שׁוּב
to return
‘to return’ is one of 5 main senses fuller range ↓
Full lexicon entry — Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)
From Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)
Where this word appears
See every Qal verb in the Hebrew Bible →
Grammar key — what these labels mean
Part of speech
- Verb
- An action or state-of-being word.
Stem
- Qal
- The basic, simple active stem — the plain form of the verb (“he wrote”). Here: ‘turn back’
- Hiphil
- The causative active stem (“he caused / brought about”). Here: ‘bring back’
- Polel
- A stem of hollow/geminate roots functioning like the Piel — intensive active.
- Hophal
- The passive counterpart of the Hiphil (“he was caused to…”).
Form
- Sequential Imperfect
- An imperfect with prefixed waw — the standard past-narrative form (waw-consecutive imperfect).
- Imperfect
- An incomplete, ongoing, or future action (“he will / would write”).
- Infinitive Construct
- A bound verbal noun, frequently with prepositions (“to write / in writing”).
- Perfect
- A completed action or state — Hebrew marks aspect (completeness) more than strict tense (“he wrote”).
- Imperative
- A direct command (“write!”).
- Sequential Perfect
- A perfect with prefixed waw continuing a preceding imperfect or command (waw-consecutive perfect).
- Participle Active
- A verbal adjective expressing ongoing or characteristic action (“writing / one who writes”).
- Jussive
- A third- or second-person volitional form expressing wish or command (“let him write”).
- Infinitive Absolute
- An unbound verbal noun, often intensifying or standing in for a finite verb.
- Cohortative
- A first-person volitional form expressing wish or resolve (“let me / let us write”).
- Participle Passive
- A verbal adjective expressing action received (“written”).
State
- Absolute
- The independent form of a noun, not bound to a following word.
- Construct
- A noun bound to a following noun in a possessive / “of” relationship (the construct chain).
Person
- 3rd Person
- The one spoken about (“he / she / it / they”).
- 2nd Person
- The one addressed (“you”).
- 1st Person
- The speaker (“I / we”).
Gender
- Masculine
- Grammatically masculine.
- Common
- Either gender — not distinguished for this form.
- Feminine
- Grammatically feminine.
Number
- Singular
- One.
- Plural
- More than one (in Hebrew, generally three or more).
41 verses where H7725 appears in the Qal stem in the Book of Psalms. Filtered view — show all forms. Click any verse to open its interlinear word-by-word view. Verse text shown in the World English Bible for context — . Each verse’s Hebrew form is shown with its reference; the English is not keyword-highlighted, since the data carries no word-level English alignment. Use “Compare translations” on any verse to read it across multiple English versions. This concordance covers the Hebrew Bible; Septuagint (Greek Old Testament) occurrences are not indexed here.
Psalms
- Psalms 6:4 שׁוּבָ֣/ה Qal impv 2ms + sfx h Return, Yahweh. Deliver my soul, And save me for your loving kindness' sake.
- Psalms 6:10 יָ֝שֻׁ֗בוּ Qal impf 3mp May all my enemies be ashamed and dismayed. They shall turn back, they shall be disgraced suddenly.
- Psalms 7:7 שֽׁוּבָ/ה Qal impv 2ms + sfx h Let the congregation of the peoples surround you. Rule over them on high.
- Psalms 7:12 יָ֭שׁוּב Qal impf 3ms If a man doesn't relent, he will sharpen his sword; He has bent and strung his bow.
- Psalms 7:16 יָשׁ֣וּב Qal impf 3ms The trouble he causes shall return to his own head. His violence shall come down on the crown of his own head.
- Psalms 9:3 בְּ/שׁוּב prep + Qal inf.cs When my enemies turn back, They stumble and perish in your presence.
- Psalms 9:17 יָשׁ֣וּבוּ Qal impf 3mp The wicked shall be turned back to Sheol, Even all the nations that forget God.
- Psalms 14:7 בְּ/שׁ֣וּב prep + Qal inf.cs Oh that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion! When Yahweh restores the fortunes of his people, Then Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.
- Psalms 18:37 אָ֝שׁוּב Qal impf 1cs I will pursue my enemies, and overtake them. Neither will I turn again until they are consumed.
- Psalms 22:27 וְ/יָשֻׁ֣בוּ conj + Qal impf 3mp All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to Yahweh. All the relatives of the nations shall worship before you.
- Psalms 35:13 תָשֽׁוּב Qal impf 3fs But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth. I afflicted my soul with fasting. My prayer returned into my own bosom.
- Psalms 51:13 יָשֽׁוּבוּ Qal impf 3mp Then I will teach transgressors your ways. Sinners shall be converted to you.
- Psalms 53:6 בְּ/שׁ֣וּב prep + Qal inf.cs Oh that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion! When God brings back the captivity of his people, Then Jacob shall rejoice. Israel shall be glad.
- Psalms 54:5 ישוב יָשִׁ֣יב Qal impf 3ms Hiphil impf 3ms He will repay the evil to my enemies. Destroy them in your truth.
- Psalms 56:9 יָ֘שׁ֤וּבוּ Qal impf 3mp Then my enemies shall turn back in the day that I call. I know this, that God is for me.
- Psalms 59:6 יָשׁ֣וּבוּ Qal impf 3mp They return at evening, howling like dogs, And prowl around the city.
- Psalms 59:14 וְ/יָשׁ֣וּבוּ conj + Qal impf 3mp At evening let them return. Let them howl like a dog, and go around the city.
- Psalms 60:1 וַ/יָּ֤שָׁב תְּשׁ֣וֹבֵ֥ב conj + Qal wimpf 3ms Polel impf 2ms God, you have rejected us. You have broken us down. You have been angry. Restore us, again.
- Psalms 70:3 יָ֭שׁוּבוּ Qal impf 3mp Let them be turned because of their shame Who say, "Aha! Aha!"
- Psalms 71:20 תָּשׁ֥וּב תָּשׁ֥וּב Qal impf 2ms Qal impf 2ms You, who have shown us many and bitter troubles, You will let me live. You will bring us up again from the depths of the earth.
- Psalms 73:10 ישיב יָשׁ֣וּב Hiphil impf 3ms Qal impf 3ms Therefore their people return to them, And they drink up waters of abundance.
- Psalms 74:21 יָשֹׁ֣ב Qal juss 3ms Don't let the oppressed return ashamed. Let the poor and needy praise your name.
- Psalms 78:34 וְ֝/שָׁ֗בוּ conj + Qal wpf 3cp When he killed them, then they inquired after him. They returned and sought God earnestly.
- Psalms 78:39 יָשֽׁוּב Qal impf 3ms He remembered that they were but flesh, A wind that passes away, and doesn't come again.
- Psalms 78:41 וַ/יָּשׁ֣וּבוּ conj + Qal wimpf 3mp They turned again and tempted God, And provoked the Holy One of Israel.
- Psalms 80:14 שֽׁ֫וּב Qal impv 2ms Turn again, we beg you, God of hosts. Look down from heaven, and see, and visit this vine,
- Psalms 85:1 שַׁ֝֗בְתָּ Qal pf 2ms Yahweh, you have been favorable to your land. You have restored the fortunes of Jacob.
