Biblical Hebrew Forum

[Isaac Fried <if AT math.bu.edu>]

In my opinion no Hebrew root (root!) can mean 'turn'. But it can mean 'pile-up, heap-up' , which figuratively suggests 'bent' or 'turning', or 'going around'.

So, the root שבב $BB is a variant of:

ABB, GBB, DBB, HBB, ZBB, XBB, TBB, YBB, KBB, LBB, NBB, SBB, CBB, QBB, RBB, $BB

אבב, גבב, דבב, הבב, זבב, חבב, טבב, יבב, כבב, לבב, נבב, סבב, צבב, קבב, רבב, שבב

Also of

אפף, גפף, חפף, כפף, לפף, נפף, ספף, צפף, רפף, שפף, תפף

For a tangible simile to an abstract situation, the poet uses Y$OBB, 'enlarge', which we readily understand to be in a positive sense.

In Ezekiel 39:2 we have

ושבבתיך וששאתיך והעליתיך מירכתי צפון 

where W-$I$E-TIYKA is from the root $$, a contraction of $AH-$AH, 'rise, lift'. Similarly, in Is. 27:8 we find 

בסאסאה בשלחה תריבנה

where B-SAS-AH is of the same root SS, rise-rise, and where B-$ALX-AH, is 'at the state of bloom'.

Isaac Fried, Boston University

On Feb 15, 2013, at 10:23 PM, Rev. Bryant J. Williams III wrote:

 Does "YeShUBeB" (Polel Impf) mean "restore" as traditionally translated or is it closer t o the idea of "to turn, return?"