Numbers 23:20 — Word Study
WLCהִנֵּ֥ה בָרֵ֖ךְ לָקָ֑חְתִּי וּבֵרֵ֖ךְ וְלֹ֥א אֲשִׁיבֶֽנָּה׃
BSAI have indeedhinnêh receivedlâqach■ [been given, obtained] ◂a command to blessbârak [instruction, order, praise, honor] ◂He has blessedbârak■ [the Lord, God, bestowed a blessing, given favor] and I cannotlôʼ [am not able, it is not possible for me] change itshûwb▸ [reverse, alter, the blessing, the decree]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| הִנֵּ֥ה | here! | Particle |
| בָרֵ֖ךְ | [surely] blessing | Verb, Piel, infinitive construct common |
| לָקָ֑חְתִּי | I have received | Verb, Qal, perfect first person common singular |
| וּבֵרֵ֖ךְ | and he has blessed | Conjunction, verb piel perfect third person masculine singular |
| וְלֹ֥א | and not | Conjunction, particle |
| אֲשִׁיבֶֽנָּה׃ | I will turn back it | Verb hiphil imperfect first person common singular, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | I have indeed received a command to bless; He has blessed, and I cannot change it. |
| KJV | Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it. |
| ASV | Behold, I have received commandment to bless: And he hath blessed, and I cannot reverse it. |
| YLT | Lo, to bless I have received: Yea, He blesseth, and I [can] not reverse it. |
| WEB | Behold, I have received a command to bless. He has blessed, and I can’t reverse it. |
| BBE | See, I have had orders to give blessing: and he has given a blessing which I have no power to take away. |
Where they part company is in the interpretation of Balaam's inability to change the blessing — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence is structured with a main clause followed by two subordinate clauses, emphasizing the command and the irrevocability of the blessing.
6 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbבָּרַךְ
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Numbers 23:20
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — Balaam's Prophecygenerated
Numbers 23:20 is part of a larger narrative where Balaam, a prophet, is summoned by Balak, the king of Moab, to curse the Israelites. Instead, Balaam receives a command from God to bless them. This moment highlights the sovereignty of God in determining the fate of His people, as well as Balaam's role as a prophet who must convey God's message faithfully, regardless of external pressures.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Numbers 22:12 | But God said to Balaam, “Do not go with them. You are not to curse this people, for they are blessed.” |
| 2 | Genesis 12:2 | I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. |
| 3 | Genesis 22:17 | I will surely bless you, and I will multiply your descendants like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will possess the gates of their enemies. |
| 4 | Numbers 22:18–38 | But Balaam replied to the servants of Balak, “If Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything small or great to go beyond the command of the LORD my God. |
| 5 | John 10:27–29 | My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 7 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — בָרֵךְ, va.Rekhgenerated
The Hebrew word בָּרַךְ (*barak*) is a verb in the Piel stem, which typically indicates an intensive action. It means 'to bless' and is derived from a root that suggests kneeling, indicating an act of reverence. In this context, it refers to the act of bestowing favor or praise, particularly from God to His people.
This word is significant because it emphasizes the divine authority behind the blessing. Balaam recognizes that once God has blessed, it cannot be undone or altered by human will.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The verse contains a main clause with two verbs: לָקָ֑חְתִּי, I have received, and בֵרֵ֖ךְ, and He has blessed. The structure shows that Balaam's acknowledgment of his command to bless directly follows his statement of having received it.
The conjunction וּבֵרֵ֖ךְ connects the two actions, indicating that the blessing is both a command and a completed action, reinforcing the irrevocability of God's word.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, the word for blessing is rendered as εὐλογεῖν, which carries the same meaning as the Hebrew. This choice reflects a consistent understanding of the act of blessing as a divine bestowal of favor.
The use of the Greek term emphasizes the continuity of the concept of blessing from the Hebrew Scriptures into the Greek-speaking world, maintaining its theological significance.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Numbers 23:20 shows Balaam declaring that he has received a command to bless the Israelites, which he cannot change. This highlights the power of God's blessing and Balaam's role as a prophet who must speak God's truth.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It indicates that Balaam was instructed by God to speak favorably about the Israelites, showing God's intention to bless them despite opposition.