- Psalms 85:4 שׁ֭וּבֵ/נוּ Qal impv 2ms + sfx pers 1cp Turn us, God of our salvation, And cause your indignation toward us to cease.
- Psalms 85:6 תָּשׁ֣וּב Qal impf 2ms Won't you revive us again, That your people may rejoice in you?
- Psalms 85:8 יָשׁ֥וּבוּ Qal juss 3mp I will hear what God, Yahweh, will speak, For he will speak peace to his people, his saints; But let them not turn again to folly.
- Psalms 90:3 תָּשֵׁ֣ב שׁ֣וּבוּ Hiphil impf 2ms Qal impv 2mp You turn man to destruction, saying, "Return, you children of men."
- Psalms 90:13 שׁוּבָ֣/ה Qal impv 2ms + sfx h Relent, Yahweh! How long? Have compassion on your servants!
- Psalms 94:15 יָשׁ֣וּב Qal impf 3ms For judgment will return to righteousness. All the upright in heart shall follow it.
- Psalms 104:9 יְ֝שׁוּב֗וּ/ן Qal impf 3mp + sfx n You have set a boundary that they may not pass over; That they don't turn again to cover the earth.
- Psalms 104:29 יְשׁוּבֽוּ/ן Qal impf 3mp + sfx n You hide your face: they are troubled; You take away their breath: they die, and return to the dust.
- Psalms 116:7 שׁוּבִ֣י Qal impv 2fs Return to your rest, my soul, For Yahweh has dealt bountifully with you.
- Psalms 119:79 יָשׁ֣וּבוּ Qal impf 3mp Let those who fear you turn to me. They will know your statutes.
- Psalms 126:1 בְּ/שׁ֣וּב prep + Qal inf.cs When Yahweh brought back those who returned to Zion, We were like those who dream.
- Psalms 126:4 שׁוּבָ֣/ה Qal impv 2ms + sfx h Restore our fortunes again, Yahweh, Like the streams in the Negev.
- Psalms 132:11 יָשׁ֪וּב Qal impf 3ms Yahweh has sworn to David in truth. He will not turn from it: "I will set the fruit of your body on your throne.
- Psalms 146:4 יָשֻׁ֣ב Qal impf 3ms His spirit departs, and he returns to the earth. In that very day, his thoughts perish.
About this entry
At a glance — auto-summarized from this page’s data, not written by a person. Every figure links to its source below. This summary describes the numbers; it doesn’t interpret them.
The Hebrew verb שוב centers on the idea of “to return.” As a verb its force shifts by stem, across 5 stems (Qal, Hiphil, and more). Spanning 952 verses in 38 books, it ranks among the most common words of the Hebrew Bible. Its earliest occurrence is Genesis 3:19. Related forms include משובה, שובב and שובב. Dig into 952-verse concordance and the renderings breakdown below.
Gloss history
Strong's 1890 vs modern scholarship
About this word
Strong's H7725 catalogs a Hebrew word from the Hebrew Old Testament.
These counts are not copied from any lexicon or concordance. They are computed here, from the morphology-tagged Hebrew Old Testament. What Lemma adds →
- 952
- distinct verses
- The word appears in 952 distinct verses.
- 38 / 39
- OT books
- The word appears in 38 of 39 Old Testament books.
- #38
- by frequency
- Top 50 most frequent Hebrew words (rank 38 of 8,640 Hebrew words by occurrence).
View all 952 occurrences in the concordance →
By section of the Old Testament
By traditional corpus
Conventional, traditional groupings — biblical authorship is debated, so this is a traditional corpus grouping, not an authorship claim. Each share is this word’s portion of its verses in that division of the Hebrew canon. Each figure is a share of the word’s 952 distinct verses.
- Prophets (Nevi'im) 528 verses · 55%
- Writings (Ketuvim) 265 verses · 28%
- Torah (Pentateuch) 159 verses · 17%
How translations render this word
Counts come from each version’s own published word-to-Strong’s tagging or interlinear alignment — an approximate guide to how each version renders this word, not a word-level alignment the data otherwise carries. Because each total is that version’s own tagged count, the per-version totals vary from one another and need not match the appearance or distinct-verse counts above. These counts may also differ from a printed concordance because Lemma counts each distinctly tagged rendering and does not collapse phrase taggings into a single head-word total. This is a fixed set of word-tagged versions (KJV, ASV, BSB, ULT) and does not change with the reading translation you choose elsewhere. Each version’s license is shown beside its name below (and on Sources).
- King James Version: Return 84×, Returned 80×, Again 66×
- American Standard Version: Returned 75×, Return 69×, Again 60×
- Berean Standard Bible: Return 102×, Returned 62×, Turn 29×
- unfoldingWord Literal Text: Return 164×, Returned 95×, And 80×
King James Version Public Domain
Renders H7725 across 1,106 tagged occurrences — most commonly:
Plus other, less common renderings. Plus 386 renderings that appear only once — usually multi-word phrases or single function words the recovered tagging swept in, not distinct renderings. Not rendered by a distinct English word in 11 further occurrences.
American Standard Version Public Domain
Renders H7725 across 1,102 tagged occurrences — most commonly:
Plus other, less common renderings. Plus 386 renderings that appear only once — usually multi-word phrases or single function words the recovered tagging swept in, not distinct renderings.
Berean Standard Bible Public Domain
Renders H7725 across 1,007 tagged occurrences — most commonly:
Plus other, less common renderings. Plus 306 renderings that appear only once — usually multi-word phrases or single function words the recovered tagging swept in, not distinct renderings. Not rendered by a distinct English word in 48 further occurrences.
unfoldingWord Literal Text CC BY-SA 4.0
Renders H7725 across 1,254 tagged occurrences — most commonly:
Plus other, less common renderings. Plus 223 renderings that appear only once — usually multi-word phrases or single function words the recovered tagging swept in, not distinct renderings.
64 senses and sub-senses in the full BDB
Hebrew verbs can shift meaning by stem (binyan): Qal is the basic action, Niphal is often passive or reflexive, Piel often intensifies or makes it factitive, and Hiphil is typically causative. The senses below are grouped under the stem BDB assigns to each. This entry also uses Hophal (the passive of Hiphil) and one or more reduplicated stems (the Pōlēl/Pilpēl type), which for hollow or geminate roots behave much like Piel — often intensive or iterative.
What do BDB’s symbols mean?
BDB uses these scholarly abbreviations:
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 𝔊 | the Septuagint (the ancient Greek translation, LXX) |
| 𝔙 | the Vulgate (the Latin translation) |
| 𝔖 | the Syriac version (the Peshitta) |
| 𝔗 | the Targum (the Aramaic translation) |
| ψ | the Psalms |
| √ | root (the underlying root or stem) |
| ‖ | parallel passage (a synonymous or contrasted parallel) |
| † | the dagger: every passage where the word occurs is cited |
The 64 senses and sub-senses the full Brown-Driver-Briggs lexicon distinguishes for this word, in lexicon order (not ranked by frequency), with BDB’s own verbatim wording and sub-sense lettering. Shown in Hebrew script with BDB’s own scholarly abbreviations. The condensed entry is in the Lexicon Entry tab. See also the Forms in the corpus table below.
