שׁוּב (shuv)
shuv
to return: return
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 820 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb shuv is one of the most frequent and versatile words in the Old Testament, appearing over eight hundred times. Its core meaning is simply to turn back or return, but it describes a movement that can be physical, relational, or spiritual. In Genesis, it often marks a literal journey home, while in Kings, it tracks political shifts as leaders change allegiance.
Its most significant theological weight lies in its figurative use regarding human relationship with God. Shuv serves as the primary term for repentance, describing a turning away from evil and back toward divine instruction. Conversely, it also describes apostasy when people turn away from God. This dual direction makes it a dynamic word for moral choice rather than just emotional regret.
The sources highlight that shuv is not limited to people; it applies to inanimate objects and even God’s actions. Translators often render it as "restore" or "answer," reflecting its broad range. This flexibility allows the text to describe everything a soldier retreating from battle to a king restoring justice, showing that turning back is a fundamental pattern in biblical narrative.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word shuv describes a movement that is both physical and spiritual. It means to turn back, return, or restore. In Genesis, we see this in simple actions like a dove returning to the ark or Abraham’s servant bringing Lot back from captivity. These stories show that returning is a fundamental part of life, marking journeys home and the restoration of what was lost.
For your faith, shuv carries deep significance as the primary term for repentance. It is not merely feeling sorry, but actively turning away from harm and moving toward God’s guidance. When you feel distant or when circumstances seem broken, this word reminds you that a return is always possible. You can turn back to trust, just as Abraham returned to his place after worship, finding peace in God’s presence.
This concept invites you to see your daily life as a series of returns. Whether it is returning to kindness in a difficult conversation or returning to prayer when anxiety rises, shuv offers a path forward. It assures us that no matter how far we drift, the way back to grace and stability is open. This hope anchors our hearts, knowing that God meets us wherever we turn.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 820 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ he returned59×
- return39×
- and/ they returned36×
- you will return17×
- he will return16×
- to/ return15×
- it will return15×
- and/ he will return15×
- and/ they will return12×
- I will return12×
- he returned11×
- and/ they turned back11×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וַ/יָּ֖שָׁב11×
- וַ/יָּשֻׁ֖בוּ10×
- וַ/יָּ֣שָׁב10×
- שָׁ֥ב9×
- לְ/הָשִׁ֥יב9×
- יָשׁ֣וּב9×
- וַ/יָּ֤שָׁב9×
- לְ/הָשִׁ֣יב8×
- יָשִׁ֣יב8×
- וַ/יָּ֥שָׁב8×
- וַ/יָּ֙שָׁב֙8×
- אָשִׁ֥יב8×
Key Verses
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Genesis 3:19
You will eat bread by the sweat of your face until you return to the ground, for you were taken out of it. For you are dust, and you shall return to dust.”
This verse uses shuv to describe the physical return of human bodies to dust, highlighting the finality of mortality and the consequence of sin.
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Genesis 20:7
Now therefore, restore the man’s wife. For he is a prophet, and he will pray for you, and you will live. If you don’t restore her, know for sure that you will die, you, and all who are yours.”
Here shuv means to restore, showing that repentance through Abraham’s prayer leads to the restoration of Abimelech’s household and life.
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Genesis 22:5
Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey. The boy and I will go over there. We will worship, and come back to you.”
Abraham tells his servants they will return after worship, linking the act of returning with the practice of seeking God first.
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Genesis 28:15
Behold, I am with you, and will keep you, wherever you go, and will bring you again into this land. For I will not leave you until I have done that which I have spoken of to you.”
God promises to bring Jacob back to this land, using shuv to assure him of His faithful presence and future restoration despite current fear.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does shuv mean in the Old Testament?
How is shuv different from other words for repentance?
Where does shuv appear most often?
Does shuv only apply to people?
Every Occurrence (820 verses across 35 books)
Genesis 57 verses
You will eat bread by the sweat of your face until you return to the ground, for you were taken out of it. For you are…
Genesis 8:3The waters continually receded from the earth. After the end of one hundred fifty days the waters receded.
Genesis 8:7and he sent out a raven. It went back and forth, until the waters were dried up from the earth.
Genesis 8:9but the dove found no place to rest her foot, and she returned into the ship to him, for the waters were on the surface…
Genesis 8:12He waited yet another seven days, and sent out the dove; and she didn’t return to him any more.
Genesis 14:7They returned, and came to En Mishpat (also called Kadesh), and struck all the country of the Amalekites, and also the…
Genesis 14:16He brought back all the goods, and also brought back his relative Lot and his goods, and the women also, and the other…
Genesis 14:17The king of Sodom went out to meet him after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with…
Genesis 15:16In the fourth generation they will come here again, for the iniquity of the Amorite is not yet full.”
Genesis 16:9Yahweh’s angel said to her, “Return to your mistress, and submit yourself under her hands.”
