תּוּב
𐤕𐤅𐤁
tûwb
H8421 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
Aramaic verb meaning to return, turn back, or restore; by extension, to reply or answer (often in contexts of giving a response). The primary sense is a physical or figurative reversal or restoration to a prior state, but it is commonly used in direct speech for providing an answer or response to a question or statement.
Semantic Range
to return, to restore, to turn back, to answer, to reply (in dialogue), to bring back, to give back (a response)
Root / Etymology
Root: שוב in Hebrew (Aramaic תּוּב), meaning 'to turn back, return, restore.' The Aramaic verb תּוּב is a direct cognate to the Hebrew שׁוּב, maintaining the core root meaning of reversal or restoration.
Historical & Contextual Notes
This verb appears in Biblical Aramaic portions (notably Daniel and Ezra), frequently in narrative or direct speech. In these contexts, it can refer both to literal physical return or restoration and also, idiomatically, to replying (i.e., returning speech to someone). This reflects a common Northwest Semitic usage in which 'to return' can mean 'to return a word'—that is, to answer. In the Hebrew Bible, the Aramaic תּוּב is functionally synonymous with Hebrew שׁוּב in terms of core lexical meaning, but in Aramaic, its use as 'to reply/answer' is especially frequent. Modern English translations generally render this verb as 'to answer,' 'to reply,' or 'to return,' depending on context. The underlying sense of 'return' may be obscured by translation choices focusing on idiomatic rather than literal meaning. No evidence suggests significant diachronic shift in meaning during the biblical period for this Aramaic verb.
Translation Consistency
Although תּוּב can mean to return or restore, its frequent use in direct speech to provide a response makes 'answer' the most natural, readable choice. 'Answer' covers the common dialogical sense and still conveys the idea of giving back a response, while remaining simple and consistent.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
(Aramaic) corresponding to שׁוּב, to come back; specifically (transitive and ellip.) to reply; answer, restore, return (an answer).
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.
Root Family
תוב (tûwb) — to return, to turn back, to restore
Word Forms
6 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8421-06 |
יְת֔וּב | yetuv | AVqi3ms |
returned | he will return | was restored | 3 |
H8421-01 |
הֲתִיב֙ | hativ | AVhp3ms |
replied | he caused to return | he answered | 1 |
H8421-02 |
הֲתִיב֣וּ/נָא | hativuna | AVhp3mp/Sp1cp |
they returned us | they brought us back | they answered us | 1 |
H8421-03 |
לַ/הֲתָבוּתָֽ/ךְ | lahatavutakhe | AR/Vhc/Sp2ms |
to-answer-you | to restore you | to answer you | 1 |
H8421-04 |
יַהֲתִיב֗וּן | yahativun | AVhi3mp |
be returned | they will restore | they shall return | 1 |
H8421-05 |
יְתִיב֥וּן | yetivun | AVai3mp |
they returned | they will restore | they returned | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
8 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8421-01 |
Daniel 2:14 | הֲתִיב֙ | hativ | AVhp3ms |
replied | he caused to return | he answered |
H8421-03 |
Daniel 3:16 | לַ/הֲתָבוּתָֽ/ךְ | lahatavutakhe | AR/Vhc/Sp2ms |
to-answer-you | to restore you | to answer you |
H8421-06 |
Daniel 4:31 | יְת֔וּב | yetuv | AVqi3ms |
returned | he will return | returned |
H8421-06 |
Daniel 4:33 | יְת֣וּב | yetuv | AVqi3ms |
returned | he will return | was restored |
H8421-06 |
Daniel 4:33 | יְת֣וּב | yetuv-2 | AVqi3ms |
returned | he will return | was restored |
H8421-05 |
Ezra 5:5 | יְתִיב֥וּן | yetivun | AVai3mp |
they returned | they will restore | they returned |
H8421-02 |
Ezra 5:11 | הֲתִיב֣וּ/נָא | hativuna | AVhp3mp/Sp1cp |
they returned us | they brought us back | they answered us |
H8421-04 |
Ezra 6:5 | יַהֲתִיב֗וּן | yahativun | AVhi3mp |
be returned | they will restore | they shall return |