Qal
- Pf. 3 ms. שָׁב Gn 18:33 +, 3 fs. שָׁ֫בָה Ru 1:15 +, וְשָׁבַת consec. †Ez 46:17 (Ges§ 72 o, but Co Toy Krae וְשָׁבָה), 2 ms. שַׁבְתָּ ψ 85:2, etc.; Impf. 3 ms. יָשׁוּב Ho 11:5 + often, יָשֻׁב ψ 146:4; La 3:3, juss. יָשֹׁב Ju 7:3 +, וַיָּ֫שָׁב Gn 26:18 +; 3 fpl. תָּשֹׁבְןָ Ez 16:55(×2), תְּשֻׁבֶינָה v 55, etc.; Imv. ms. שׁוּב Gn 31:3 +, שֻׁב Ex 4:19; 1 K 18:43, שׁוּ֫בָה Ho 14:2 +, fpl. שֹׁבְנָה Ru 1:8, 11, 12, etc.; Inf. abs. שׁוֹב Gn 8:3 +, cstr. שׁוּב Ex 4:21 +, שֹׁב Jos 2:16 (Ges§ 72 q), etc.; Pt. שָׁב Gn 43:18 +, fs. שָׁבָ֫ה Ru 1:22 +, etc.; pass. cstr. שׁוּבֵי Mi 2:8;—turn back, return: e.g. Genesis 18:33
- 1. turn back, c. מִן loc. Ju 3:19; 8:13, cf. 7:3, c. מֵאַחֲרֵי pers., i.e. from following 2 S 11:15; 1 K 19:21; Ru 1:16, from pursuing 2 S 2:26, 30; 1 K 22:33 = 2 Ch 18:32; c. מִן of pursuit 1 S 17:53; 23:28, cf. 2 Ch 11:4; c. אַחֲרֵי pers., i.e. so as to follow 1 S 15:31 2 S 23:10; turn back in fear, מִן rei Jb 39:22 (of horse), מִפְנֵי כֹל Pr 30:30 (of lion), so abs. (of foes) ψ 6:11; 56:10; 70:4, in shame La 1:8; turn back and do so and so: Gn 14:7; Ex 14:2, cf. Nu 33:7 (עַל loc., both P), Jos 8:21 (E), 11:10 (J), 1 Ch 21:20, sq. inf. 2 Ch 20:27; abs. turn back (face about) Ct 7:1(×4) (+ vb.); = be repulsed, defeated ψ 9:4 (+ אָחוֹר), 74:21; fig. turn back, viz. from promise or vow Ju 11:35; c. מִן of service Nu 8:25 (P), i.e. be exempt. e.g. Judges 3:19
- 2. return, come or go back, c. מֵעַל pers. 1 S 17:15 (opp. הלך), 2 S 10:14; 2 K 18:14, מִן pers. Jos 10:31 (+ בְּשָׁלוֹם), מִן loc., especially from foreign land 2 K 8:3; 2 Ch 10:2; Ru 1:6, 22; 2:6; 4:3; Je 31:16; 40:12; 43:5; 44:28; Ezr 6:21; Ne 8:17, מֵהַכּוֹת Gn 14:17 (JE?), 1 S 17:57; 18:6; 2 S 1:1; 8:13, מֵאַחֲרֵי i.e. from pursuing 1 S 24:2 (Gi v 1); fig., לֹא שׁ׳ מִנִּי חֹשֶׁךְ Jb 15:22 (v. חֹשֶׁךְ 3 a); עִבְרוּ וָשׁוּבוּ מִשַּׁעַר לָשַׁעַר Ex 32:27 (J), i.e. go back and forth from gate to gate, cf. (abs.) pt. as subst. עֹבֵר וָשָׁב Zc 7:14; 9:8 and (= all persons) Ez 35:7; also וַיֵּצֵא יָצוֹא וָשׁוֹב Gn 8:7 (J), רָצוֹא וָשׁוֹב Ez 1:14 (del. Hi Co Toy al.; yet v. Krae); Gn 8:3 (J) v. הלך 4 c (4). e.g. 1 Samuel 17:15
- 3. especially return unto:
- a. go back, אֶל pers. Nu 23:5, 16 (JE), 2 K 1:6 (‖ הָלַךְ, as often), Ex 5:22 (J; אֶל־י׳, 32:31 (E; id.), Nu 17:15 (P), 2 S 20:22 (+ acc. loc.), Je 46:16 (both + אֶל loc.), + 17 times; אֶל loc. also Gn 21:32; 28:21 (both E), 2 S 11:4; Ho 5:15 (of י׳), 2 Ch 19:1 (+ בְּשָׁלוֹם, + ל pers.), Est 2:14 (opp. בּוֹא), 7:8 (+ מִן loc.), + 27 times; of a dog שׁ׳ עַל־קֵאוֹ Pr 26:11; ל loc. Gn 18:33 (J), 1 S 26:25; 29:4; 1 K 19:15 (+ -ה loc.), Gn 33:16 (J; לְדַרְכּוֹ, + id.), ψ 7:8 (of י׳), + 25 times; ל pers. †Ru 1:10 (לְעַמֵּךְ); -ה loc. also Gn 44:13 (J), Ex 4:20, 21 (R), 13:17 (E), + 5 times; שָׁם (= שָׁ֫מָּה) Je 22:27; acc. loc. also Ho 8:13; 9:3; 1 S 18:2; 2 S 3:27; 15:27 (+ בְּשָׁלוֹם), 2 K 2:25 (+ מִן loc.), + 15 times; acc. דֶּרֶךָ Ez 46:9; acc. pers. †Nu 10:36; אַחֲרֵי pers. Ru 1:15; abs. 2 S 3:16; 19:16 (+ בּוֹא), 1 K 18:43; Je 40:5 (Ez 7:13b (del. 𝔊 Co Krae al.) +; sq. vb., go back and do so and so, Gn 43:2; 1 S 1:19; 29:7 (שׁוּב וְלֵךְ בְּשָׁלוֹם), 1 K 13:22; 2 Ch 18:16 (+ בְּשָׁלוֹם) +, (Je 42:10 read יָשׁוֹב Vrss and mod.); sq. inf. purpose Ju 14:8; 2 S 6:20 + 10 times e.g. Numbers 23:5
- b. come back, אֶל pers. Gn 8:9 (J; + אֶל loc.), Ex 24:14 (J), 1 S 23:23 + 2 S 17:3 (𝔊 Ew Th We Dr HPS Bu), 1 K 12:15 (opp. הָלַךְ) + 9 times + (in hostility) Ju 20:48; אֶל loc. also Zc 8:3 (subj. י׳); Jos 22:32 (P) has מֵאֵת pers. + מִן loc. + אֶל loc. + אֶל pers.; אֶל rei Ez 7:13; עַל pers. †Ne 4:6 Mi 5:2 (be reunited to); עַל loc. †1 K 17:21, 22; ל loc. Jos 1:15 (R), Zc 1:16 (subj. י׳), 2 Ch 30:9 + (from exile) 5 times; ל animal., Jb 39:4; -ה loc. †Gn 15:16 (E), 50:14 (J); acc. loc. †2 Ch 19:8; שָׁם Je 22:11 (opp. יָצָא), שָׁ֫מָּה v 27, הֵ֫נָּה 31:8; abs. Gn 43:10 (J), 2 S 10:5; 2 K 1:5; Is 21:12 (‖ אָתָה), Jb 39:12 (Kt, so Bu Du; of wild ox), + often; + בְּשָׁלוֹם Ju 8:9; 1 K 22:28 (שׁוֹב תָּשׁוּב) = 2 Ch 18:27; 2 Ch 18:26; + vb., come back and do so and so, †Dt 1:45; 30:8; Je 37:8; 1 K 19:7; 20:5; 2 K 9:36 ψ 60:2 (title), cf. Zc 4:1; Dn 11:10, שׁ׳ לָשֶׁבֶת Nu 35:32 (P), שׁ׳ לָלֶכֶת Ec 5:14. e.g. Genesis 8:9
- 4.
