מְשׁוּבָה (me.shu.vah)
me.shu.vah
faithlessness
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 11 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The noun meshubah refers to a willful turning away from God, often translated as faithlessness or apostasy. It describes more than a simple mistake; it is a deliberate shift in loyalty that breaks the covenant relationship. The word appears eleven times in the Hebrew Bible, with significant usage in Jeremiah and Hosea to describe Israel’s spiritual decline.
Its root conveys the idea of returning or turning back, but in this form, it emphasizes the negative direction: a return to idolatry or sin rather than to God. In Proverbs 14:22, for example, those who plot evil are described as practicing meshubah, highlighting how such faithlessness leads people astray from good. The term carries heavy theological weight, portraying a heart that has chosen to abandon its first commitment.
Translators typically render meshubah as "faithlessness" or "backsliding," capturing the sense of betrayal inherent in the word. Unlike terms for ignorance or weakness, meshubah implies knowledge of God’s ways and yet a conscious decision to turn away. This distinction helps readers understand the seriousness with which the prophets viewed Israel’s spiritual state.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
When we read about faithlessness in Scripture, it can feel heavy. The Hebrew word meshubah describes a deliberate turning away from God, not just a momentary stumble. It speaks to a heart that knows the truth but chooses a different path. This is a serious matter because it breaks the covenant relationship we have with our Creator.
Yet even in these stark warnings, there is room for hope. The prophets did not speak only of judgment; they also spoke of healing. In Jeremiah 3:22, God invites backsliding children to return, promising to heal their faithlessness. This shows that no matter how far we have turned, the door remains open for restoration.
For your daily life, this word reminds us to examine our own hearts. Are we clinging to deceit or holding fast to God? It is an invitation to be honest about where our loyalty lies. When we feel distant, we can remember that God’s mercy is greater than our failures, and He waits for us to come back.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 11 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- [the] apostate one3×
- to/ apostasy/ my1×
- apostasy1×
- apostasies/ your1×
- apostasies/ their1×
- apostasies/ our1×
- and/ apostasies/ your1×
- [the] waywardness of1×
- O apostate one1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מְשֻׁבָ֣ה4×
- מְשׁוּבוֹתֵי/הֶֽם\׃1×
- מְשׁוּבֹתֵ֖י/נוּ1×
- מְשׁוּבֹֽתֵי/כֶ֑ם1×
- מְשׁוּבַ֣ת1×
- מְשֻׁבָ֤ה1×
- לִ/מְשֽׁוּבָתִ֑/י1×
- וּ/מְשֻֽׁבוֹתַ֙יִ/ךְ֙1×
Key Verses
-
Jeremiah 3:22
Return, you backsliding children, and I will heal your backsliding. “Behold, we have come to you; for you are Yahweh our God.
This verse uniquely pairs the call to return with the promise of healing, showing that meshubah is not a final state but a condition God is willing to restore.
-
Jeremiah 2:19
“Your own wickedness will correct you, and your backsliding will rebuke you. Know therefore and see that it is an evil and bitter thing, that you have forsaken Yahweh your God, and that my fear is not in you,” says the Lord, Yahweh of Armies.
Here the word is personified as a rebuke, illustrating how our own choices serve as a mirror to reveal the bitterness of abandoning God.
-
Hosea 11:7
My people are determined to turn from me. Though they call to the Most High, he certainly won’t exalt them.
This occurrence highlights the stubbornness of the human heart, noting that people may call out to God yet remain determined to turn away from Him.