Balaam recognizes that God's decrees are unchangeable; once God has determined to bless, no one can reverse that decision.
It demonstrates that God's will prevails over human intentions, as Balaam, despite being hired to curse, can only bless because of God's command.
The word 'bless' signifies a bestowal of divine favor, which is central to the relationship between God and His people, highlighting His care and protection.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways have I seen God's blessings in my own life?
- How can I ensure that I speak words of blessing and encouragement to others?
- What does it mean for me to recognize the unchangeable nature of God's promises?
- How can I respond when I feel pressured to speak negatively about others?
Commentators on this verse — 6 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Numbers 23:20 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleBehold, I have received [commandment] to bless,.... The people of Israel, to pronounce a blessing upon them, to declare them a happy people: and he hath blessed, and I cannot reverse it; God has
Read John Gill on Numbers 23 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryAnd he took up his parable, and said, Rise up, Balak, and hear; hearken unto me, thou son of Zippor: `Rise up, Balak, and hear! Hearken unto me, thou son of Zippori!
Read Robert Jamieson on Numbers 23 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleOr, I have received a blessing, to wit, a sentence of blessing, which God hath put into my mind and mouth, and which I cannot forbear to utter. Heb. I have received to bless. The infinitive put for the noun, as is frequent.
Read Matthew Poole on Numbers 23 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsNumbers 23:20 Behold, I have received [commandment] to bless: and he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it.Ver. 20. Behold, I have, &c.] A bad man may bless by command from God, and he say Amen to it. The precious stone Lyncuris may issue out of the body of the lynx, an unclean and spotted beast.
Read John Trapp on Numbers 23 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges20. And if he blesseth, then I cannot reverse it] It is not necessary to read, with LXX. , ‘and I will bless.’
Read Cambridge on Numbers 23 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleI have received commandment to bless - literally, “I have received to bless.” The reason of his blessing lay in the augury which he acknowledged, and in the divine overruling impulse which he could
Read Albert Barnes on Numbers 23 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
I have indeed received a command to bless; He has blessed, and I cannot change it.
Behold, I have received a command to bless. He has blessed, and I can’t reverse it.
I have indeed received a command to bless; He has blessed, and I cannot change it.
Indeed, I have received a command to bless; he has blessed, and I cannot reverse it.
Tyndale line
Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it.
Behold, I have received commandment to bless: And he hath blessed, and I cannot reverse it.
Behold, I have received commandment to bless: And he hath blessed, and I cannot reverse it.
Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and he hath blessed, and I cannot reverse it.
Behold, I haue receiued commandement to blesse: for he hath blessed, and I cannot alter it.
Strictly literal
Behold, I have received [mission] to bless; and he hath blessed, and I cannot reverse it.
Lo, to bless I have received: Yea, He blesseth, and I [can] not reverse it.
Behold, I have received [only] to bless; Indeed, He blesses, and I cannot reverse it.
Behold, to bless I have received [the word]; and he hath blessed, and I cannot reverse it.
Look, I have been commanded to bless. God has given a blessing, and I cannot reverse it.
From the Latin
I was brought to bless, the blessing I am not able to hinder.
Simplified
Look, I have been ordered to give a blessing. God has blessed, and I can't change that.
See, I have had orders to give blessing: and he has given a blessing which I have no power to take away.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint align closely, with all six words matched. However, the Samaritan Pentateuch presents four differences: it uses 'הן' (behold), 'ל' (to), 'ברך' (bless), and 'אברך' (bless), indicating a variation in wording but not in the overall message.