- a. of dying, שׁ׳ אֶל־(הֶ)עָפָר Gn 3:19(×2) (J), ψ 104:29; Ec 3:20, עַל־עָפָר Jb 34:15; שׁ׳ לְאַדְמָתוֹ ψ 146:4, cf. אָשׁוּב שָׁ֫מָּה (i.e. בֶּטֶן אִמּוֹ) Jb 1:21 (v. Di Bu, also Ec 5:14); שׁ׳ לִשְׁא֑וֹלָה ψ 9:18; so prob. abs. ψ 90:3 (> come back to life); of (human) dust, שׁ׳ עַל־הָאָרֶץ Ec 12:7; breath, שׁ׳ אֶל־הָאֱלֹהִים v 7. e.g. Genesis 3:19
- b. of revival from death, שׁ׳ לְבֵיתוֹ Jb 7:10, abs. 10:21 (opp. הָלַךְ), 16:22 (id.), Pr 2:19; also c. אֶל pers. 2 S 12:23. e.g. Job 7:10
- 5. fig. of human relations:
- a. return to leader, king, אֶל pers., Ju 11:8; 1 K 12:27(×2); to divorced wife Je 3:1 (opp. הלך). e.g. Judges 11:8
- b. = change so as to approach (in purpose, desire), אֶל־ pers. Je 15:19(×2). e.g. Jeremiah 15:19
- c. turn, i.e. resort to, ל pers. ψ 119:79. e.g. Psalms 119:79
- d. return to a physical condition Jb 33:25 (ל rei); to a state or course of life, ל rei Is 23:17; Ez 16:55(×3); Ne 9:17 ψ 85:9 עַל rei Je 11:10, הֲלוֹם ψ 73:10 (but crpt.); ב Je 8:6 (Du reads שָׁט for שָׁב). e.g. Job 33:25
- e. abs. = change course of action; from good to bad, וַיָּשָׁב וַיִּמְרָד־בּוֹ 2 K 24:1; Je 34:11, 16; bad to good v 15; so שׁ׳ alone Jb 6:29(×2) (prob.; read וְשׁוּבוּ, so Di Da Bu al.; other interpr. De Du al.). e.g. 2 Kings 24:1
- f. pt. pass. = averse, שׁוּבֵי מִלְחָמָה Mi 2:8 (> We Now שׁבִי spoil of war). e.g. Micah 2:8
- 6. fig., specif. of spiritual relations:
- a. turn back from God, = apostatize, מֵאַחֲרֵי י׳ Nu 14:43 (J), 1 S 15:11; 1 K 9:6 (שׁוֹב תְּשֻׁב֫וּן), Je 3:19; Nu 32:15; Jos 22:16, 18, 23, 29 (all P); abs. (usually + vb.) Ju 2:19; 8:33; Jos 23:12 (RD), Je 8:4 ψ 78:41; 2 Ch 7:19. e.g. Numbers 14:43
- b. of י׳, turn away, מֵאַחֲרֵי pers. Dt 23:15. e.g. Deuteronomy 23:15
- c. turn back to God (= seek penitently), אֶל־י׳ Ho 6:1; 7:10; 14:3; Je 3:7; 1 K 8:33, 48 (בְּכָל־לֵבָב), + 18 times; אֶל־אֱלֹהִים †Ho 5:4 ψ 51:15, cf. Is 10:21; עַל־י׳ †2 Ch 15:4; 30:9; עַד־י׳ Am 4:6, 8, 9, 10, 11; Ho 14:2; Is 9:12 + 5 times; עַד־שַׁדַּי †Jb 22:23; לי׳ Is 31:6, שׁ׳ נַפְשִׁי לִמְנוּחָ֑יְכִי ψ 116:7; cf. לַבַּעַל Ho 7:16 (for לֹא עַל, Now, cf. Marti); לְתוֹכַחְתִּי Pr 1:23 (prob. del., v. Toy). e.g. Hosea 6:1
- d. abs. repent, Ho 3:5; 11:5; Is 6:10; 10:22; Je 3:7, 12, 14, 22; 4:1; 5:3 + 14 times, + pt. as subst. Is 1:27. e.g. Hosea 3:5
- e. turn back from evil, c. מִן (especially Je Ez) 1 K 8:35; 13:33; Je 15:7; 18:8 + 8 times Je, Ez 3:19; 13:22 + 12 times Ez, + 9 times; cf. שָׁבֵי פֶשַׁע Is 59:20; שׁוּבוּ וְהָשִׁיבוּ מִן Ez 18:30, so c. מֵעַל 14:6; from good, c. מִן, †Ez 3:20; 18:24, 26; 33:18. e.g. 1 Kings 8:35
- f. of י׳, שׁ׳ מֵחֲרוֹן אַפּוֹ Ex 32:12 (JE), Dt 13:18; Jos 7:26 (J), 2 K 23:26; Jon 3:9; שׁ׳ מִמֶּנּוּ אַף־י׳ Ho 14:5; Je 2:35; 4:8; Nu 25:4 (P), 2 Ch 12:12; 29:10; 30:8, so (man’s anger) Gn 27:45 (J) and (abs.) v 44 (E); abs. of אַף־י׳ Is 5:25; 9:11, 16, 20; 10:4; 12:1; Je 23:20 (opp. יָצָא v 19), 30:24 Jb 14:13; Dn 9:16. e.g. Exodus 32:12
- g. of י׳, return (to shew favour), אֶל pers. †Gn 18:10 (+ inf. abs.), v 14 Zc 1:3; Mal 3:7; 2 Ch 30:6, abs. Is 63:17 ψ 80:15 (‖ הִבִּיט, פָּקַד), 90:13, + vb. Je 12:15 ψ 6:5 Jo 2:14 Jon 3:9; also in hostility, + vb. Jos 24:20 (E), c. inf. purpose Ho 11:9. e.g. Genesis 18:10
- h. of י׳, turn back from (מִן) judgment Je 4:28, אֱמֶת ψ 132:11; מֵאַחֲרֵי pers., i.e. cease to bless, Je 32:40. e.g. Jeremiah 4:28
- 7. of inanimate things (sometimes personified, or treated as things of life):
- a. as perceptibly moving, water Gn 8:3 (J; מֵעַל loc.), Jos 4:18 (J; ל loc.), Ex 14:26 (P; עַל pers.), v 28 (P; + vb.), ψ 104:9 (ל inf.), sea Ex 14:27 (J; לְאֵיתָנוֹ); wind ψ 78:39 (opp. הלך), Ec 1:6 (עַל loc.); shadow 2 K 20:9, 10 (+ אֲחֹרַנִּית), ‖ Is 38:8 (sun on dial), of breath (= revive) Ju 15:19; 1 S 30:12 (אֶל pers.); clouds Ec 12:2 (מִן temp.); rain and snow Is 55:10 (ה loc.); rolling stone Pr 26:27; sword 2 S 1:22 (מִן rei), Ez 21:10, arrow Je 50:9; of plague-spot = re-appear, Lv 14:43 (P). e.g. Genesis 8:3
