian community is called to help one another avoid error and correct those who have strayed. Galatians 6:1 instructs, "Brothers, if someone is caught in a trespass, you who are spiritual should restore him with a spirit of gentleness." This reflects the communal responsibility to support and guide each other in truth.

In summary, the concept of erring in the Bible encompasses both doctrinal and moral dimensions, with significant emphasis on the need for divine guidance, community support, and personal vigilance to remain aligned with God's truth.1. (v. i.) To wander; to roam; to stray.

2. (v. i.) To deviate from the true course; to miss the thing aimed at.

3. (v. i.) To miss intellectual truth; to fall into error; to mistake in judgment or opinion; to be mistaken.

4. (v. i.) To deviate morally from the right way; to go astray, in a figurative sense; to do wrong; to sin.

5. (v. i.) To offend, as by erring.

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 have shaghah in 1 Samuel 26:21, "I have played the fool, and have erred"; Job 19:4, "Mine error remaineth with myself," i.e. "is my own concern," or, perhaps, "only injures myself"; Psalm 119:118 Isaiah 28:7 the King James Version (thrice); ta`ah, Psalm 95:10 Proverbs 14:22 Isaiah 35:8. It means also "to cause to err" (Isaiah 3:12; Isaiah 30:28, "a bridle that causeth to err"; Jeremiah 23:13, 12; "Their lies (i.e. the unreal deities, creatures of their own imagination) have caused them to err," Amos 2:4).

In the New Testament the word is generally planaomai, "to wander" (Mark 12:24, 27 Hebrews 3:10 James 5:19); astocheo, "to miss the mark," "to swerve," occurs twice (1 Timothy 6:21 2 Timothy 2:18).

Error in the Old Testament represents various words: sheghaghah, "mistake," "oversight" (Ecclesiastes 5:6; compare Proverbs 20:25 and see INQUIRE); meshughah, with the same meaning, "wandering" (Job 19:4; compare Psalm 19:12); shal, "rashness," "mistake" (2 Samuel 6:7, "God smote him there for his error," the Revised Version, margin "rashness"); shalu, Aramaic "mistake" (Daniel 6:4); to`ah, "injury" (Isaiah 32:6).

In the New Testament we have plane, "wandering" (Romans 1:27 James 5:20 1 John 4:6 Jude 1:11, "the error of Balaam"); agnoema, "ignorance" (Hebrews 9:7, margin, Greek "ignorances"). For "is deceived" (Proverbs 20:1) the Revised Version (British and American) has "erreth," margin "or reeleth"; for "them that are out of the way" (Hebrews 5:2), "the ignorant and erring"; for "deceit" (1 Thessalonians 2:3), "error."

The English word "error" has the same original meaning as the Hebrew and Greek main words, being derived from erro, "to wander." "To err is human," but there are errors of the heart as well as of the head. The familiar phrase just quoted seems to have its equivalent in the marginal rendering of Genesis 6:3, "in their going astray they are flesh." Errors through ignorance are in the Bible distinguished from errors of the heart and willful errors (Leviticus 5:18 Numbers 15:22 Ezekiel 45:20).

W. L. Walker

4417. ptaio -- to cause to stumble, to stumble
... of Speech: Verb Transliteration: ptaio Phonetic Spelling: (ptah'-yo) Short Definition:
I stumble, fall, sin Definition: I stumble, fall, sin, err, transgress. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4417.htm - 6k

4105. planao -- to cause to wander, to wander
... wandering (1). deceive, err, seduce, wander. From plane; to (properly, cause
to) roam (from safety, truth, or virtue) -- go astray ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4105.htm - 9k

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

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

264. hamartano -- to miss the mark, do wrong, sin
... from a (as a negative particle) and the base of meros; properly, to miss the mark
(and so not share in the prize), ie (figuratively) to err, especially (morally ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/264.htm - 9k

8582. taah -- to err
... to err. Transliteration: taah Phonetic Spelling: (taw-aw') Short Definition: wander. ...
cause to go astray, deceive, dissemble, cause to, make to err, seduce. ...
/hebrew/8582.htm - 6k

7686. shagah -- to go astray, err
... 7685, 7686. shagah. 7687 . to go astray, err. Transliteration: shagah Phonetic
Spelling: (shaw-gaw') Short Definition: reel. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/7686.htm - 6k

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

4603. maal -- to act unfaithfully or treacherously
... 1), acts (2), became...unfaithful (1), been (1), been unfaithful (5), broke faith
(1), committed (6), committing unfaithfulness (1), err (1), perpetrated (1 ...
/hebrew/4603.htm - 6k

