Strong’s G4105: From πλάνη (wandering), πλανάω means to cause to wander, mislead, or deceive. In passive voice, it means to be led astray or wander. Used metaphorically in NT for spiritual deception and moral error. Significant in pastoral warnings against false teaching and emphasis on divine truth.

U- Unveiling the Word

Πλανάω fundamentally denotes the action of causing someone to stray from a proper course or to wander from truth. In New Testament usage, it carries profound theological significance, particularly in contexts of spiritual deception and moral error. The word appears frequently in warnings against false teaching and in descriptions of humanity’s condition apart from God. Early church fathers employed this term to describe both the act of leading others astray doctrinally and the state of being deceived by false teachings. Today, it remains particularly relevant in discussions about truth, deception, and the importance of maintaining sound doctrine in an era of diverse spiritual claims.

N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: πλανάω, planaō, [plan-ah’-o]
• Pronunciation Guide: ‘plan’ as in ‘plan’, ‘ah’ as in ‘father’, ‘o’ as in ‘go’
• Part of Speech: Verb

Etymology:

• Root: πλάνη (planē) – wandering, error
• Verb form: -άω (-aō) – indicates continuous action
• Function: Creates active verb meaning “to cause to wander” or “to deceive”

D – Defining Meanings

• To cause to wander from the right path
• To lead astray, deceive
• To be misled (in passive voice)

For compound words:
Not a compound word, but the verbal ending -άω indicates ongoing action, emphasizing the continuous nature of deception or wandering.

Translation Options:

• To deceive – Best captures the intentional aspect of leading astray
• To wander – Emphasizes the physical/spiritual displacement
• To mislead – Combines both intentional and directional aspects

E – Exploring Similar Words

• ἀπατάω (apataō) [ap-at-ah’-o] – to deceive, more focused on deception through false promises
• ψεύδομαι (pseudomai) [psyoo’-dom-ahee] – to lie, specifically about speaking falsehood
• πλανάομαι (planaomai) [plan-ah’-om-ahee] – middle/passive form, emphasizing being led astray

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

As a verb, πλανάω exhibits:

• Tense: Present, Future, Aorist, Perfect
• Voice: Active, Middle, Passive
• Mood: Indicative, Subjunctive, Imperative
• Person: First, Second, Third
• Number: Singular, Plural
• Aspect: Continuous, Punctiliar, Stative

Example conjugations:

• Present Active: πλανῶ (I deceive)
• Aorist Passive: ἐπλανήθην (I was deceived)
• Perfect Passive: πεπλάνημαι (I have been deceived)

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

BDAG emphasizes both literal wandering and metaphorical deception. Thayer’s notes its development from physical to spiritual wandering. LSJ provides extensive classical usage examples. Vine’s highlights its use in pastoral contexts. Moulton and Milligan show its common usage in warnings and moral instruction in papyri.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First appearance:

“What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray [πλανάω], does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray [πλανάω]?” (Matthew 18:12)

Additional References:
Matthew 24:4-5, Mark 13:5-6, 1 John 1:8, James 5:19, 1 Peter 2:25

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

N – Noteworthy Summary

Πλανάω powerfully illustrates humanity’s tendency to wander from truth and our susceptibility to deception. Yet it also highlights the good news that Jesus, the Good Shepherd, actively seeks those who have strayed. This word reminds us that while we may wander, we are never beyond the reach of divine grace and truth.

D – Did You Know?

• Our English word “planet” derives from the related noun πλανήτης, referring to “wandering stars”
• The word appears 39 times in the New Testament, often in contexts warning against false teaching
• Early Christian literature frequently used πλανάω to describe the state of humanity before encountering Christ

Strong’s G4105: From πλάνη, meaning to cause to wander or deceive. In NT usage, primarily describes spiritual deception and moral error. Features prominently in pastoral warnings against false teaching and descriptions of spiritual wandering. Emphasizes both active deception and passive state of being misled.

Part of speech: Verb

Tags: #deception #wandering #false-teaching #spiritual-error #shepherding #truth #correction #restoration #moral-error #discipleship​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​