שְׁבִית (she.vut)
she.vut
captivity
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 21 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The noun shevut primarily denotes captivity or exile, referring to the state of being taken prisoner. It appears frequently in the prophetic books of Jeremiah and Ezekiel, where it describes the harsh reality of Israel’s defeat and removal from their land. The word captures both the physical condition of the captives and the broader experience of national loss.
Interestingly, shevut also carries a figurative meaning: the restoration to a former state of prosperity. This dual sense is most vivid in Job 42:10, where God restores Job’s "captivity," meaning his previous wealth and well-being. Similarly, Psalms 126:4 uses the phrase "restore our captivity" to express a longing for the return from exile and the renewal of joy. This usage shows how the term bridges the gap between suffering and future hope.
Translators often render shevut as "captivity" or "restoration," depending on context. The word’s flexibility allows it to describe both the pain of displacement and the promise of recovery. In this way, shevut serves as a powerful theological concept, linking judgment with the hope of divine restoration.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word shevut often brings to mind the heavy reality of exile and loss. In the prophetic books, it describes the painful displacement of God’s people when they were taken from their homes. This usage reminds us that suffering is real and that separation from what we hold dear can feel like a permanent rupture in our lives.
Yet this word carries a surprising turn toward hope. It is frequently paired with the idea of reversal or restoration. When Scripture speaks of God reversing shevut, it points to a future where brokenness is mended and joy returns. This dual meaning shows that our current struggles do not define our final story.
For your faith, this offers a gentle assurance. Even when you feel scattered or diminished, the same God who allowed the exile is the one who promises to restore. The hope of shevut is not just about returning to a past state, but about experiencing God’s faithful compassion that brings wholeness again.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 21 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- [the] captivity of12×
- captivity/ their4×
- captivity/ your3×
- in <the>/ captivity1×
- captivity/ our1×
- captiviti<es>/ your1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- שְׁב֣וּת5×
- שְׁב֥וּת3×
- שְׁבוּתָ֖/ם2×
- שְׁבוּת\־2×
- שְׁבוּתָ֑/ם1×
- שְׁבוּתֵי/כֶ֛ם1×
- שְׁבוּתֵ֑/ךְ1×
- שְׁבוּתְ/כֶ֗ם1×
- שְׁבוּתְ/ךָ֖1×
- שְׁבוּת֙1×
- שְׁבִיתָֽ/ם\׃1×
- שְׁבִיתֵ֑/נוּ1×
Key Verses
-
Deuteronomy 30:3
that then Yahweh your God will release you from captivity, have compassion on you, and will return and gather you from all the peoples where Yahweh your God has scattered you.
This verse links the release from captivity directly with God’s compassion, showing that restoration is an act of mercy rather than mere political change.
-
Jeremiah 29:14
I will be found by you,” says Yahweh, “and I will turn again your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places where I have driven you,” says Yahweh. “I will bring you again to the place from where I caused you to be carried away captive.”
Here God promises to turn back the captivity, emphasizing His personal initiative in gathering the scattered people from every nation.
-
Job 42:10
Yahweh restored Job’s prosperity when he prayed for his friends. Yahweh gave Job twice as much as he had before.
This unique usage shifts the meaning from national exile to personal restoration, illustrating how God can restore a person’s fortunes after deep suffering.
-
Amos 9:14
I will bring my people Israel back from captivity, and they will rebuild the ruined cities, and inhabit them; and they will plant vineyards, and drink wine from them. They shall also make gardens, and eat their fruit.
The promise here connects the reversal of captivity with tangible rebuilding and fruitfulness, grounding spiritual hope in practical renewal.