הִנֵּ֥ה בָרֵ֖ךְ לָקָ֑חְתִּי וּבֵרֵ֖ךְ וְלֹ֥א אֲשִׁיבֶֽנָּה׃
6 of the 6 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
הן לברך לקחתי אברך ולא אשׁיבנה
4 words differ from the Masoretic Text: הן (behold), ל (to), ברך (bless), אברך (bless)
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Numbers 23:20
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
הִנֵּה (hinneh) is a Hebrew word meaning 'behold' or 'lo!' It serves as a demonstrative particle used to draw attention, appearing in contexts such as Genesis 19:2. The word is derived from a prolongation of another Hebrew term, but the entries do not provide further details on its usage beyond this.
הִנֵּה, once הִנֶּה־ Gn 19:2, demonstr.part. lo!, behold!
base
H2009 הִנֵּה, הִנֶּה־ lo!, behold!
2009 hinneh hin-nay'
prolongation for 2005; lo!:--behold, lo, see.
see HEBREW for 02005
הִנֵּה (hin.neh) — behold.
behold, lo, see, if
Part — ParticleHTj
her, in composition:
The Hebrew word בָּרַךְ (*barak*) is built from a primitive root meaning 'to kneel' and encompasses a range of meanings including 'to bless' and 'to curse.' It can refer to blessing God or men, as well as the act of kneeling in adoration. The entries note that it can also imply a curse in certain contexts, reflecting a nuanced use in greetings and farewells.
[בָּרַךְ] 329 vb. kneel, bless
Qal
kneel down
bless
Niph. bless oneself
Pi.
bless God, adore with bended knees
God blesses
men bless men
salute, greet, with an invocation of blessing
bless, with the antithetical meaning curse from the greeting in departing, saying adieu to, taking leave of; but rather a blessing overdone and so really a curse as in vulgar English as well as in the Shemitic cognates
Pu.
pass. to be blessed, adored
prospered by God
have prosperity invoked, by Balaam
in gratitude
Hiph. and he made his camel kneel
Hithp. bless oneself, congratulate oneself in his heart
base
H1288 בָּרַךְ kneel, bless .. kneel down
. bless
. bless oneself
. . bless God, adore with bended knees
. God blesses
. men bless men
. salute, greet, with an invocation of blessing
. bless, with the antithetical meaning curse from the greeting in departing, saying adieu to, taking leave of; but rather a blessing overdone and so really a curse as in vulgar English as well as in the Shemitic cognates
. . pass. to be blessed, adored
. prospered by God
. have prosperity invoked, by Balaam
. in gratitude
. and he made his camel kneel
. bless oneself, congratulate oneself in his heart
1288 barak baw-rak'
a primitive root; to kneel; by implication to bless God (as
an act of adoration), and (vice-versa) man (as a benefit);
also (by euphemism) to curse (God or the king, as treason):--X
abundantly, X altogether, X at all, blaspheme, bless,
congratulate, curse, X greatly, X indeed, kneel (down),
praise, salute, X still, thank.
בָּרַךְ (ba.rakh) — to bless.
1) to bless, kneel
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to kneel
1a2) to bless
1b) (Niphal) to be blessed, bless oneself
1c) (Piel) to bless
1d) (Pual) to be blessed, be adored
1e) (Hiphil) to cause to kneel
1f) (Hithpael) to bless oneself
2) (TWOT) to praise, salute, curse
Aramaic equivalent: be.rakh (בְּרַךְ "to bless" H1289)
V-Piel-Ptc — Verb · Piel · infinitive construct commonHVpcc
(berakhah; eulogia): Sometimes means the form of words used in invoking the bestowal of good, as in De 33:1; Jos 8:34; and Jas 3:10. Sometimes it means the good or the benefit itself which has been conferred, as in Ge 27:36, "Hast thou not reserved a blessing for me?" and Pr 10:22, "The blessing of Yahweh, it maketh rich." "The cup of blessing" (to poterion tes eulogias, a special use of the word in 1Co 10:16), means the cup for which we bless God, or which represents to us so much blessin g from God.
