שׁוּבָה
Shuvah
Return, restoration, coming back
Shuvah (שׁוּבָה) is a Hebrew word meaning “return, restoration, coming back,” pronounced “shu-VAH.” Derived from the root שׁ-ו-ב, shuvah appears 1,050 times in the Hebrew Bible (Strong's H7725).
| Hebrew | שׁוּבָה |
|---|---|
| Transliteration | Shuvah |
| Pronunciation | shu-VAH |
| Meaning | Return, restoration, coming back |
| Root Letters | שׁ-ו-ב |
| Occurrences in Hebrew Bible | 1,050× |
| Key Verse | Hosea 14:1 |
| Strong's Number | H7725 |
| Category | Additional Important Words |
If galut (exile) is one side of the coin, shuvah (שׁוּבָה) — return — is the other. And in God's economy, return always has the final word. The prophets use the root 'shuv' over a thousand times, making 'return' one of the most insistent themes in the entire Hebrew Bible. Hosea, speaking to a broken, unfaithful nation, pleads: 'Shuvah, O Israel, to the LORD your God' (Hosea 14:1). Jeremiah promises a return from Babylonian exile (Jeremiah 29:10). Isaiah heralds the return from all the nations (Isaiah 11:12). And Malachi closes the Old Testament with a promise that God will 'turn (shuv) the hearts of fathers to their children' (Malachi 4:6). Shuvah is not merely about geographic relocation — it is the spiritual movement of turning back toward God after having wandered away. While teshuvah (repentance) emphasizes the individual's turning, shuvah emphasizes God's invitation and the cosmic scope of restoration. Understanding shuvah reveals the Bible's deepest plotline: all of history is moving toward the great return — creation itself coming home to its Creator.
Key Bible Verse: Hosea 14:1
“Return (shuvah), O Israel, to the LORD your God, for you have stumbled because of your iniquity.”
What Is the Root of Shuvah in Hebrew?
Shuvah comes from the root שׁ-ו-ב (shin-vav-bet), meaning 'to turn back, return.' It is the imperative form — a direct command: 'Return!' The same root gives us 'teshuvah' (repentance) and is one of the most frequent verbs in all of Hebrew Scripture.
What Does Shuvah Mean in the Bible?
The root shuv appears over 1,050 times in the Hebrew Bible. Shuvah specifically appears as God's urgent call (Hosea 14:1, Jeremiah 3:12). The verb describes physical return from exile (Ezra 1:3), spiritual return to God (Joel 2:12), and the eschatological restoration of all things.
How Is Shuvah Used in Modern Hebrew?
The modern return of Jews to Israel is called 'aliyah' (going up), but it fulfills the prophetic vision of shuvah. Israel's Law of Return grants every Jew the right to immigrate — a legal embodiment of the biblical promise that God would gather His people from the nations.
How to Use Shuvah in Prayer & Worship
Hear God's shuvah — His invitation to return. Whatever you have wandered from — prayer, faith, community, obedience — the door is open. God is not standing with crossed arms; He is running toward you like the father of the prodigal. Come home.
Frequently Asked Questions About Shuvah
How do you say “Return” in Hebrew?
“Return” in Hebrew is Shuvah (שׁוּבָה), pronounced “shu-VAH.” Shuvah comes from the root שׁ-ו-ב (shin-vav-bet), meaning 'to turn back, return.' It is the imperative form — a direct command: 'Return!' The same root gives us 'teshuvah' (repentance) and is one of the most frequent verbs in all of Hebrew Scripture.
What does Shuvah mean in the Bible?
Shuvah (שׁוּבָה) means “Return, restoration, coming back” in Biblical Hebrew. The root shuv appears over 1,050 times in the Hebrew Bible. Shuvah specifically appears as God's urgent call (Hosea 14:1, Jeremiah 3:12). The verb describes physical return from exile (Ezra 1:3), spiritual return to God (Joel 2:12), and the eschatological restoration of all things.
How do you pronounce Shuvah?
Shuvah is pronounced “shu-VAH.” The word comes from the Hebrew root שׁ-ו-ב.
What is the difference between shuvah and teshuvah?
Both come from the root shuv (return). Teshuvah emphasizes the individual's act of repentance — turning from sin back to God. Shuvah is the broader concept of return and restoration — God's invitation and the cosmic homecoming He promises. Teshuvah is your step toward God; shuvah is God calling you home and restoring everything.
What is 'Shabbat Shuvah'?
Shabbat Shuvah ('Sabbath of Return') is the Shabbat between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur — during the Ten Days of Repentance. It takes its name from the Haftarah reading of Hosea 14:1: 'Shuvah, Israel.' It is the most spiritually intense Sabbath of the year, when the entire community turns together toward God.
How does the Bible promise Israel's return from exile?
Multiple prophets promise Israel's return: Jeremiah 29:10 (from Babylon), Isaiah 11:12 (from all nations), Ezekiel 37:21 (gathered from everywhere). These prophecies have been partially fulfilled in the returns from Babylon (538 BC) and the modern establishment of Israel (1948). Many see a complete fulfillment still ahead when the Messiah reigns from Jerusalem.
Sources & Further Study
- Blue Letter Bible — H7725: Shuvah
- Bible Gateway — Hosea 14:1 (ESV)
- Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (BDB) — entry for שׁ-ו-ב
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