- b. = be brought back, Gn 43:18 (J), 1 S 5:11 (ל loc.), hence be restored, ל pers. Ez 46:17, so of kingdom 1 K 12:26, city 1 S 7:14 (Ez 35:9 v. ישׁב 4), field Lv 27:24 (P); of animal Dt 28:31. e.g. Genesis 43:18
- c. = be turned into, ל rei, Is 29:17; = be turned back into, עַד rei, Mi 1:7. e.g. Isaiah 29:17
- d. return, fig. of word, (1) Is 45:23, c. אֶל pers. 55:11 (both opp. יָצָא); (2) ψ 35:13 my prayer turned upon (עַל) my bosom (was uttered with bowed head, De Bae Du). e.g. Isaiah 45:23
- e. turn away, depart, of infamy Pr 25:10. e.g. Proverbs 25:10
- f. return (in recompense), of crime, evil, etc., c. בְּרֹאשׁ 1 K 2:33; Ob 15 ψ 7:17, עַל־רֹאשׁ Est 9:25, ל pers. ψ 54:7 (Kt; > Qr Hiph.), Pr 12:14. e.g. 1 Kings 2:33
- g. ψ 94:15 judgment (-giving) shall return to (עַד) righteousness (be in accord therewith). e.g. Psalms 94:15
- h. of boundary, = change (sometimes reverse) direction (P), -ה loc. Jos 19:12 (+ מִן loc.), v 34 (+ acc. loc.), acc. loc. also v 27, 29 (+ עַד loc.), v 29. e.g. Joshua 19:12
- i. be restored to healthy condition, of withered hand 1 K 13:6(×2) (אֶל pers.), leprous hand Ex 4:7 (J; c. כ comp.), flesh 2 K 5:10 (ל pers.), v 14; Lv 13:16 (‖ נֶהְפַּךְ לְלָבָן). e.g. 1 Kings 13:6
- 8. denoting repetition, etc. (Ges§ 120 d g): + vb., return (and) do = do again, Gn 26:18; 30:31; Nu 11:4 (all J), Ju 19:7; 1 S 3:5, 6; 1 K 13:33; 19:6; 2 K 1:11, 13; 19:9; 21:3 = 2 Ch 33:3; Je 18:4; 36:28; Zc 5:1; 6:1; Mal 1:4; Jb 10:16; 17:10 ψ 7:13; Dn 9:25, perhaps also 2 Ch 19:4; cf. Is 6:13 = it, in turn, shall be destroyed (destruction shall be repeated in its case), La 3:3 appar. = do repeatedly; שׁ׳ + Inf. abs. Ec 4:1, 7; 9:11; in compar. עוֹד תָּשׁוּב תִּרְאֶה Ez 8:6 thou shalt see yet greater abominations, so v 13 and (מִן comp.) v 15; שׁ׳ + Inf. cstr. Dt 24:4; 30:9; Jos 5:2 (RD), Je 36:28; Ez 8:17; Ezr 9:14; Ne 9:28; Jb 7:7; Ec 1:7: = reverse one’s action, + vb. Jos 2:23 (E), Ho 2:11; 2 K 13:25; Dt 30:3; Mi 7:19; Zc 8:15 ψ 71:20(×2); 85:7; = restore to original condition by doing, + vb. Dt 23:14. e.g. Genesis 26:18
- 9. trans., peculiarly, in phr. שׁ׳ שְׁבוּת restore captivity of, etc., c. 21 times (v. שְׁבוּת sub שָׁבָה); שׁ׳ י׳ צִיּוֹן Is 52:8, שׁ׳ c. sf. pers. ψ 85:5; elsewhere only וְשָׁב י׳ אֶת־גְּאוֹן יַעֲקֹב וגו׳ Na 2:3, cf. Hiph. 9. e.g. Isaiah 52:8
Pōʿl
- 1. bring back, Pf. 1 s. וְשֹׁבַבְתִּ֫י, c. acc. pers. + אֶל loc. Je 50:19 (י׳ subj.), Inf. cstr. sf. בְּשׁוֹבְבִי, c. מִן loc. Ez 39:27 and (fig.) לְשׁוֹבֵב, c. אֶל pers. Is 49:5; Impf. 2 ms. תְּשׁוֹבֵב לָנוּ ψ 60:3 = take us back into power. e.g. Jeremiah 50:19
- 2.
- a. fig. restore, refresh, 3 ms. נַפְשִׁי יְשׁוֹבֵב ψ 23:3 (י׳ subj.); cf. Hiph. 2 b. e.g. Psalms 23:3
- b. restore, repair, Pt. מְשׁוֹבֵב נְתִיבוֹח לָשָׁ֑בֶת Is 58:12. e.g. Isaiah 58:12
- 3. lead away (enticingly), Pf. 1 s. sf. (of Gog), י׳ subj., וְשׁוֹבַבְתִּיךָ Ez 38:4 (del. Co), וְשֹׁ׳ 39:2; so fig. 3 fs. sf. וְדַעְתֵּךְ הִיא שׁוֹבְבָ֑תֶךְ Is 47:10 (of Bab.);—Je 50:6 v. Qal. e.g. Ezekiel 38:4
- 4. shew turning = apostatize (cf. Hiph. 8), Pf. 3 fs. שׁוֹבְבָה Je 8:5 (read שׁוֹבֵב, and del. ירושׁלם, c. 𝔊).—Vid. also שׁוֹבֵב infra. e.g. Jeremiah 8:5
Puʿl
- Pt. f. מְשׁוֹבֶ֫בֶת Ez 38:8 a land restored + מִן rei.—Vid. also שׁוֹבָב infra. e.g. Ezekiel 38:8
Hiphil
- Pf. 3 ms. Gn 41:13 +; sf. וַהֲשִׁיבְךָ 40:13, וֶהֱשִׁיבְךָ Dt 28:68; 2 ms. הֱשִׁיבוֹתָ ψ 85:4, וַהֲשֵׁבֹתָ֫ Dt 4:39; 30:1, sf. וַהֲשֵׁיבוֹתָם 2 Ch 6:25; 1 s. consec. וַהֲשִׁיב֫וֹתִי Am 1:8, וַהֲשִׁבֹתִ֫י Nu 22:8 +, sf. וְהוֹשְׁבוֹתִים Zc 10:6 (but read וַהֲשִׁבוֹתִים, v. ישׁב Hiph.), etc.; Impf. 3 ms. יָשִׁיב Ex 21:34 +, (read יָשִׁב Dn 11:18, 19 > Qr v 18 יָשֵׂם), וַיָּ֫שֶׁב Gn 20:14 +; sf. יְשִׁבֵנִי 2 S 15:8 +, וַיְשִׁיבֵם 2 Ch 19:4 + 1 S 12:8 Vrss We Dr al.; 3 fpl. תָּשֵׁבְנָה Jb 20:10, etc.; Imv. ms. הָשֵׁב Gn 20:7 +, הָשֵׁיב 2 K 8:6, הָשַׁ֑ב Is 42:22, so הָשַׁ֖ב Ez 21:35 (v. Ke and still Toy; Ew Sm Krae Inf. abs. הָשֵׁב), הָשִׁיבָה Ju 11:13 +, etc.; Inf. abs. הָשֵׁב Ex 23:4 +; cstr. הָשִׁיב Gn 42:35 +, etc.; Pt. מֵשִׁיב 20:7 +, etc.;—cause to return, bring back: e.g. Genesis 41:13
- 1.