James M. Gray
Referring both to God and to man. When God blesses, he bestows that efficacy which renders his blessing effectual. His blessings are either temporal or spiritual, bodily or mental; but in every thing they really convey the good which they import, Nu 6:23-27. The blessings of men to other men, unless they be inspired prophecies, as in Ge 32:32 De 33:1 1:1-29, are only good wishes, personal or official, and as it were a peculiar kind of prayer to the Author of all good for the welfare of the subject of them. Blessing, on the part of man towards God, is an act of thanks-giving for his mercies, Ps 103:1; or rather, for that special mercy which at the time occasions the act of…
→ For blessing before eating, see PRAYER
→ See THANKSGIVING AND PRAYER BEFORE TAKING FOOD
→ See also BENEDICTIONS
→ RESPONSIVE BLESSINGS OF THE LAW De 28:1-14
For the responsive curses of the law, see CURSE
→ CONTINGENT UPON OBEDIENCE Ex 15:26; 19:5; 20:6; 23:22; Le 26:3-43; De 4:1,40; 5:10,29; 7:9,12-15; 11:26-28; 12:28; 15:4,5; 28:1-14; 29:9; 30:1-10,15-20; Jos 1:8; 1Ki 2:3,4; 3:14; 8:23; 9:3-9; 1Ch 22:13; 28:7,8; 2Ch 7:17-22; 26:5; 27:6; 30:9; 31:10;
The Hebrew word לָקַח (*laqach*) means 'to take' and encompasses a wide range of actions, including to receive, seize, capture, and carry away. It can refer to taking something in hand, taking a wife, or even taking vengeance. The verb has various forms indicating different nuances, such as being taken away or captured.
לָקַח 965 vb. take
Qal
take, take in hand
take and carry along with oneself
take from, or out of
take, carry away
take away from, so as to deprive of
esp. take away life
take to or for a person
take up, upon = put upon
= fetch
take = lead, conduct (with or without contact)
take = capture, seize
take = carry off
in phr. take vengeance
Niph.
be captured, of ark
be taken away, removed
be taken, brought unto
Pu.
be taken from, out of
= be stolen from
be taken captive
be taken away, removed
Hoph.
be taken, brought unto
be taken out of
be taken away from
Hithp. lit. fire taking hold of itself, of lightning
base
H3947 לָקַח take .. take, take in hand
. take and carry along with oneself
. . take from, or out of
. take, carry away
. take away from, so as to deprive of
. esp. take away life
. take to or for a person
. take up, upon = put upon
. = fetch
. take = lead, conduct (with or without contact)
. take = capture, seize
. take = carry off
. in phr. take vengeance
. . be captured, of ark
. be taken away, removed
. be taken, brought unto
. . be taken from, out of
. = be stolen from
. be taken captive
. be taken away, removed
. . be taken, brought unto
. be taken out of
. be taken away from
. lit. fire taking hold of itself, of lightning
3947 laqach law-kakh'
a primitive root; to take (in the widest variety of
applications):--accept, bring, buy, carry away, drawn, fetch,
get, infold, X many, mingle, place, receive(-ing), reserve,
seize, send for, take (away, -ing, up), use, win.
לָקַח (la.qach) — to take: take.
: take
1) to take, get, fetch, lay hold of, seize, receive, acquire, buy, bring, marry, take a wife, snatch, take away
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to take, take in the hand
1a2) to take and carry along
1a3) to take from, take out of, take, carry away, take away
1a4) to take to or for a person, procure, get, take possession of, select, choose, take in marriage, receive, accept
1a5) to take up or upon, put upon
1a6) to fetch
1a7) to take, lead, conduct
1a8) to take, capture, seize
1a9) to take, carry off 1a10) to take (vengeance)
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be captured
1b2) to be taken away, be removed
1b3) to be taken, brought unto
1c) (Pual)
1c1) to be taken from or out of
1c2) to be stolen from
1c3) to be taken captive
1c4) to be taken away, be removed
1d) (Hophal)
1d1) to be taken unto, be brought unto
1d2) to be taken out of
1d3) to be taken away
1e) (Hithpael)
1e1) to take hold of oneself
V-Qal-Perf-1cs — Verb · Qal · perfect first person common singularHVqp1cs
The Hebrew word בָּרַךְ (*barak*) is built from a primitive root meaning 'to kneel' and encompasses a range of meanings including 'to bless' and 'to curse.' It can refer to blessing God or men, as well as the act of kneeling in adoration. The entries note that it can also imply a curse in certain contexts, reflecting a nuanced use in greetings and farewells.