You Err, My Opponent Says, and are Deceived; for the Gods are not ...
... Book III. 22 You err, my opponent says, and are deceived; for the gods
are not themselves artificers? You err, my opponent says ...
/.../the seven books of arnobius against the heathen/22 you err my opponent.htm

But You Err, Says My Opponent, and are Mistaken...
... Book VI. 17 But you err, says my opponent, and are mistaken? But you err,
says my opponent, and are mistaken, for we do not consider ...
/.../the seven books of arnobius against the heathen/17 but you err says.htm

But You Err, Says My Opponent, and are Mistaken...
... Book V. 32 But you err, says my opponent, and are mistaken? But you err,
says my opponent, and are mistaken, and show, even in ...
/.../the seven books of arnobius against the heathen/32 but you err says.htm

But You Err, Says My Opponent, and Fall into Mistakes...
... Book VII. 19 But you err, says my opponent, and fall into mistakes? But
you err, says my opponent, and fall into mistakes; for ...
/.../the seven books of arnobius against the heathen/19 but you err says.htm

The Forty-Fifth Chapter: all Men are not to be Believed, for it is ...
... BOOK THREE. INTERNAL CONSOLATION The Forty-Fifth Chapter: All Men Are Not to
Be Believed, for It Is Easy to Err in Speech. The Disciple ...
/.../kempis/the imitation of christ/the forty-fifth chapter all men.htm

This Work is Written against those who Sophistically Assail the ...
... They Who Dispute Concerning God Err from a Threefold Cause. Holy Scripture, Removing
What is False, Leads Us on by Degrees to Things Divine. ...
/.../augustine/on the holy trinity/chapter 1 this work is written.htm

Gimel.
... 22. "Thou hast rebuked the proud: and cursed are they that do err from Thy commandments"
(ver.21). For the proud err from the commandments of God. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/gimel.htm

The Apology of Aristides as it is Preserved in the History of ...
... What then shall I say concerning the elements? They err who believe that the
sky is a god. ... They also err who believe that fire is a god. ...
/.../kay/the apology of aristides the philosopher/the apology of aristides as.htm

God's Meaning of "Human. "
... For instance, "To err is human, to forgive divine." Yet this catchy statement is
not true, save in part. ... Not to forgive is devilish. It is not human to err. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/gordon/quiet talks about jesus/gods meaning of human.htm

The Nature of Error. All Error is not Hurtful, Though it is Man's ...
... For although we ought with the greatest possible care to avoid error, not only in
great but even in little things, and although we cannot err except through ...
/.../augustine/the enchiridion/chapter 17 the nature of error.htm

Err (41 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. ERR; ERROR. ur, er'-er: To err is in the Old
Testament the translation of shaghah, and ta`ah, both of which mean literally,. ...
/e/err.htm - 22k

Error (90 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. ERR; ERROR. ur, er'-er: To err is in the Old
Testament the translation of shaghah, and ta`ah, both of which mean literally,. ...
/e/error.htm - 38k

Seducer
... se-dus', se-dus'-er (Hiphil of (Ta`ah, or ta`ah, "to err"; of pathah, "to be simple";
planao, apoplanao, "to lead astray"): (1) The word "seduce" is only used ...
/s/seducer.htm - 9k

Seduce (8 Occurrences)
... se-dus', se-dus'-er (Hiphil of (Ta`ah, or ta`ah, "to err"; of pathah, "to be simple";
planao, apoplanao, "to lead astray"): (1) The word "seduce" is only used ...
/s/seduce.htm - 12k

Fare (13 Occurrences)
... (singular) imperat. (err(h)oso) or plural (err(h)osthe) as a farewell salutation,
or at the close of a letter, or to describe the welfare (usually physical or ...
/f/fare.htm - 15k

Fault (42 Occurrences)
... are badly faulted. 10. (vi) To err; to blunder, to commit a fault; to do
wrong. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. FAULT. folt (chaTa ...
/f/fault.htm - 23k

Eulogists (2 Occurrences)
... ruled over it. My people -- thy eulogists are causing to err, And the way of
thy paths swallowed up. (YLT). Isaiah 9:16 And the eulogists ...
/e/eulogists.htm - 6k

Bit (46 Occurrences)
... within his double bridle," others, "into the double row of his teeth"; Isaiah
30:28, "a bridle in the jaws of the people causing them to err," the Revised ...
/b/bit.htm - 24k

Bridle (12 Occurrences)
... within his double bridle," others, "into the double row of his teeth"; Isaiah
30:28, "a bridle in the jaws of the people causing them to err," the Revised ...
/b/bridle.htm - 15k

Stumble (89 Occurrences)
... 3. (vi) To fall into a crime or an error; to err. ... 6. (vt) Fig.: To mislead;
to confound; to perplex; to cause to err or to fall. ...
/s/stumble.htm - 34k

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