- a. c. acc. pers. + אֶל loc. Gn 24:5 (J; הֶהָשֵׁב אָשִׁיב), 28:15 (J), 42:37 (E), 48:21 (E), +; especially from exile 1 K 8:34 = 2 Ch 6:25; Je 27:22 + 5 times Je; + אֶל pers. 1 K 22:26 = 2 Ch 18:25; + עַל loc. Je 16:15; 23:3; 24:6; + ל loc. 12:15; + acc. loc. 2 S 15:8 (read הָשֵׁב יְשִׁבֵנִי Vrss Th We Dr al.), Dt 28:68; Ez 29:14; 47:6; 2 Ch 33:13, etc.; + מִן loc. Je 41:16; Zc 10:10, מֵאֵת pers. Je 41:16, מִן inf. 2 Ch 25:13; acc. pers. only Ju 19:3; 1 K 13:20, 23 +; bring back into bondage, etc., Je 34:11, 16; = allow to return 15:19; acc. pers. + rei (= recover, recapture), 28:6 (+ אֶל loc., מִן loc.); = recover, rescue, Gn 14:16 (acc. pers. + rei), ψ 35:17 (acc. נַפְשִׁי, מִן rei); acc. rei + אֶל pers. Gn 44:8 (J), + עַל pers. Ex 15:9 (song), Pr 20:26; + אֶל loc. 1 K 14:28 = 2 Ch 12:11; Je 28:3; 2 Ch 24:11; acc. of hand, אֶל־פֶּה 1 S 14:27; Pr 19:24 26:15; especially of י׳’s hand, in judgment, sq. עַל Am 1:8; Is 1:25; Zc 13:7 ψ 81:15, also of man’s hand Je 6:9; Ez 38:12; + acc. loc. 2 S 15:25, 29; + שָׁם Ne 13:9; acc. rei alone Gn 43:12, 21 (both בְּיֶדְכֶם), 14:16 (= recapture), 1 S 6:21; 30:19; 1 K 13:29 (corpse), Lv 26:26 (H); c. acc. animal. 1 S 6:7 (מֵאַחֲרֵי), Ez 34:4, 16 (fig.); shadow on dial 2 K 20:11 = Is 38:8.—Jb 39:12 v. Qal 3 b. e.g. Genesis 24:5
- b. put back: acc. rei, stone, עַל־פִּי הַבְּאֵר Gn 29:3 (J), veil עַל־פָּנָיו Ex 34:35 (P), Dagon לִמְקוֹמוֹ 1 S 5:3, rod לִפְנֵי הָעֵדוּת Nu 17:25 (P), sword, + אֶל of sheath, 1 Ch 21:27; Ez 21:35 (acc. om.); hand אֶל־חֵיק Ex 4:7(×2) (J; opp. הוֹצִיא). e.g. Genesis 29:3
- c. = draw back, hand Gn 38:29 (J), 1 K 13:4 (opp. שָׁלַח; + אֶל reflex.), Jos 8:26 (E; opp. נטה), so fig., י׳ subj. La 2:3 (מִפְּנֵי, אָחוֹר), ψ 74:11; c. מִן = refrain from La 2:8; Ex 18:8, 17 (i.e. from oppressing), 20:22 (מִן om.); foot, c. מִן Is 58:13 (fig.); draw in breath Jb 9:18. e.g. Genesis 38:29
- d. = give back, restore, acc. pers. vel rei: + ל pers. Gn 20:14 (E), v 7 (E; acc. om.), Ex 23:4 (E; הָשֵׁב תָּשִׁיב), Dt 22:1 (id.; both acc. animal.), 24:13 (id.), Ex 22:25 (E), Ju 17:3(×2), 4; 1 S 12:3; 2 S 9:7; Dt 22:2 (P), Ne 5:11, so 2 S 16:3; 1 K 12:21 = 2 Ch 11:1 (all acc. of kingdom), c. acc. צְדָקָה Jb 33:26; + אֶל pers. Gn 37:22 (E; acc. pers.); + אֶל loc. 42:25 (E); acc. rei only, 2 K 8:6; Ez 18:7 (read Inf. abs. שׁוֹב for חוֹב, Co Toy Krae), 18:12; 33:15; Lv 5:23 (P), Nu 5:7 (P; + בְּרֹאשׁוֹ = in full), ψ 69:5 (opp. גָּזַל), so of land (or city) Ju 11:13; 1 K 20:34; Ne 5:12, cf. 2 K 14:28 (+ בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל), 16:6 (+ לַאֲרָם); = win back 2 K 13:25; 14:22 (+ ל terr.) = 2 Ch 26:2, boundary (i.e. re-establish it) 2 K 14:25; restore ruined city Dn 9:25 (+ לִבְנוֹת), conquered nation ψ 80:4, 8, 20; joy, acc. + ל pers. ψ 51:14.—2 S 8:3 v. יָד 2.—Acc. pers. only, Gn 20:7 (E), Is 42:22; restore to office, acc. pers. + עַל Gn 40:13, 21 (E), אֶל loc. 2 S 19:12, acc. pers. only, 2 S 19:11, 13, 44, cf. Is 1:26; = pay back money, Lv 25:27 (ל pers.), v 51, 52. e.g. Genesis 20:14
- e. = relinquish, c. acc. rei, Jb 20:10. e.g. Job 20:10
- f. = give in payment, requital, c. acc. rei + appos. 1 S 6:8 (ל pers.), v 17 (id.; cf. טְחוֹר); also pay as tribute (in answer to demand), acc. rei 2 K 17:3 ψ 72:10, + ל pers. 2 K 3:4; 2 Ch 27:5; give in exchange Ez 27:15. e.g. 1 Samuel 6:8
- g. bring one back (from dead) 2 S 12:23, so c. מִנִּי Jb 33:30; on other hand, אֶל־עָפָר Jb 10:9 = מָוֶת (acc.) 30:23, cf. עַד־דַּכָּא ψ 90:3. e.g. 2 Samuel 12:23
- 2.
