English · KJV
H7728

שׁוֹבֵב

shôwbêb /sho-babe'/ Ask about this word
Rootfrom שׁוּב
Meaningapostate, i.e. heathenish or (actually) heathen
KJV usagebacksliding.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of shôwbêb — 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 shôwbêb, represented by H7728, is defined as backsliding or apostate. It appears 2 times across 2 unique verses in the Bible. The term describes a state of turning away from a covenant or proper path, implying a heathenish or unfaithful nature.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its biblical usage, H7728 is used by the prophet Jeremiah to deliver a specific rebuke. In both instances, it modifies the term "daughter," likely referring to a nation or community. It describes a "backsliding daughter" who is questioned for her wandering and unfaithfulness Jeremiah 31:22. This same figure is later chided for glorying in her valleys and trusting in her own treasures, arrogantly believing she is beyond reach Jeremiah 49:4. The context consistently portrays a state of spiritual disloyalty and misplaced confidence.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the actions and mindset associated with being H7728:

  • H2559 châmaq (go about, withdraw self): This word is used in conjunction with "backsliding" to describe the daughter's restless wandering Jeremiah 31:22. It means to depart or turn about, directly linking the state of apostasy with the physical act of turning away.
  • H982 bâṭach (to trust, be confident or sure): This term is used to show the source of the backsliding daughter's error; she "trusted" in her treasures rather than in God Jeremiah 49:4. This highlights that backsliding is not just turning away from God, but turning towards a false source of security.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H7728 is significant in understanding the nature of apostasy.

  • Spiritual Infidelity: The word is used to personify a community as a "backsliding daughter," framing its apostasy as a deep, relational betrayal rather than a simple error.
  • Misplaced Trust: A core theme connected to H7728 is the danger of placing confidence in material wealth or worldly strength. The backslider trusts in "treasures," leading to a false sense of security that invites judgment Jeremiah 49:4.
  • Active Wandering: Backsliding is not depicted as a passive state but as an active choice to "go about" (H2559) and depart from a position of stability and faithfulness Jeremiah 31:22.

Summary

In summary, H7728 is more than a general term for failure; it is a pointed descriptor of apostasy and spiritual unfaithfulness. It illustrates that backsliding is characterized by a conscious turning away, a restless wandering from one's spiritual home, and a dangerous transfer of trust from God to worldly securities. The word serves as a solemn warning within the prophetic texts about the consequences of such infidelity.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

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.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as an adjective across 3 occurrences, inflected in 2 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.

  • שּׁוֹבֵבָה
  • שׁוֹבֵב

Related Words

Related

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.

H2559 חָמַק a primitive root; properly, to wrap; hence, to depart (i.e. turn about); go about, withdraw self. H982 בָּטַח a primitive root; properly, to hide for refuge (but not so precipitately as חָסָה); figuratively, to trust, be confident

Theographic Context

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.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

2 verses, all in Jeremiah — and none of the other 38 Old Testament books.

Every Occurrence

Concordance

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.