[בָּרַךְ] 329 vb. kneel, bless
Qal
kneel down
bless
Niph. bless oneself
Pi.
bless God, adore with bended knees
God blesses
men bless men
salute, greet, with an invocation of blessing
bless, with the antithetical meaning curse from the greeting in departing, saying adieu to, taking leave of; but rather a blessing overdone and so really a curse as in vulgar English as well as in the Shemitic cognates
Pu.
pass. to be blessed, adored
prospered by God
have prosperity invoked, by Balaam
in gratitude
Hiph. and he made his camel kneel
Hithp. bless oneself, congratulate oneself in his heart
base
H1288 בָּרַךְ kneel, bless .. kneel down
. bless
. bless oneself
. . bless God, adore with bended knees
. God blesses
. men bless men
. salute, greet, with an invocation of blessing
. bless, with the antithetical meaning curse from the greeting in departing, saying adieu to, taking leave of; but rather a blessing overdone and so really a curse as in vulgar English as well as in the Shemitic cognates
. . pass. to be blessed, adored
. prospered by God
. have prosperity invoked, by Balaam
. in gratitude
. and he made his camel kneel
. bless oneself, congratulate oneself in his heart
1288 barak baw-rak'
a primitive root; to kneel; by implication to bless God (as
an act of adoration), and (vice-versa) man (as a benefit);
also (by euphemism) to curse (God or the king, as treason):--X
abundantly, X altogether, X at all, blaspheme, bless,
congratulate, curse, X greatly, X indeed, kneel (down),
praise, salute, X still, thank.
בָּרַךְ (ba.rakh) — to bless.
1) to bless, kneel
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to kneel
1a2) to bless
1b) (Niphal) to be blessed, bless oneself
1c) (Piel) to bless
1d) (Pual) to be blessed, be adored
1e) (Hiphil) to cause to kneel
1f) (Hithpael) to bless oneself
2) (TWOT) to praise, salute, curse
Aramaic equivalent: be.rakh (בְּרַךְ "to bless" H1289)
Conj | V-Piel-Perf-3ms — Conjunction · verb piel perfect third person masculine singularHC/Vpp3ms
bles'-ed (barukh): Where God is referred to, this word has the sense of "praise," as in 1Sa 25:32, "Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel." But where man is in mind it is used in the sense of "happy" or "favored," and most frequently so in the Psalms and the Gospels, as for example, "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the wicked" (Ps 1:1); "Blessed art thou among women" (Lu 1:42); "Blessed are the poor in spirit" (Mt 5:3).
See BEATITUDES.
לֹא (lo') is a Hebrew word meaning 'not' or 'no.' It serves as a simple negation and can imply absence or prohibition. The word can also be used in various contexts, often combined with other particles for emphasis or clarification. Its Aramaic equivalent is לָא (la), which also means 'not.'
לֹא or לוֹא adv. not
base
H3808 לֹא or לוֹא not
3808 lo' lo
or lowi {lo}; or loh (Deut. 3:11) {lo}; a primitive particle;
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often
used with other particles (as follows):--X before, + or else,
ere, + except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never,
no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), (X as though...,(can-), for) not (out
of), of nought, otherwise, out of, + surely, + as truly as, +
of a truth, + verily, for want, + whether, without.
לֹא (lo) — not.
1) not, no
1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition)
1b) not (with modifier-negation)
1c) nothing (subst)
1d) without (with particle)
1e) before (of time)
Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809)
Conj | Part — Conjunction · particleHC/Tn
The Hebrew word שׁוּב (shuwb) means to turn back or return, covering a wide range of contexts including physical, spiritual, and relational. It can denote returning to a previous state, repenting, or even apostatizing. The entries describe various forms and uses, including bringing back, restoring, and refreshing. Notably, it can also imply a change in course of action.
