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מְשׁוּבָה

𐤌𐤔𐤅𐤁𐤄

mᵉshûwbâh

H4878 noun

SILEX Entry

Root שׁוּב to turn, return, turn back

Definition

Defection or departure from loyalty, duty, or faithfulness; a turning away, especially used to describe the recurring unfaithfulness of the Israelite people toward their deity or covenant obligations. The word often connotes a willful relapse or abandonment of a former position of obedience or relationship, and is typically used with moral or covenantal overtones.

Semantic Range

defection, backsliding, relapse into unfaithfulness, spiritual or moral turning away, apostasy, unfaithfulness, falling away, withdrawal from loyalty

Root / Etymology

From the verb שׁוּב (shuv), 'to turn, return,' with the nominal prefix מְ- and a feminine suffix, forming 'an act/state of turning (away).' Root meaning is 'to turn' but the nominal form here expresses a negative, backward action.

Historical & Contextual Notes

מְשׁוּבָה appears prominently in prophetic literature (especially Jeremiah and Hosea), where it characterizes the spiritual and moral 'turning away' or relapse of the Israelite people. Unlike the neutral or positive sense of 'return' implied by שׁוּב, this noun indicates a negative or regressive movement. In English translations, terms like 'backsliding,' 'apostasy,' or 'faithlessness' are traditionally used, but these can carry Christian theological nuances not present in the original. The concept in the Hebrew Bible centers more on covenantal disloyalty. In prophetic texts, מְשׁוּבָה is frequently paired with descriptions of the people's breach of covenant, particularly during the late monarchic and exilic periods; it does not normally refer to individual or purely doctrinal defection but to collective covenantal unfaithfulness. The term contrasts with related words such as סָרָה (rebellion) or עָווֹן (iniquity), as מְשׁוּבָה primarily highlights the aspect of turning or returning to previous unhealthy patterns rather than outright rebellion. In later periods, the term's usage declines, but its conceptual legacy influences both sectarian and rabbinic discussions about faithlessness or spiritual relapse.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or מְשֻׁבָה; from שׁוּב; apostasy; backsliding, turning away.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

שׁוּב (sh-u-v) — turn, return, turn back

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H7726 שׁוֹבָב turning-away ones
H7728 שׁוֹבֵב the turning-away woman
H7729 שׁוּבָה in returning
H8666 תְּשׁוּבָה for the return of

Word Forms

9 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H4878-02 מְשֻׁבָ֣ה meshuvah HNcfsa backsliding turning-away defection 5
H4878-09 וּ/מְשֻֽׁבוֹתַ֨יִ/ךְ֙ umeshuvotayikhe HC/Ncfpc/Sp2fs and your backslidings and your defections 1
H4878-01 לִ/מְשֽׁוּבָתִ֑/י limeshuvati HR/Ncfsc/Sp1cs on-turning-from-me to my turning-away 1
H4878-04 מְשׁ֣וּבָתָ֔/ם meshuvatam HNcfsc/Sp3mp their backsliding their turning-away 1
H4878-06 מְשׁוּבֹֽתֵי/כֶ֑ם meshuvoteykhem HNcfpc/Sp2mp your backslidings your turnings-away 1
H4878-03 מְשׁוּבַ֣ת meshuvat HNcfsc turning away turning-away 1
H4878-07 מְשׁוּבֹתֵ֖י/נוּ meshuvoteynu HNcfpc/Sp1cp our backslidings our turnings-away 1
H4878-05 מְשׁוּבוֹתֵי/הֶֽם meshuvoteyhem HNcfpc/Sp3mp their backslidings their turnings-away 1
H4878-08 משבותי/הם mshvvtyhm HNcfpc/Sp3mp their backslidings their turnings-away 1

Occurrences in Scripture

13 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H4878-09 Jeremiah 2:19 וּ/מְשֻֽׁבוֹתַ֨יִ/ךְ֙ umeshuvotayikhe HC/Ncfpc/Sp2fs and your backslidings and your defections
H4878-02 Jeremiah 3:6 מְשֻׁבָ֣ה meshuvah HNcfsa faithless turning-away defection
H4878-02 Jeremiah 3:8 מְשֻׁבָ֣ה meshuvah HNcfsa faithless turning-away defection
H4878-02 Jeremiah 3:11 מְשֻׁבָ֣ה meshuvah HNcfsa backsliding turning-away defection
H4878-02 Jeremiah 3:12 מְשֻׁבָ֤ה meshuvah HNcfsa backsliding turning-away defection
H4878-06 Jeremiah 3:22 מְשׁוּבֹֽתֵי/כֶ֑ם meshuvoteykhem HNcfpc/Sp2mp your backslidings your turnings-away
H4878-08 Jeremiah 5:6 משבותי/הם mshvvtyhm HNcfpc/Sp3mp their backslidings their turnings-away
H4878-05 Jeremiah 5:6 מְשׁוּבוֹתֵי/הֶֽם meshuvoteyhem HNcfpc/Sp3mp their backslidings their turnings-away
H4878-02 Jeremiah 8:5 מְשֻׁבָ֣ה meshuvah HNcfsa backsliding turning-away defection
H4878-07 Jeremiah 14:7 מְשׁוּבֹתֵ֖י/נוּ meshuvoteynu HNcfpc/Sp1cp our backslidings our turnings-away
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