English · KJV
H4878

מְשׁוּבָה

mᵉshûwbâh /mesh-oo-baw'/ Audio pronunciations are computer-generated and may not be fully accurate. Provided as a convenience only.

Rootor מְשֻׁבָה · from שׁוּב
Meaningapostasy
KJV usagebacksliding, turning away.

Ask about this word

In depth

Word Study

A plain-language study of mᵉshûwbâh — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word mᵉshûwbâh, represented by H4878, is a term for apostasy or backsliding. Derived from the root word H7725 shûwb, meaning to turn back or away, it appears 12 times across 12 unique verses in the Bible. It signifies a state of turning away from God, often describing the spiritual condition of Israel.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, mᵉshûwbâh is used primarily by the prophets Jeremiah and Hosea to confront Israel's unfaithfulness. The term characterizes the nation as "backsliding Israel" Jeremiah 3:12 and describes a condition so ingrained that the people are "bent to backsliding" Hosea 11:7. This state is not without consequences; the people are warned, "thy backslidings shall reprove thee" Jeremiah 2:19. This turning away is shown to have fatal results for the simple, whose choice to turn away will ultimately "slay them" Proverbs 1:32. Despite the gravity of this condition, God extends a promise to "heal their backsliding" Hosea 14:4.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words provide a fuller context for understanding backsliding and God's response to it:

  • H7725 shûwb (to turn back): As the root of mᵉshûwbâh, this word is central to the theme. It is used in God's appeal for repentance, "Return, ye backsliding children" Jeremiah 3:22, and to describe the people's obstinance when they "refuse to return" Jeremiah 8:5.
  • H7495 râphâʼ (to heal): This word represents God's gracious solution to backsliding. The promise is not just for forgiveness but for restoration, as God declares, "I will heal their backsliding" Hosea 14:4 and "I will heal your backslidings" Jeremiah 3:22.
  • H5800 ʻâzab (to forsake): This term describes the foundational act of backsliding. The state of apostasy is defined by having "forsaken the LORD thy God" Jeremiah 2:19, which is identified as an evil and bitter thing.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of mᵉshûwbâh is significant, highlighting key aspects of the relationship between God and His people.

  • A Persistent Rebellion: Backsliding is portrayed as a chronic spiritual illness. Israel is described as being in a "perpetual backsliding" Jeremiah 8:5, holding fast to deceit and refusing to return to God. This indicates a deep-seated and willful turning away.
  • The Cause of Judgment: The consequences of backsliding are severe. It is directly linked with an increase in transgressions Jeremiah 5:6 and iniquities Jeremiah 14:7, which bring about divine judgment symbolized by destructive forces like a lion and a wolf.
  • The Target of Divine Mercy: Despite the judgment it incurs, backsliding is consistently met with an offer of redemption. God calls "backsliding Israel" to return, promising not to keep His anger forever because He is merciful Jeremiah 3:12. The promise to heal is coupled with the promise to "love them freely" Hosea 14:4.

Summary

In summary, mᵉshûwbâh is not merely about a single act of disobedience but describes the profound spiritual state of apostasy. It is a key term in the prophetic books for diagnosing Israel's unfaithfulness, which leads to dire consequences and divine correction. However, the concept is inextricably linked to God's persistent call for repentance and His standing offer to heal and restore those who have turned away.

Translation

How the KJV Renders It

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Morphology

Grammatical Forms

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a noun across 11 occurrences, inflected in 3 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it. The King James text tags 12 English words with this number, so the two totals can differ a little.

  • מְשֻׁבָה
  • מְשׁוּבֹתֵי
  • מְשׁוּבָתִ
Related

Related Words

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

H7725 שׁוּב to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of… H7495 רָפָא properly, to mend (by stitching), i.e. (figuratively) to cure H5800 עָזַב to loosen, i.e. relinquish, permit, etc.
Context

Theographic Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Distribution

Biblical Distribution

Appears in 12 verses across 3 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Jeremiah (9 verses); never once in the other 36.

1
Proverbs
9
Jeremiah
2
Hosea
Concordance

Every Occurrence

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.