Psalms 126:4 — Word Study
WLCשׁוּבָ֣ה יְ֭הוָה אֶת־ שְׁבִיתֵ֑נוּ כַּאֲפִיקִ֥ים בַּנֶּֽגֶב׃
BSARestoreshûwb [turn again, bring back] our captivesshᵉbûwth [those held in captivity, prisoners] O LORDYᵉhôvâh [Yehovah, the Lord God] like streamsʼâphîyq [as, similar to, channels, rivers] in the Negevnegeb [the southern district, the South]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| שׁוּבָ֣ה | turn back ! | Verb qal imperative second person masculine singular, suffix |
| יְ֭הוָה | O Yahweh | Noun proper |
| אֶת־ | the object marker | Particle |
| שְׁבִיתֵ֑נוּ | captivity our | Noun common feminine singular construct, suffix |
| כַּאֲפִיקִ֥ים | like stream-beds | Preposition, noun common masculine plural absolute |
| בַּנֶּֽגֶב׃ | in the Negev | Preposition, noun proper |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Restore our captives, O LORD, like streams in the Negev. |
| KJV | Turn again our captivity, O LORD, as the streams in the south. |
| ASV | Turn again our captivity, O Jehovah, As the streams in the South. |
| YLT | Turn again, O Jehovah, [to] our captivity, As streams in the south. |
| WEB | Restore our fortunes again, Yahweh, like the streams in the Negev. |
| BBE | Let our fate be changed, O Lord, like the streams in the South. |
Where they part company is in their choice of synonyms for שׁוּבָ֣ה — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence has a main clause followed by a simile, emphasizing the nature of the restoration being requested.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
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 — Psalms 126:4
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 — A Psalm of Restorationgenerated
Psalm 126:4 expresses a deep yearning for the return of those taken captive, likening their restoration to the life-giving streams that flow through the Negev. This imagery evokes both the physical and spiritual renewal of the people of Israel, who were once exiled and now seek to return to their homeland, filled with hope and joy.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalm 126:1 | When the LORD restored the captives of Zion, we were like dreamers. |
| 2 | Psalm 85:4 | Restore us, O God of our salvation, and put away Your displeasure toward us. |
| 3 | Hosea 1:11 | Then the people of Judah and of Israel will be gathered together, and they will appoint for themselves one leader, and will go up out of the land. For great will be the day of Jezreel. |
| 4 | Joshua 3:16 | the flowing water stood still. It backed up as far upstream as Adam, a city in the area of Zarethan, while the water flowing toward the Sea of the Arabah (the Salt Sea ) was completely cut off. So the people crossed over opposite Jericho. |
| 5 | Isaiah 41:18 | I will open rivers on the barren heights, and fountains in the middle of the valleys. I will turn the desert into a pool of water, and the dry land into flowing springs. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 5 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — שׁוּבָ֣ה, shu.Vahgenerated
The Hebrew word שׁוּב (shuwb) is a verb meaning to turn back or return. It conveys a sense of restoration and can apply to both physical and spiritual contexts, such as returning to God or repenting from sin.
In this verse, it is used in the imperative form, calling upon God to act and bring back the captives. This strong plea reflects the urgency and hope of the psalmist for divine intervention in restoring the people of Israel.
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 main verb of the verse is שׁוּבָ֣ה, restore, which governs the plea directed at God. The structure emphasizes the urgency of the request, with the rest of the sentence providing a simile that illustrates the desired outcome.
The phrase כַּאֲפִיקִ֥ים (like streams) serves as a comparative element, linking the restoration of the captives to the natural flow of water in the Negev, highlighting the life-giving aspect of their return.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, the Hebrew verb שׁוּבָ֣ה is rendered as ἐπίστρεψον (epistrepson), which also means to return or restore. This choice maintains the original meaning while presenting it in a Greek context.
