The Meaning of שׁוּבָה in Ps. 6:5

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Introduction[ ]

The Hebrew text of Ps. 6:5 reads as follows:[1]

שׁוּבָ֣ה יְ֭הוָה חַלְּצָ֣ה נַפְשִׁ֑י ה֝וֹשִׁיעֵ֗נִי לְמַ֣עַן חַסְדֶּֽךָ׃

In this verse, the psalmist utters a series of three imperatives (שׁוּבָ֣ה...חַלְּצָ֣ה...ה֝וֹשִׁיעֵ֗נִי), calling on YHWH to rescue him. Interpreters agree that the disagree on the precise meaning of the first imperative (שׁוּבָה) in this context. As Anderson notes, "This may be a plea to Yahweh to turn away from his wrath... or an appeal to him to turn to the sufferer... who has been seemingly abandoned by him."[2] Consider, for example, the following translations.

  • 'Return, O LORD, and rescue me.' (NLT, cf. REB, NEB, GNT, HFA, NGÜ, EÜ, ZÜR, TOB, NBS, S21, NVS78P, BDS, PDV2017, NFC, DHH94I)
  • 'Relent, LORD, rescue me!' (NET, cf. NJB, GNB)

According to the NLT and others, the psalmist is requesting that YHWH (re)turn to him. According to the NET and others, however, the psalmist is requesting that YHWH relent from some activity (i.e., anger and punishment).

Argument Maps[ ]

Return (from absence)[ ]

Most translations understand the verb שׁוּבָה in Ps. 6:5 in the sense of '(re)turn to me.' For example, the NLT says, "Return, O LORD," and the GNT says "Come and save me, LORD" (cf. REB, NEB, HFA, NGÜ, EÜ, ZÜR, TOB, NBS, S21, NVS78P, BDS, PDV2017, NFC, DHH94I). 


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['Return']: The verb שׁוּבָה in Ps. 6:5 means 'return to me in favor' (BDB :L:; Hupfeld 1855 :C:; Craigie 1983 :C:). #dispreferred
 + <שׁוּב as 'return'>: The verb שׁוּב often refers to YHWH returning to someone to show favour (cf. BDB שׁוּב g :L:). #dispreferred
  + [שׁוּב as 'return']: with אֶל: Gen 18:10, 14; Zech 1:3; Mal 3:7; 2 Ch 30:6; absolute: Isa 63:17; Pss 80:15; 90:13; with another verb: Jer 12:15 Ps 6:5 Joel 2:14 Jon 3:9 (cited in BDB שׁוּב g :L:). #dispreferred
 + <Abandonment>: In his suffering (cf. vv. 3–4), the psalmist probably felt as though YHWH had abandoned him (cf. Ps. 22:2; 27:9; etc.). His prayer for YHWH to 'turn', therefore, is best understood as a prayer for YHWH to return to him. #dispreferred
  + [Ps. 22:2a]: אֵלִ֣י אֵ֭לִי לָמָ֣ה עֲזַבְתָּ֑נִי #dispreferred


Argument Mapn0'Return'The verb שׁוּבָה in Ps. 6:5 means 'return to me in favor' (BDB 🄻; Hupfeld 1855 🄲; Craigie 1983 🄲). n1שׁוּב as 'return'with אֶל: Gen 18:10, 14; Zech 1:3; Mal 3:7; 2 Ch 30:6; absolute: Isa 63:17; Pss 80:15; 90:13; with another verb: Jer 12:15 Ps 6:5 Joel 2:14 Jon 3:9 (cited in BDB שׁוּב g 🄻). n3שׁוּב as 'return'The verb שׁוּב often refers to YHWH returning to someone to show favour (cf. BDB שׁוּב g 🄻). n1->n3n2Ps. 22:2aאֵלִ֣י אֵ֭לִי לָמָ֣ה עֲזַבְתָּ֑נִי n4AbandonmentIn his suffering (cf. vv. 3–4), the psalmist probably felt as though YHWH had abandoned him (cf. Ps. 22:2; 27:9; etc.). His prayer for YHWH to 'turn', therefore, is best understood as a prayer for YHWH to return to him. n2->n4n3->n0n4->n0


Relent (from activity) (preferred)[ ]

A few translations make clear that they understand שׁוּבָה in the sense of 'turn away from your anger.' The NET, for example, says "Relent, LORD." The GNB is even more explicit: "Lass ab von deinem Zorn!" 