- a. bring back heart, לֵב, עַל pers. Mal 3:24; הֲשִׁיבֵנוּ י׳ אֵלֶיךָ La 5:21 (restore, del. אליך); הֵשִׁיב אֶל־י׳ Ne 9:26 (cf. v 29), 2 Ch 19:4; 24:19, also (מִן of evil) Je 23:22, abs. 31:18. e.g. Malachi 3:24
- b. acc. נֶפֶשׁ = refresh La 1:11, 16, 19 ψ 19:8 Pr 25:13; Ru 4:15. e.g. Lamentations 1:11
- 3. bring back words of people, אֶל־י׳ Ex 19:8 (E); then, in gen., bring back word, דָּבָר, report to, + acc. pers. Gn 37:14; Nu 13:26; 22:8 (all E), Dt 1:22, 25; Jos 14:7 (RD), 22:32 (P), + 8 times; = answer 1 S 17:30; 2 S 3:11; 1 K 12:6 = 2 Ch 10:6 + 6 times, + (acc. מִלִּין) Jb 35:4; also (דָּבָר om.) Jb 13:22; 20:2; 33:5, 32; 2 Ch 10:16; Ne 6:4 (כַּדָּבָר הַזֶּה); acc. אֲמָרִים + ל pers. Ju 5:29; Pr 22:21; later c. ל pers. alone 1 S 12:3; c. cl. orat. recta, אֶל pers. Est 4:13, 15; similar phrases, Ez 9:11; Pr 18:13; 24:26; 26:16; Hb 2:1; Jb 31:14; 32:14 (Gi v 15), 40:4. e.g. Exodus 19:8
- 4.
- a. bring back (in retribution), cf. Qal 7 f) upon, subj. often י׳, acc. of evil, Ju 9:56, בְּרֹאשׁ Ju 9:57; 1 S 25:39; 1 K 2:44; Jo 4:4, 7, עַל־רֹאשׁ 1 K 2:32, אֶל־רֹאשׁ Ne 3:36; ל pers. Gn 50:15 (E), 1 S 6:3 (הָשֵׁב תָּשִׁיבוּ), v 4 25:21 (return evil for good), +, etc.; abs. = make requital, ל pers. 2 Ch 6:23 + (כ comp.) Ho 12:3; Pr 24:12, 29; †c. acc. of good, ל pers. 1 S 26:23; 2 S 16:12; Zc 9:12; c. כ comp. + ל pers. ψ 18:21, 25 = 2 S 22:21, 25, and (כ comp. only) 2 Ch 32:25; requite י׳’s benefits, acc. rei + לי׳ ψ 116:12, cf. Nu 18:9 (P). e.g. Judges 9:56
- b. pay as recompense, כֶּסֶף יָשׁ׳ לִבְעָלָיו Ex 21:34 (E); so (fig.) of י׳, הֵשׁ׳ נָקָם לְ Dt 32:41, 43, לְהָשׁ׳ בְּחֵמָה אַפּוֹ Is 66:15. e.g. Exodus 21:34
- 5. turn back, backward = repel, defeat, c. אֶת־פְּנֵי 2 K 18:24 = Is 36:9, acc. מִלְחָמָה Is 28:6, acc. of sword ψ 89:44, acc. pers. + אָחוֹר ψ 44:11 (+ מִנִּי pers.), Is 44:25 (fig., = refute, confute), fig. of calamity La 1:13; = repulse, hinder Je 2:24, especially acc. Is 14:27 (יַד־י׳), cf. 43:13, Jb 9:12; 11:10; 23:13; = reject, refuse, (אֶת־)פְּנֵי פ׳ 1 K 2:16, 17, 20(×2) 2 Ch 6:42 ψ 132:10. e.g. 2 Kings 18:24
- 6.
- a. turn away face, fig., + מֵעַל rei Ez 14:6; acc. pers. + מִן rei Mal 2:6; anger of י׳ (acc.) + מֵעַל pers. Nu 25:11 (P), Pr 24:18, מִן pers. Je 18:20 Ezr 10:14; acc. only, Jb 9:13 ψ 78:38; 106:23; acc. of human anger Pr 15:1; 29:8. e.g. Ezekiel 14:6
- b. late, turn toward, acc. face, ל loc. Dn 11:18, 19, acc. foot, אֶל rei ψ 119:59 (fig.). e.g. Daniel 11:18
- 7. turn against, אֶל־אֵל, c. acc. רוּחֶ֑ךָ Jb 15:13. e.g. Job 15:13
- 8. לֵב, הֵשׁ׳ אֶל־לֵבָב bring back to mind, take into consideration, c. acc. La 3:21, sq. cl. with כִּ׳ Dt 4:39 (cf. Dr), obj. om. 30:1; 1 K 8:47 = 2 Ch 6:37, Is 44:19, + (עַל) 46:8. e.g. Lamentations 3:21
- 9. הֵשִׁיב אֶת־שְׁבוּת פ׳ Je 32:44; 33:7, 11; 49:6; La 2:14; Ez 39:25 + (Qr Hiph., Kt Qal) Je 33:26; 49:39; Jo 4:1 (v. Qal 9). e.g. Jeremiah 32:44
- 10. Hiph. declar., הָשׁ׳ מֵעַל Ez 14:6 = shew a turning away from your idols (i.e. turn away), cf. (מִן) 18:30, abs. הָשׁ׳ וִחְיוּ v 32; of י׳, השׁ׳ מֵחֲרוֹן אַפֶּ֑ךָ ψ 85:4 (but read prob. הֲשִׁיבוֹתָה חֲרוֹן א׳ [6 a supra]); perhaps in physical sense Jon 1:13 (אֶל loc.; We Now sc. אֳנִיָּה, etc.). e.g. Ezekiel 14:6
- 11. reverse, revoke, acc. (sf.) rei, i.e. judgment, Am 1:3, 6, 9, 11, 13; 2:1, 4, 6; blessing Nu 23:20 (poem in E), edict Est 8:5, 8. e.g. Amos 1:3
Hophal
- Pf. 3 ms. הוּשֵׁב Gn 42:28 my money has been returned! cf. Pt. הַכֶּסֶף הַמּוּשָׁב 43:12 (both J); הַמּ׳ לי׳ Nu 5:8 (P) the אָשָׁם which is restored to י׳; pl. מוּשָׁבִים Je 27:16 the vessels are about to be brought back, c. מִן loc.; Impf. 3 ms. וַיּוּשַׁב אֶת־מֹשֶׁה Ex 10:8 (J; cf. Ges§ 121 a, b) Moses was brought back, c. אֶל pers. e.g. Genesis 42:28
Senses from the full Brown-Driver-Briggs lexicon (Brown, Driver, Briggs; Oxford 1906 — public domain), digitized via Sefaria, supplemented by the OpenScriptures HebrewLexicon (CC BY 4.0). Full attribution on Sources.