The Greek term emphasizes the action of turning back, aligning closely with the Hebrew intent of invoking God's power to bring about restoration.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalm 126:4 is a heartfelt plea for God to restore the captives of Israel, comparing their return to the flowing streams in the Negev, a dry region that comes alive with water. This imagery captures the hope for renewal and joy in the restoration of the people.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
To restore the captives means to bring back those who have been taken away, particularly in the context of the Israelites returning from exile.
The comparison highlights the life-giving and refreshing nature of water in a dry land, symbolizing the joy and vitality that comes with the restoration of the people.
Calling God Yahweh emphasizes His covenant relationship with Israel, highlighting His role as the faithful and eternal God who is capable of restoring His people.
This verse encapsulates the longing for return from exile, a central theme in the Psalms, reflecting the hope for God's intervention and the restoration of the community.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways do I see God restoring what has been lost in my life?
- How can I actively participate in the restoration of those around me who are struggling?
- What does the imagery of streams in the Negev teach me about hope and renewal?
- How can I deepen my understanding of God's faithfulness as seen in His name Yahweh?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Early Church Fathers like Augustine of Hippo reference this verse to discuss themes of restoration and divine intervention.
"Turn our captivity, O Lord, as the torrents in the south" [Psalms 126:4]. Consider, my brethren, what this means....As torrents are turned in the south, so turn our captivity.Early Church Fathers on Psalms 126 →
Therefore, the devil and his angels, by turning from the light and warmth of charity and going over to pride and envy, were made numb as by an icy hardness. Therefore they are figuratively located in the north.Early Church Fathers on Psalms 126 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 126:4 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleTurn again our captivity, O Lord,.... This prayer for the return of the captivity shows that it was not as yet: though some think that this is a petition of those that were returned from captivity,
Read John Gill on Psalms 126 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryTurn again our captivity, O LORD, as the streams in the south. Turn again our captivity, O Lord, as the streams in the south. The prayer is offered in this verse. The hope based on it is expressed in Psalms 126:5-6.
Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 126 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleTurn again our captivity; as thou hast brought us home, bring home also the rest of our brethren, who, are dispersed and yet remain captives in Babylon, or in any other parts oft he world. As the streams in the south; as thou art eased sometimes to send floods of water into dry and barren grounds, such as the southern parts of Canaan and the parts adjacent were; which is an act of thy great power and goodness; and no less will this reduction of thy people be, and no less shall we rejoice in it, and bless God for it.
Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 126 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 126:4 Turn again our captivity, O LORD, as the streams in the south.Ver. 4. Turn again our captivity, O Lord] Perfect what thou hast so happily begun for us. As the streams in the south] i.e. Miraculously, say some, as if thou shouldest cause rivers to run in dry and desert places; or comfortably, as if thou shouldest refresh such hot parts with plenty of water. Or, suddenly. The south is a dry country, where are few springs, but oft land floods, caused by the showers of heaven. The Jews at this day pray for a speedy rebuilding of their temple. They cry all together, Templum tuum brevi, valde cito, valde cito, in diebus nostris citissime nunc aedifica, Templum tuum brevi, that is…
Read John Trapp on Psalms 126 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(4) Captivity.—Here there is a change. The joy of the great Return was too great not to last on through many vicissitudes. But the poet now thinks of the many exiles still dispersed among the nations, and prays for another manifestation of Divine favour and power. The streams in the south.—Rather, the channels in the south. The allusion is to the sudden filling of the dry torrent-beds of the southern district of Palestine in the rainy season. So the poet prays that torrents of the returned may pour into the desolate and deserted country. (Comp. Isaiah 49:18 for the same feeling, but under a different figure.) The LXX. have “in the south wind,” evidently thinking of the melting of a frozen…
Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 126 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 4. Turn again our captivity] This is either a recital of the prayer they had used before their deliverance; or it is a prayer for those who still remained in the provinces beyond the Euphrates. The Jewish captives did not all return at once; they came back at different times, and under different leaders, Ezra, Nehemiah, Zerubbabel, c. As the streams in the south.] Probably the Nile is meant. It is now pretty well known that the Nile has its origin in the kingdom of Damot and runs from south to north through different countries, till, passing through Egypt, it empties itself into the Mediterranean Sea. It is possible, however, that they might have had in view some rapid rivers that…
Read AdamClarke on Psalms 126 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges4–6. Prayer for fuller blessing, and the expression of confident faith that efforts however feeble must bear fruit. These verses evidently imply a background of disappointed hopes and anxious struggles.