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[Relent]: The word שׁוּבָה in Ps. 6:5 means to 'relent from some activity', specifically in this context, 'relent from anger and punishment' (DCH :L:; Radak :C:; Rashi :C:; Ibn Ezra :C:l Gunkel 1926 :C:; Spieckermann 2023 :C:; cf. Holladay 1958:76–77 :M:)
 + <שׁוּב as 'relent'>: The word שׁוּב often means "relent, turn back from plan of punishment or from judging" or "turn away from anger, i.e. cease to be angry" (DCH שׁוּב I 15a :L:). When used absolutely with YHWH as the subject, the verb always has this meaning (cf. Holladay 1958:76-77 :M:).
  + [שׁוּב as 'relent']: 'turn back from plan of punishment' (Is 63:17; Jr 4:28; 12:15; Jl 2:14; Jon 3:9; Ps 6:5; 90:13; Jb 6:29, 29); 'turn away from anger' (Ex 32:12; Dt 13:18; Jos 7:26; 2 K 23:26; Jon 3:9; 4QapMosa 13; 11QT 5511) (cited in DCH שׁוּב I 15a :L:).
 + <Context>: The basic problem in the first section (vv. 2–4) is YHWH's anger. The imperative in v. 5, then, is best understood as a prayer for YHWH to turn from his anger.
  + <'Anger/wrath' in v. 2>: The psalm begins by talking about YHWH's anger/wrath. The words 'wrath' and 'anger' are even fronted before the verb and thus focused in terms of information structure. 
   + ['Anger/wrath' in v. 2]: יְֽהוָ֗ה אַל־בְּאַפְּךָ֥ תוֹכִיחֵ֑נִי וְֽאַל־בַּחֲמָתְךָ֥ תְיַסְּרֵֽנִי׃
  + <Question in v. 4b>: The question in the previous line ('how long...?') should be understood in the sense of 'how long will you continue to be angry?' (cf. Ps. 79:6) (Baethgen 1904:14).
   + [Ps. 79:6]: עַד־מָ֣ה יְ֭הוָה תֶּאֱנַ֣ף לָנֶ֑צַח
 + <Psalm 90>: The closest parallel to the prayer in Ps. 6:5a is Ps. 90:13 (cf. Spieckermann 2023:139 :C:), where the basic problem is YHWH's anger (cf. Ps. 90:7, 11) and the request is for YHWH to turn from his anger.
  + [Ps. 90:7, 11 ('anger')]: כִּֽי־כָלִ֥ינוּ בְאַפֶּ֑ךָ וּֽבַחֲמָתְךָ֥ נִבְהָֽלְנוּ׃ (v. 7); מִֽי־י֭וֹדֵעַ עֹ֣ז אַפֶּ֑ךָ וּ֝כְיִרְאָתְךָ֗ עֶבְרָתֶֽךָ׃ (v. 11)
  + [Ps. 90:13 ('turn')]: שׁוּבָ֣ה יְ֭הוָה עַד־מָתָ֑י


Argument Mapn0RelentThe word שׁוּבָה in Ps. 6:5 means to 'relent from some activity', specifically in this context, 'relent from anger and punishment' (DCH 🄻; Radak 🄲; Rashi 🄲; Ibn Ezra 🄲l Gunkel 1926 🄲; Spieckermann 2023 🄲; cf. Holladay 1958:76–77 🄼)n1שׁוּב as 'relent''turn back from plan of punishment' (Is 63:17; Jr 4:28; 12:15; Jl 2:14; Jon 3:9; Ps 6:5; 90:13; Jb 6:29, 29); 'turn away from anger' (Ex 32:12; Dt 13:18; Jos 7:26; 2 K 23:26; Jon 3:9; 4QapMosa 13; 11QT 5511) (cited in DCH שׁוּב I 15a 🄻).n6שׁוּב as 'relent'The word שׁוּב often means "relent, turn back from plan of punishment or from judging" or "turn away from anger, i.e. cease to be angry" (DCH שׁוּב I 15a 🄻). When used absolutely with YHWH as the subject, the verb always has this meaning (cf. Holladay 1958:76-77 🄼).n1->n6n2'Anger/wrath' in v. 2יְֽהוָ֗ה אַל־בְּאַפְּךָ֥ תוֹכִיחֵ֑נִי וְֽאַל־בַּחֲמָתְךָ֥ תְיַסְּרֵֽנִי׃n8'Anger/wrath' in v. 2The psalm begins by talking about YHWH's anger/wrath. The words 'wrath' and 'anger' are even fronted before the verb and thus focused in terms of information structure. n2->n8n3Ps. 79:6עַד־מָ֣ה יְ֭הוָה תֶּאֱנַ֣ף לָנֶ֑צַחn9Question in v. 4bThe question in the previous line ('how long...?') should be understood in the sense of 'how long will you continue to be angry?' (cf. Ps. 79:6) (Baethgen 1904:14).n3->n9n4Ps. 90:7, 11 ('anger')כִּֽי־כָלִ֥ינוּ בְאַפֶּ֑ךָ וּֽבַחֲמָתְךָ֥ נִבְהָֽלְנוּ׃ (v. 7); מִֽי־י֭וֹדֵעַ עֹ֣ז אַפֶּ֑ךָ וּ֝כְיִרְאָתְךָ֗ עֶבְרָתֶֽךָ׃ (v. 11)n10Psalm 90The closest parallel to the prayer in Ps. 6:5a is Ps. 90:13 (cf. Spieckermann 2023:139 🄲), where the basic problem is YHWH's anger (cf. Ps. 90:7, 11) and the request is for YHWH to turn from his anger.n4->n10n5Ps. 90:13 ('turn')שׁוּבָ֣ה יְ֭הוָה עַד־מָתָ֑יn5->n10n6->n0n7ContextThe basic problem in the first section (vv. 2–4) is YHWH's anger. The imperative in v. 5, then, is best understood as a prayer for YHWH to turn from his anger.n7->n0n8->n7n9->n7n10->n0