Word origin
vb. turn back, return (NH id.; Hiph. in MI 8 f. 12; Sab. תֿוב, התֿב, especially requite Os ZMG xix (1865), 198 SabDenkm No. 20, l. 1 HomChrest. 122 CIS iv. 81, 1. 9, etc.; Arabic ثَابَ return, so Aramaic תּוּב, ܬܒ );—
— Brown-Driver-Briggs (Oxford 1906, public domain), digitized via Sefaria, supplemented by the OpenScriptures HebrewLexicon (CC BY 4.0). See Sources.
Origin: a primitive root
Jastrow Dictionary
A second Hebrew/Aramaic lexicon for comparison, covering Aramaic and post-biblical (Talmudic, Targumic, Midrashic) usage that the biblical-Hebrew BDB does not. Matched by lemma rather than by Strong’s number, so a lemma may carry more than one Jastrow headword (shown separately below), and the entries cover usage well beyond the Bible.
שׁוּב I
- (b. h.) to go back, come back. Sot. 10ᵇ כל עובר ושָׁב every passer-by (in going or coming back). Gen. R. s. 48, a. fr. העוברים והשָׁבִים the travellers. Lev. R. s. 23 ושָׁבַת נפשו עליו (not עליה) and his soul came back (was restored) to him, i.e. he was reconciled; a. fr.—Esp. to return (to God); to repent. B. Bath. 110ᵃ (play on ש̇ב̇א̇ל̇ I Chr. XXVI, 24) שש̇ב̇ לא̇ל̇ בכל לבו he returned to God with all his heart. Hor. 2ᵃ (ref. to Lev. IV, 22, sq.) השב … לא שב וכ׳ he who repents when he finds out (his wrong) brings a sacrifice for his error; if he does not repent, he is not permitted to sacrifice. Ab. II, 10 ושׁוּב יום וכ׳ repent one day before thy death. Ex. R. s. 42 לעולם מקבלים השבים repentant sinners are accepted at all times; a. fr. e.g. 1 Chronicles 26:24
- 1. to bring back, return, restore. Y. Yoma VIII, 45ᵃ bot. החומץ מֵשִׁיב את הנפש vinegar restores life, is a refreshing drink. Gitt. 51ᵇ, a. e. אינו אלא כמשיב … ופטור he is in that case like one who restores a lost object, and therefore is not bound to make oath. Ib. לית ליה משיב … פטור he is not of the opinion that he who restores a lost object is exempt from making oath; a. fr.
- 2. to reply; to refute. Ab. II, 14 ורע מה שתָּשִׁיב וכ׳ that you may know how to answer the sceptic. Y. Gitt. IX, beg. 50ᵃ נכנסו … להָשִׁיב על דבריו וכ׳ four elders met to refute R. Eliezer’s words; Bab. Gitt. 83ᵃ; Tosef. ib. IX (VII), 1. Y. l. c. אין אתם מְשִׁיבִים את הארי וכ׳ are you not going to refute the lion after he is dead?; Bab. ib. l. c. אין מְשִׁיבִין וכ׳ you dare not refute &c. Y. l. c. ה׳ ר׳ טרפון R. T. argued &c. (Bab. l. c. נענה; Tosef. l. c. אמר). Sabb. 88ᵇ שומעין … משיבין, v. חֶרְפָּה. B. Kam. 63ᵇ, a. e. אין משיבין על הקישא you must not argue against a conclusion from analogy. Ab. Zar. III, 4 אין משיבין במרחץ we must not answer (a religious question) in the bath-house. M. Kat. 21ᵇ מֵשִׁיב ואינו שואל the mourner may answer (a salutation), but must not salute; שואל ומשיב כדרכו he may salute and answer as usual; a. fr.—[Y. Gitt. VIII, 49ᶜ top, in Chald. dict. משיב, v. תּוּב I.]
- 3. to go back with a message. Meg. 15ᵃ; Ab. Zar. 10ᵇ אין משיבין על הקלקלה you need not go back (to him that sent you) to bring bad news.
- to be replied; to refer. Y. B. Kam. II, 3ᵃ top על הראשונה הוּשָׁבָה the modification in the Mishnah (במה דברים אמורים) refers to the first clause only; על כולה הושבה it refers to the whole paragraph. Y. Bicc. II, 65ᵃ top; a. e.
שׁוּב II
- adv. again, furthermore. Nidd. V, 7 ש׳ אין וכ׳ her father has no longer control over her. Sabb. 88ᵇ, sq. ש׳ מה כתיב furthermore, what is written in it?; a. fr.
A Dictionary of the Targumim, the Talmud Babli and Yerushalmi, and the Midrashic Literature (Marcus Jastrow; London, Luzac, 1903) — Public Domain. Digitized via Sefaria. Digitized via Sefaria. Full attribution on Sources.
Forms in the corpus
The 599 distinct written forms H7725 takes in the Hebrew Bible, most frequent first — each parse links to that stem’s occurrences in the concordance. Hebrew forms include their vowel points and cantillation, so a single lemma takes many written forms.
The 60 most common forms are shown; 539 rarer forms follow in the full concordance.
Same root — word family
Other BDB entries built from the same root as H7725, grouped by Strong’s listed origin. These share a root / origin per the lexicon — not necessarily a shared meaning. Each links to that word’s own entry.
Derived from this word
- משובה mᵉshûwbâh H4878 apostasy
- שובב shôwbâb H7726 backsliding
- שובב shôwbêb H7728 backsliding
- שובה shûwbâh H7729 withdrawal
- שיבה shîybâh H7870 restoration
- תוב tûwb H8421 to return
- תשובה tᵉshûwbâh H8666 answer
Proper names from this root
People and places named from this root — a name, not an additional meaning of the word.
- יושב חסד Yûwshab Cheçed H3142 Jushab-hesed
- ישבי לחם Yâshubîy Lechem H3433 Jashubi-lehem
- ישבעם Yâshobʻâm H3434 Jashobeam
- ישוב Yâshûwb H3437 Jashub
- משובב Mᵉshôwbâb H4877 Meshobab
Compare all same-root words → Showing 4 of 13 — not the complete family. 5 of the same-root words are proper names (people or places). They share a root, not necessarily a meaning.
Septuagint verse parallels
This word appears in 880 verses that also exist in the Greek Old Testament (Septuagint), out of the 952 Hebrew verses it occurs in. You can read those verses in Greek by switching the Old Testament edition to the Septuagint.
Read these verses in the Septuagint
- Genesis 3:19
- Exodus 4:7
- Leviticus 6:4
- Numbers 5:7
- Deuteronomy 1:22
- Joshua 1:15
- Judges 2:19
- Ruth 1:6
- 1 Samuel 1:19
- 2 Samuel 1:1
- 1 Kings 2:16
- 2 Kings 1:5
This is a verse-level parallel only — the same verses exist in both the Hebrew and Greek Old Testaments. No word-level Hebrew↔Greek correspondence is claimed: the data carries no such alignment, so no Greek word is shown as this Hebrew word’s translation. Coverage is not total — the Septuagint omits the deuterocanon and renumbers the Psalms, so some Hebrew verses have no direct Greek parallel.
