Lexical Summary tub: Goodness, welfare, prosperity, happiness Original Word: תּוּב Strong's Exhaustive Concordance desire, mark (Aramaic) corresponding to shuwb, to come back; specifically (transitive and ellip.) To reply -- answer, restore, return (an answer). see HEBREW shuwb NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origin(Aramaic) corresponding to shub Definition to return NASB Translation answered* (1), give (1), replied (1), restored (1), returned (4). Topical Lexicon Definition and Semantic Range תּוּב (tûb) in the Aramaic portions of Ezra and Daniel conveys the idea of “returning,” “bringing back,” or “answering.” The word therefore stands at the doorway between movement and speech: either something is physically restored, or a verbal response is given back. Occurrences and Narrative Setting 1. Ezra 5:5 – The officials are restrained until “a report could go to Darius and a written reply be received.” 6–8. Daniel 4:34, 36 (repeated) – Nebuchadnezzar testifies that “my reason returned to me,” and again “my reason returned to me, and my majesty and splendor were restored.” These eight occurrences cluster in two periods: the early Persian era (Ezra) and the Neo-Babylonian/Persian transition (Daniel). In both books the people of God live under foreign rule, yet the verb תּוּב marks key turning points where God overturns exile, confusion or opposition. Theological Themes 1. Restoration by God 2. Faithful Testimony under Pressure 3. Wisdom in Speech 4. Humiliation and Recovery Practical and Ministerial Applications • Counseling and Restoration Ministries – Just as the temple vessels were restored, broken lives can be “brought back” to worship. Ministries of reconciliation should echo Ezra 6:5, returning people and resources to their God-given place. • Apologetics and Public Engagement – Daniel’s respectful yet firm answers (Daniel 2:14; 3:16) demonstrate that believers can engage hostile powers without compromise. Answering with “gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15) has deep Old-Testament roots in תּוּב. • Leadership Recovery – Nebuchadnezzar’s account encourages leaders who have fallen through pride: repentance precedes restored reason and authority. Churches can hold out hope for restoration, while underscoring the need for humility before God. Christological and Eschatological Reflections The pattern of exile-return and humiliation-restoration anticipates the gospel. Christ is the definitive Temple “vessel” that was rejected and then returned in resurrection glory (John 2:19–22). His resurrection guarantees that all things—creation, Israel, the nations, even our reasoning—will be “restored” (Acts 3:21). Thus each occurrence of תּוּב whispers the larger biblical promise: what God removes in judgment He can return in mercy through the true King. Key Lessons for Church Life • Expect God to safeguard His work until He brings a decisive answer (Ezra 5:5). Forms and Transliterations הֲתִיב֙ הֲתִיב֣וּנָא התיב התיבונא יְת֔וּב יְת֣וּב יְתִיב֥וּן יַהֲתִיב֗וּן יהתיבון יתוב יתיבון לַהֲתָבוּתָֽךְ׃ להתבותך׃ hă·ṯî·ḇū·nā hă·ṯîḇ hăṯîḇ hăṯîḇūnā haTiv hatiVuna la·hă·ṯā·ḇū·ṯāḵ lahăṯāḇūṯāḵ lahatavuTach ya·hă·ṯî·ḇūn yahăṯîḇūn yahatiVun yə·ṯî·ḇūn yə·ṯūḇ yəṯîḇūn yetiVun yəṯūḇ yeTuvLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Ezra 5:5 HEB: יְהָ֑ךְ וֶאֱדַ֛יִן יְתִיב֥וּן נִשְׁתְּוָנָ֖א עַל־ NAS: a written reply be returned concerning KJV: and then they returned answer by letter INT: came and then be returned A written concerning Ezra 5:11 Ezra 6:5 Daniel 2:14 Daniel 3:16 Daniel 4:34 Daniel 4:36 Daniel 4:36 8 Occurrences |
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