Conclusion[ ]

In Ps. 6:5, the plea for YHWH to 'turn' (שׁוּבָה) does not imply "that the state of sickness had been an experience in which it seemed that God had deserted him."[3] Rather, the plea for YHWH to 'turn' is a request for YHWH to change the course of his activity — to turn from anger to mercy, from punishment to healing (cf. vv. 2–3). This well-attested meaning of the word שׁוּב (cf. Isa. 63:17; Ps. 90:13; Ex. 32:12; etc.) is the most appropriate meaning in the context of Ps. 6, in which the psalmist's basic problem is not that YHWH is absent, but that YHWH is angry and actively inflicting punishment (vv. 2–4).

Research[ ]

Translations[ ]

Ancient[ ]

  • LXX: ἐπίστρεψον, κύριε, ῥῦσαι τὴν ψυχήν μου[4]
    • "Turn, O Lord; rescue my soul."[5]
  • Jerome (iuxta Hebraeos): revertere Domine rue animam meam[6]
  • Peshitta: ܐܬܦܢ ܡܪܝܐ ܘܦܨܗܿ ܠܢܦܫܝ܂[7]
    • "Return, O Lord, and deliver me"[8]
  • Targum: תוב ייי פצי נפשי[9]
    • "Turn, O Lord, save my soul"[10]

Modern[ ]

Ambiguous/General ('turn')[ ]

  • Turn, LORD, and deliver me; (NIV)
  • Turn, O LORD, deliver my life; (ESV)
  • Turn and come to my rescue. (CEV)
  • Turn, O Lord, save my life; (NRSV)
  • O LORD, turn! Rescue me! (JPS85)
  • Wende dich, HERR, und errette meine Seele (LUT)
  • Kehre um, HERR, befreie meine Seele; (ELB)
  • Vuélvete, Jehová, libra mi alma. (RVR95)
  • Vuélvete, Señor, y sálvame la vida; (NVI)
  • Vuélvete, YHVH, y rescata mi alma (BTX4)

Return (from absence)[ ]

  • Return, O LORD, and rescue me. (NLT)
  • Return, LORD, deliver me; (REB)
  • Come back, O LORD; set my soul free, (NEB)
  • Wende dich mir wieder zu, HERR, und rette mich! (HFA)
  • HERR, wende dich mir wieder zu!... (NGÜ)
  • HERR, wende dich mir zu und errette mich, (EÜ)
  • Kehre wieder, HERR, errette mein Leben, (ZÜR)
  • Reviens, SEIGNEUR, délivre-moi, (TOB, NBS)
  • Reviens, Eternel, délivre-moi (S21)
  • Reviens, Éternel ! délivre mon âme ; (NVS78P)
  • Ne voudrais-tu pas ╵revenir vers moi ╵pour me délivrer ? (BDS)
  • Reviens, Seigneur, délivre-moi, (PDV2017)
  • Reviens me délivrer, Seigneur, (NFC)
  • Come and save me, LORD (GNT)
  • Ven, Señor, ¡salva mi vida! (DHH94I)

Relent (from anger)[ ]

  • Relent, LORD, rescue me! (NET)
  • Yahweh, relent and save my life (NJB)
  • Lass ab von deinem Zorn! Rette mich! (GNB)

Secondary Literature[ ]

Anderson, A. A. 1972. The Book of Psalms. Vol. 1. NCBC. Greenwood, SC: Attic.
Baethgen, Friedrich. 1904. Die Psalmen. Göttingen: Vandenhoeck und Ruprecht.
Craigie, Peter C. 1983. Psalms 1–50. WBC 19. Waco, TX: Word.
Gunkel, Hermann. 1926. Die Psalmen. 4th ed. Göttinger Handkommentar Zum Alten Testament 2. Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht.
Holladay, William L. 1958. The Root Šûbh in the Old Testament. Brill.
Hupfeld, Hermann. 1855. Die Psalmen. Vol. 1. Gotha: Friedrich Andreas Perthes.
Ibn Ezra. Ibn Ezra on Psalms.
Radak. Radak on Psalms.
Rashi. Rashi on Psalms.
Spieckermann, Hermann. 2023. Psalmen. 1: Psalm 1 - 49. Das Alte Testament Deutsch, 14,1. Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht.

References[ ]

6:5

  1. ↑ Text from OSHB.
  2. ↑ Anderson 1972:89.
  3. ↑ Craigie 1983:93.
  4. ↑ Rahlfs 1931.
  5. ↑ NETS
  6. ↑ Weber-Gryson 5th edition.
  7. ↑ CAL
  8. ↑ Taylor 2020:17.
  9. ↑ CAL
  10. ↑ Stec 2004:34.
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