Read Cambridge on Psalms 126 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleTurn again our captivity, O Lord - literally, “Turn our captivity.” The word “again” is inserted by the translators, and conveys an idea which is not necessarily in the original.
Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 126 →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
Restore our captives, O LORD, like streams in the Negev.
Restore our fortunes again, Yahweh, like the streams in the Negev.
Restore our captives, O LORD, like streams in the Negev.
O Lord, restore our well-being, just as the streams in the arid south are replenished.
Tyndale line
Turn again our captivity, O LORD, as the streams in the south.
Turn again our captivity, O Jehovah, As the streams in the South.
Turn again our captivity, O LORD, as the streams in the South.
Turn again our captivity, O LORD, as the streams in the south.
O Lord, bring againe our captiuitie, as the riuers in the South.
Strictly literal
Turn our captivity, O Jehovah, as the streams in the south.
Turn again, O Jehovah, [to] our captivity, As streams in the south.
Turn again, O YHWH, [to] our captivity, || As streams in the south.
Bring back again, O Lord, our captivity, like rivulets in arid land.
Restore our fortunes, Yahweh, like the streams in the Negev.
From the Latin
As arrows in the hand of the mighty, so the children of them that have been shaken.
Simplified
Please return and help us again, Lord. Renew us like streams of water that renew the Negev desert.
Let our fate be changed, O Lord, like the streams in the South.
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 reads שׁוּבָ֣ה יְ֭הוָה אֶת־ שְׁבִיתֵ֑נוּ כַּאֲפִיקִ֥ים בַּנֶּֽגֶב׃, while the Septuagint closely matches this wording, differing only in the arrangement of words. The Dead Sea Scrolls show some variations with words partly restored, but the core meaning remains consistent across these witnesses.
שׁוּבָ֣ה יְ֭הוָה אֶת־ שְׁבִיתֵ֑נוּ כַּאֲפִיקִ֥ים בַּנֶּֽגֶב׃
5 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.
שב׳ה יהוה את [שבותי׳נו] [כאפיקים] בנגב
3 words on the leather — 1 partly restored, 2 supplied entire by an editor.
[שוב׳ה] יהוה את שבותי׳נו כאפיקים בנגב
4 words on the leather — 1 partly restored, 1 supplied entire by an editor.
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 Psalms 126:4
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.
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-Qal-Impv-2ms | Suff — Verb qal imperative second person masculine singular · suffixHVqv2ms/Sh
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) is the proper name of the God of Israel, often rendered as Jehovah or the Lord. It signifies the self-existent or eternal nature of God. The name is closely associated with the revelation to Moses in Exodus 3:12-15 and is used in conjunction with other terms to denote sacred places. Some scholars suggest it derives from a root meaning 'to bring into being.'
יהוה c. 6823 i.e. יַהְוֶה n.pr.dei Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel—(1. MT יְהֹוָה 6518 (Qr אֲדֹנָי), or יֱהֹוִה 305 (Qr אֱלֹהִים) 2. Many recent scholars explain יַהְוֶה as Hiph. of הוה (= היה) the one bringing into being, life-giver)
יהוה is not used by E in Gn, but is given Ex 3:12-15 as the name of the God who revealed Himself to Moses at Horeb
יהוה is used with אלהים and suffixes, especially in D
the phrase † אֲנִי יהוה is noteworthy
יהוה is also used with several predicates, to form sacred names of holy places of Yahweh
base
H3068 יהוה i.e. יַהְוֶה n. pr. dei Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel
3068 Yhovah yeh-ho-vaw'
from 1961; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish
national name of God:--Jehovah, the Lord. Compare 3050, 3069.
see HEBREW for 01961
see HEBREW for 03050
see HEBREW for 03069
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — LORD.
