שִׁיבָה (shi.vah)
shi.vah
captivity
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun shivah, appearing only once in the Psalms at Psalm 126:1, is translated as restoration. This single occurrence anchors the word’s meaning in a specific historical and spiritual context: the return of the exiles to Zion. It does not merely describe a physical journey back home, but rather the divine act of reversing a state of loss or displacement.
While the root verb shuv often implies turning or returning in a general sense, shivah as a noun captures the concrete result of that movement—the restored condition itself. The sources note its connection to the concept of restoration, highlighting how God’s intervention changes a situation of captivity into one of freedom and renewal. This usage reflects a profound hope for national recovery after a period of suffering.
Its rarity in Scripture underscores its significance. By appearing only here, it serves as a unique marker for this specific type of divine reversal. The word points to the tangible outcome of God’s faithfulness, where what was broken or taken away is made whole again, offering a powerful image of hope for those who wait on the Lord.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word shivah appears only once in the entire Psalter, yet it carries a weight that echoes through centuries of faith. It describes not just a physical journey home, but the profound act of divine restoration. When God brings back those in captivity, He does more than relocate bodies; He restores hope to a people who had lost their way.
This single occurrence anchors our understanding of return. It is the tangible result of God’s faithfulness, turning a state of loss into one of freedom. For anyone feeling displaced or broken, this word offers a quiet promise: what was taken away can be made whole again by the One who holds history in His hands.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- [the] restoration of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- שִׁיבַ֣ת1×
Key Verses
-
Psalms 126:1
A Song of Ascents. When Yahweh brought back those who returned to Zion, we were like those who dream.
This verse captures the sudden joy of restoration, comparing the return from exile to waking from a dream, highlighting the surreal nature of God's intervention.