Genesis 18:10He said, “I will certainly return to you at about this time next year; and behold, Sarah your wife will have a son.”…
Genesis 18:14Is anything too hard for Yahweh? At the set time I will return to you, when the season comes around, and Sarah will…
Genesis 18:33Yahweh went his way as soon as he had finished communing with Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place.
Genesis 20:7Now therefore, restore the man’s wife. For he is a prophet, and he will pray for you, and you will live. If you don’t…
Genesis 20:14Abimelech took sheep and cattle, male servants and female servants, and gave them to Abraham, and restored Sarah, his…
Genesis 21:32So they made a covenant at Beersheba. Abimelech rose up with Phicol, the captain of his army, and they returned into…
Genesis 22:5Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey. The boy and I will go over there. We will worship, and come…
Genesis 22:19So Abraham returned to his young men, and they rose up and went together to Beersheba. Abraham lived at Beersheba.
Genesis 24:5The servant said to him, “What if the woman isn’t willing to follow me to this land? Must I bring your son again to the…
Genesis 24:6Abraham said to him, “Beware that you don’t bring my son there again.
Genesis 24:8If the woman isn’t willing to follow you, then you shall be clear from this oath to me. Only you shall not bring my son…
Genesis 26:18Isaac dug again the wells of water, which they had dug in the days of Abraham his father, for the Philistines had…
Genesis 27:44Stay with him a few days, until your brother’s fury turns away—
Genesis 27:45until your brother’s anger turns away from you, and he forgets what you have done to him. Then I will send, and get you…
Genesis 28:15Behold, I am with you, and will keep you, wherever you go, and will bring you again into this land. For I will not…
Genesis 28:21so that I come again to my father’s house in peace, and Yahweh will be my God,
Genesis 29:3There all the flocks were gathered. They rolled the stone from the well’s mouth, and watered the sheep, and put the…
Genesis 30:31Laban said, “What shall I give you?” Jacob said, “You shall not give me anything. If you will do this thing for me, I…
Genesis 31:3Yahweh said to Jacob, “Return to the land of your fathers, and to your relatives, and I will be with you.”
Genesis 31:13I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar, where you vowed a vow to me. Now arise, get out from this land,…
Genesis 33:16So Esau returned that day on his way to Seir.
Genesis 37:14He said to him, “Go now, see whether it is well with your brothers, and well with the flock; and bring me word again.”…
Genesis 37:22Reuben said to them, “Shed no blood. Throw him into this pit that is in the wilderness, but lay no hand on him”—that he…
Genesis 37:29Reuben returned to the pit, and saw that Joseph wasn’t in the pit; and he tore his clothes.
Genesis 37:30He returned to his brothers, and said, “The child is no more; and I, where will I go?”
Genesis 38:22He returned to Judah, and said, “I haven’t found her; and also the men of the place said, ‘There has been no prostitute…
Genesis 38:29As he drew back his hand, behold, his brother came out, and she said, “Why have you made a breach for yourself?”…
Genesis 40:13Within three more days, Pharaoh will lift up your head, and restore you to your office. You will give Pharaoh’s cup…
Genesis 40:21He restored the chief cup bearer to his position again, and he gave the cup into Pharaoh’s hand;
Genesis 41:13As he interpreted to us, so it was. He restored me to my office, and he hanged him.”
Genesis 42:24He turned himself away from them, and wept. Then he returned to them, and spoke to them, and took Simeon from among…
Genesis 42:25Then Joseph gave a command to fill their bags with grain, and to restore each man’s money into his sack, and to give…
Genesis 42:28He said to his brothers, “My money is restored! Behold, it is in my sack!” Their hearts failed them, and they turned…
Genesis 42:37Reuben spoke to his father, saying, “Kill my two sons, if I don’t bring him to you. Entrust him to my care, and I will…
Genesis 43:2When they had eaten up the grain which they had brought out of Egypt, their father said to them, “Go again, buy us a…
Genesis 43:10for if we hadn’t delayed, surely we would have returned a second time by now.”
Genesis 43:12and take double money in your hand, and take back the money that was returned in the mouth of your sacks. Perhaps it…
Genesis 43:13Take your brother also, get up, and return to the man.
Genesis 43:18The men were afraid, because they were brought to Joseph’s house; and they said, “Because of the money that was…
Genesis 43:21When we came to the lodging place, we opened our sacks, and behold, each man’s money was in the mouth of his sack, our…
Genesis 44:8Behold, the money, which we found in our sacks’ mouths, we brought again to you out of the land of Canaan. How then…
Genesis 44:13Then they tore their clothes, and each man loaded his donkey, and returned to the city.
Genesis 44:25Our father said, ‘Go again and buy us a little food.’
Genesis 48:21Israel said to Joseph, “Behold, I am dying, but God will be with you, and bring you again to the land of your fathers.
Genesis 50:5‘My father made me swear, saying, “Behold, I am dying. Bury me in my grave which I have dug for myself in the land of…
Genesis 50:14Joseph returned into Egypt—he, and his brothers, and all that went up with him to bury his father, after he had buried…
Genesis 50:15When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “It may be that Joseph will hate us, and will fully…