Jehovah = "the existing One"
1) the proper name of the one true God
1a) unpronounced except with the vowel pointings of a.do.na (אֲדֹנָי "Lord" H0136)
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — The Lord.
Another name of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — (Jerusalem of) the Lord.
Combined with ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)
N-proper — Noun properHNpt
אֵת (eth) is primarily a grammatical marker in Hebrew, indicating the definite direct object of a verb. It is not translated into English and typically precedes nouns that are definite. The word is derived from a demonstrative sense of entity, related to the Hebrew word for 'self.' Its Aramaic equivalent is יָת (yat).
אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
base
H853 אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
853 'eth ayth
apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of
entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more
definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or
namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).
see HEBREW for 0226
אֵת (et) — [Obj.].
sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative
Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)
HTo — ParticleHTo
שְׁבִית (shbuwth) refers to captivity or being held as a prisoner, with implications of defeat or a reversal of fortunes. It is derived from the root meaning of exile and can denote both literal captives and a figurative loss of prosperity. The term appears in contexts related to captivity and restoration.
שְׁבִית, שְׁבוּת n.f. id. [v.ao.ad]
in cl. give his daughters into captivity
in phr. restore the captivity of
base
H7622 שְׁבִית, שְׁבוּת id. [7633]
7622 shbuwth sheb-ooth'
or shbiyth {sheb-eeth'}; from 7617; exile, concretely,
prisoners; figuratively, a former state of prosperity:--
captive(-ity).
see HEBREW for 07617
שְׁבִית (she.vut) — captivity.
1) captivity, captives
2) defeat, reversed fortunes
N-fs | Suff — Noun common feminine singular construct · suffixHNcfsc/Sp1bp
אָפִיק (aphiyq) refers to a channel or a ravine, often associated with water. It can also denote a strong object or a hero. The word is built from a root meaning to contain, and it encompasses meanings related to streams, valleys, and strength.
[אָפִיק] n.m. channel (as holding, confining water; poet.)
base
H650 [אָפִיק] channel (as holding, confining water; poet.)
650 'aphiyq aw-feek'
from 622; properly, containing, i.e. a tube; also a bed or
valley of a stream; also a strong thing or a hero:--brook,
channel, mighty, river, + scale, stream, strong piece.
see HEBREW for 0622
אָפִיק (a.phiq) — channel.
1) channel
2) ravine
3) of hollow bones (fig.)
Prep | N-mp — Preposition · noun common masculine plural absoluteHR/Ncmpa
נֶ֫גֶב (negev) refers to the southern region of Judah, often characterized by its dry, parched landscape. The term can mean 'south-country' or simply 'south.' It is derived from an unused root associated with drought. The entries consistently identify it with the Negeb area, without significant disagreement among the lexicons.
נֶ֫גֶב n.[m.] south-country, Negeb, south
base
H5045 נֶ֫גֶב south-country, Negeb, south
5045 negeb neh'-gheb
from an unused root meaning to be parched; the south (from
its drought); specifically, the Negeb or southern district of
Judah, occasionally, Egypt (as south to Palestine):--south
(country, side, -ward).
נֶ֫גֶב (ne.gev) — Negeb.
region of southern Judah
Also named: ne.gev (נֶ֫גֶב "south" H5045H)
This name means south-country
נֶ֫גֶב (ne.gev) — south.
A sub-meaning of ne.gev (נֶ֫גֶב "Negeb" H5045)
§ 1) south-country, Nekeb, south
1a) south-country
1a1) region of southern Judah, boundaries not specific
1b) south
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun properHRd/Npl