שְׁבִית
she.vut (H7622)
captivity
AI Word Study
# The Hebrew Word for Captivity: שְׁבִית (shevu.t) The Hebrew word *shevu.t* carries the core meaning of "captivity"—the state of being held captive or imprisoned. With 32 occurrences throughout the biblical text, the word appears with sufficient frequency to establish its importance as a theological and historical concept in ancient Hebrew literature. The term denotes not merely temporary confinement but a sustained condition of loss of freedom, whether physical, political, or national in scope. The repeated use of this term across the biblical corpus suggests it addressed a recurring concern in Hebrew thought and experience. The relatively high frequency of occurrence (32 times) indicates that captivity was neither a marginal nor isolated concept but rather a central theme in biblical narratives and prophecy. This prevalence points to the historical reality that captivity—whether of individuals or entire populations—shaped the experience and worldview of ancient Israel and influenced how biblical writers understood divine judgment, national fate, and restoration.
AI synthesis uses only provided lexicon data -- never training knowledge.
Woe to you, Moab! You are undone, people of Chemosh! He has given his sons as fugitives, and his daughters into captivity, to Sihon king of the Amorites.
that then Yahweh your God will release you from captivity, have compassion on you, and will return and gather you from all the peoples where Yahweh your God has scattered you.
Yahweh turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends. Yahweh gave Job twice as much as he had before.
Oh that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion! When Yahweh restores the fortunes of his people, then Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.
Oh that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion! When God brings back his people from captivity, then Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.
Yahweh, you have been favorable to your land. You have restored the fortunes of Jacob.
Restore our fortunes again, Yahweh, like the streams in the Negev.
I will be found by you,” says Yahweh, “and I will turn again your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places where I have driven you, says Yahweh. I will bring you again to the place from where I caused you to be carried away captive.”
For, behold, the days come,’ says Yahweh, ‘that I will reverse the captivity of my people Israel and Judah,’ says Yahweh. ‘I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they will possess it.’ ”
Yahweh says: “Behold, I will reverse the captivity of Jacob’s tents, and have compassion on his dwelling places. The city will be built on its own hill, and the palace will be inhabited in its own place.
Yahweh of Armies, the God of Israel, says: “Yet again they will use this speech in the land of Judah and in its cities, when I reverse their captivity: ‘Yahweh bless you, habitation of righteousness, mountain of holiness.’
Men will buy fields for money, sign the deeds, seal them, and call witnesses, in the land of Benjamin, and in the places around Jerusalem, in the cities of Judah, in the cities of the hill country, in the cities of the lowland, and in the cities of the South; for I will cause their captivity to be reversed,” says Yahweh.
I will cause the captivity of Judah and the captivity of Israel to return, and will build them, as at the first.
the voice of joy and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the voice of those who say, ‘Give thanks to Yahweh of Armies, for Yahweh is good, for his loving kindness endures forever;’ who bring thanksgiving into Yahweh’s house. For I will cause the captivity of the land to be reversed as at the first,” says Yahweh.
then I will also cast away the offspring of Jacob, and of David my servant, so that I will not take of his offspring to be rulers over the offspring of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob: for I will cause their captivity to be reversed and will have mercy on them.”
“Yet I will reverse the captivity of Moab in the latter days,” says Yahweh. Thus far is the judgment of Moab.
“But afterward I will reverse the captivity of the children of Ammon,” says Yahweh.
‘But it will happen in the latter days that I will reverse the captivity of Elam,’ says Yahweh.”
Your prophets have seen false and foolish visions for you. They have not uncovered your iniquity, to reverse your captivity, but have seen for you false revelations and causes of banishment.
“ ‘ “I will reverse their captivity, the captivity of Sodom and her daughters, and the captivity of Samaria and her daughters, and the captivity of your captives among them;
I will reverse the captivity of Egypt, and will cause them to return into the land of Pathros, into the land of their birth. They will be a lowly kingdom, there.
“Therefore the Lord Yahweh says: ‘Now I will reverse the captivity of Jacob, and have mercy on the whole house of Israel. I will be jealous for my holy name.
“Also, Judah, there is a harvest appointed for you, when I restore the fortunes of my people.
“For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem,
I will bring my people Israel back from captivity, and they will rebuild the ruined cities, and inhabit them; and they will plant vineyards, and drink wine from them. They shall also make gardens, and eat their fruit.
The coast will be for the remnant of the house of Judah. They will find pasture. In the houses of Ashkelon, they will lie down in the evening, for Yahweh, their God, will visit them, and restore them.
At that time I will bring you in, and at that time I will gather you; for I will give you honor and praise among all the peoples of the earth, when I restore your fortunes before your eyes, says Yahweh.