שׂוּג
𐤔𐤅𐤂
sûwg
H7734 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
Primarily, to move away from a previous position, to withdraw or recede, to turn back from a physical or figurative stance. The verb is most often used in the sense of departing, turning away (physically, morally, or figuratively), especially from a course of action, loyalty, or commitment. It can also refer to the act of shrinking back, recoiling, or retracting.
Semantic Range
to retreat physically, to turn back from a course or action, to withdraw allegiance or fidelity, to recede from a former stance, to shrink back or recoil, to abandon or forsake
Root / Etymology
Root: שׂוּג (s-w-g). The verb is derived directly from its triliteral root שׂ-ו-ג, which at the root level conveys the sense of movement away or backward. The root is seldom attested outside Biblical Hebrew and may be related to Aramaic or other Northwest Semitic verbs for retreating or receding. The root meaning is 'to retreat, recede, move away.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
In biblical usage, שׂוּג appears in poetic and prophetic texts, where it denotes abandoning, turning away, or failing to uphold a commitment. Most instances are figurative, marking a breach of fidelity toward the covenant or God, or deviation from prescribed conduct. The term is less common than related roots such as סוּר (sûr, 'to turn aside, depart'), and tends to emphasize backsliding or withdrawal rather than simply changing direction. The word sometimes occurs with prepositions (esp. מִן, 'from'), clarifying what is being turned from. In post-biblical Hebrew, the verb is exceedingly rare or absent, and its sense is largely reconstructed from context in the Hebrew Bible. Standard English translations such as 'retreat,' 'turn back,' or 'withdraw' often do not reflect the more figurative implications, especially the sense of moral or spiritual withdrawal prevalent in prophetic literature. Shifts in meaning over time are not widely attested due to the verb’s rarity.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to retreat; turn back.
Bantu Hebrew
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שׂוג (s-w-g) — retreating, receding, moving away, withdrawing
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7734-01 |
נָשׂ֖וֹג | nasog | HVNp3ms |
turn back | he has withdrawn | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7734-01 |
2 Samuel 1:22 | נָשׂ֖וֹג | nasog | HVNp3ms |
turn back | he has withdrawn |