שׁוּב 1056 vb. turn back, return
Qal 683;—turn back, return:
turn back
return, come or go back
esp. return unto
of dying
of revival from death
fig. of human relations:
return to leader, king
= change so as to appoach (in purpose, desire)
turn, i.e. resort to
return to a physical condition
abs. = change course of action
fig., specif. of spiritual relations:
turn back from God = apostatize
of י׳, turn away
turn back to God (= seek penitently)
abs. repent
turn back from evil
of י׳
of י׳, return (to shew favour)
of inanimate things (sts. personified, or treated as things of life):
denoting repetition, etc.
trans.
Pō‛l.
bring back
fig. restore, refresh
restore, repair
lead away (enticingly)
shew turning = apostatize
Hiph. 353 cause to return, bring back
bring back into bondage
put back
= draw back
= give back, restore
= relinguish
= give in payment, requital
bring one back (from dead)
bring back heart
= refresh
H7725 שׁוּב turn back, return .—turn back, return: . turn back
. return, come or go back
. esp. return unto
. . of dying
. of revival from death
. fig. of human relations: . return to leader, king
. = change so as to appoach (in purpose, desire)
. turn, i.e. resort to
. return to a physical condition
. abs. = change course of action
. fig., specif. of spiritual relations: . turn back from God = apostatize
. of י׳, turn away
. turn back to God (= seek penitently)
. abs. repent
. turn back from evil
. of י׳
. of י׳, return (to shew favour)
. of inanimate things (sts. personified, or treated as things of life):
. denoting repetition, etc.
. trans.
. . bring back
. . fig. restore, refresh
. restore, repair
. lead away (enticingly)
. shew turning = apostatize
. cause to return, bring back . . bring back into bondage
. put back
. = draw back
. = give back, restore
. = relinguish
. = give in payment, requital
7725 shuwb shoob
a primitive root; to turn back (hence, away) transitively or
intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily
with the idea of return to the starting point); generally to
retreat; often adverbial, again:--((break, build, circumcise,
dig, do anything, do evil, feed, lay down, lie down, lodge,
make, rejoice, send, take, weep)) X again, (cause to) answer
(+ again), X in any case (wise), X at all, averse, bring
(again, back, home again), call (to mind), carry again (back),
cease, X certainly, come again (back), X consider, +
continually, convert, deliver (again), + deny, draw back,
fetch home again, X fro, get (oneself) (back) again, X give
(again), go again (back, home), (go) out, hinder, let, (see)
more, X needs, be past, X pay, pervert, pull in again, put
(again, up again), recall, recompense, recover, refresh,
relieve, render (again), requite, rescue, restore, retrieve,
שׁוּב (shuv) — to return: return.
: return
1) to return, turn back
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to turn back, return
1a1a) to turn back
1a1b) to return, come or go back
1a1c) to return unto, go back, come back
1a1d) of dying
1a1e) of human relations (fig)
1a1f) of spiritual relations (fig)
1a1f1) to turn back (from God), apostatise
1a1f2) to turn away (of God)
1a1f3) to turn back (to God), repent
1a1f4) turn back (from evil)
1a1g) of inanimate things
1a1h) in repetition
1b) (Polel)
1b1) to bring back
1b2) to restore, refresh, repair (fig)
1b3) to lead away (enticingly)
1b4) to show turning, apostatise
1c) (Pual) restored (participle)
1d) (Hiphil) to cause to return, bring back
1d1) to bring back, allow to return, put back, draw back, give back, restore, relinquish, give in payment
1d2) to bring back, refresh, restore
1d3) to bring back, report to, answer
1d4) to bring back, make requital, pay (as recompense)
V-Hiphil-Imperf-1cs | Suff — Verb hiphil imperfect first person common singular · suffixHVhi1cs/Sp3fs